After picking up your rental car in Milan or Turin, take a leisurely drive to your selected villa. Meet your hosts and after settling in, you'll have the opportunity to taste some of the famous Piedmont wines on the premises. You'll have time to explore the estate, review the suggested itineraries for your following days or just relax and enjoy the rest of the day at your pace. Tonight enjoy a 3-course dinner at the villa.

(Dinner & Accommodations)

After breakfast, you're free to explore some of the famous Piedmont vineyards and enjoy your second included wine tasting (at a to be determined site). You may choose to also follow one of the suggested wine "loops" described below. Tonight dinner will be on your own with your hosts assisting you with making reservations, and providing some restaurant recommendations. You may also choose to dine at the villa this evening again (cost not included).

Suggested Wine Loop Itinerary

BAROLO LOOP: Drive to la Morra a small village with a superb view over the vineyards covered hills. You can visit one of the producers of Brunate Barolo; there are only 6 producers that own parts of that particular wine. Continue on to Barolo the place where it all began and visit the historical winery of Marchesi di Barolo. Lunch can be in an excellent restaurant a few km from this little town or in an historical mansion in the centre of your next destination, the charming hamlet of Monforte d'Alba. On the way back to your accommodation do not forget a stop at the Grinzane Cavour Castle and "Enoteca".

(Breakfast & Accommodation)

After breakfast, the perfect opportunity to sample a few more Piedmont wines, and explore some of the more interesting towns in this region... Just a few are Asti, which produces the sparkling white Asti Spumante; wine made from white muscat grapes. Barolo, a hilltop village that has been a viticultural hub for at least four centuries. Enjoy their welcoming tasting rooms, then maybe pause for lunch and explore the ancient streets. While Barbaresco, only a few kilometers away, is surrounded by vineyards and famous for its 11th-century tower. Big decisions loom as there are more than 40 wineries in the area. Another gem is Neive; a quiet hilltop medieval town has been rated as one of Italy's most beautiful towns. Here you can taste the village's four legendary wines - Dolcetto d'Alba, Barbaresco, Moscato and Barbera d'Alba. Save your appetite as tonight is a fitting conclusion to your wine adventure.

You'll enjoy a gourmet dinner, complete with selected wine pairings, either on the estate or at a nearby restaurant, depending on the villa you're staying at.

Suggested Wine Loop Itinerary

BARBARESCO LOOP: Take the time to visit Alba, the capital city of the Langhe. It is famous for the white truffle production and the perfume of this prescious produce is everywhere, but especially along the Via Maestra, the main street of the town. It is a lively town with plenty of markets, boutiques and medieval remains. The choice of restaurants is endless and it will depend on your budget! In the afternoon drive to Barbaresco. If you are an early bird and you prefer small villages to large towns, there is an excellent restaurant in this little town where you can have a taste of the wine that has given its name to the town. Continue your tour driving to Neive where the wine makers have joined forces to create a place where you can taste the 4 wines for which the town is known. Back at your accommodation for supper.

Suggested Wine Loop Itinerary

(Dinner & Accommodations)

After a leisurely breakfast, time to continue to your next Avanti destination; perhaps exploring another famous wine region of Italy.

Or try this suggested Wine Loop Itinerary

DOLCETTO LOOP: Dogliani is the centre of dolcetto production, but Dogliani is also known for a peculiar architecture due to Mr Schiellino, not even an architect, but a passionate researcher. At the end of the 19th century he built or restored several buildings which make of Dogliani an interesting destination for a day tour. At a short distance from town you can have a taste of Dolceto at the winery that still belongs to the Einaudi family. Luigi Einaudi has been first minister of the economy in the first government then President of the Italian Republic 1948 to 1955.

(Breakfast)