A weekend for a first approach to wine's world... Expert teachers and a gastronomy guide will guide you in the discover of this precious nectar!
1st day: Arrival at Lake Maggiore and first wine course
Arrival and accommodation in a 3-star-hotel at Lake Maggiore. Meeting with other group members. The first afternoon is focused on an introduction to wine’s world: historic origin, analysis of taste and smell. You will learn general and organoleptic properties of wine, how to manage a bottle of wine correctly, from purchasing to serving it at table. Dinner in hotel, followed by a first wine tasting session: two white wines and two red wines.
2nd day: Wine cellars in the area of Novara and dinner on the Fishermen's Island
The day is dedicated to the visit of wine cellars in the area of Novara. By private transfer and with a local gastronomic guide visit of four agricultural enterprises to learn how good wines are made and to taste their best products. The selected wine cellars you will visit are the following: Cantina Mirù in Ghemme, Anzivino in Gattinara, Castello Conti in Boca (vertical tastino of Boca DOC) and Dessilani of Fara Novarese. Late afternoon return to hotel and in the evening departure from Stresa by motorboat to reach the "Isola Superiore dei Pescatori" (Fishermen's Island), old fishermen's village with its typical narrow alleys, dinner in a good restaurant on the island… After dinner, private motorboat to come back…
3rd day: Last wine course
After breakfast last lesson with a teacher who will explain you how to taste a wine. The following subjects will be discussed: DOC and DOCG (Protected Designation of Origin and Protected and Guaranteed Designation of Origin), current and future classification, product complexity and clearing up myths, sommeliers are not magicians, brief hints about combining food and wine. To end this meeting appropriately wine tasting of a great red Piedmontese wine. Lunch in hotel and departure to get back home.
NOTES:
Wines tasted in the cellars
- Ghemme DOCG - Nebbiolo - Bianco Colline Novaresi (Mirù) (white);
- Maulet VDT Bianco (white) - Nemesi VDT rosso (red), Bramaterra DOCG - Gattinara DOCG (Anzivino);
- Boca DOC annate (Castello Conti);
- Fara DOC - Nebbiolo Spanna - Spumante di Erbaluce (Dessilani).
Number of days: 2 nights, 3 days, according to hotel availability
Minimum number of participants: 8 people
Maximum number of participants: 16 people