Vantage World Travel

Salone del Gusto, a Slow Food itinerary

Turin, a city of taste, is host to the Salone del Gusto, or Salon of Taste. The exhibition, held every two years at Lingotto, organized by Slow Food and the Piedmont Regional Authority, has become one of the finest food and wine sector’s major events at international level. Food, or rather food as an expression of culture and identity has to be respected, defended and valorised. This was the inspiration for themes like biodiversity and healthy eating education. The fair involves cooks, wine specialists, restaurateurs, journalists and experts, with an increasing number of devoted visitors and fans.

The appointment for the next Salone del Gusto is October 23 to 28, 2008

The Salone del Gusto - 2008 - Scents, colors, sounds, personalities, cultures and histories create the exciting atmosphere around you as you stroll through the lanes of the Salone del Gusto Market. You are on a journey in search of food quality. This year, as never before, the exhibitors are committed to preserving – to guaranteeing – food quality by supporting the Slow Food Manifesto, and by sharing the principles associated with a broader idea of quality attentive to every element in food production. Biodiversity and food education have always been at the heart of the Salone del Gusto and all of Slow Food’s activities.

The inspiration for all the initiatives at the event will come from three key words: good, clean and fair. According to Slow Food, good, clean and fair are the essential components of a new concept of food quality. The slogan is an expression of the association’s desire to create common directives that can be used as reference points to mark the virtuous path all the players in the food chain should follow. And that means everyone, from producers to consumers. Part of the Salone is the Terra Madre event, the world meeting of food communities which in the last edition brought together almost 9,000 people in Turin: 4,803 farmers, breeders, fishermen and artisan food producers from 1,583 food communities and 150 nations; 953 cooks; 411 professors and representatives from 225 universities; 2,320 observers and guides; 776 volunteers.

Piedmont is a must for food and wine lovers with its small charming villages and “Slow Food” style of touring and a tour of the palate here has to start from the vineyards boasting an unbeatable heritage in terms of wine with 44 “Denominazioni di Origine Controllata” (D.O.C.) and 10 “Origine Controllata e Garantita” (D.O.C.G.), the highest national standard, granted to only 31 wines throughout Italy. Then it continues through the many delicacies that only an area as outstanding as this can offer: meat, to start with as “Razza Piemontese” beef has the lowest cholesterol content of all, then cheeses as stated by the existence of 8 products with “Denominazione di Origine Protetta” (D.O.P.) status and the prized traditional vegetable crops, cultivated on its fertile plains. Then there is the real “king” of regional gastronomy: the white truffle, that little “tuber”, worth more than its weight in gold. A sprinkling of tiny slivers over tajarin pasta or even just fried eggs, releases the truly unique aroma.

The heart of this authentic “cultural revolution” is without a doubt the Slow Food movement, the international association for the promotion of local food and wine culture. Slow Food defends traditional products, including lesser known specialties, organizes training courses and tasting sessions, has established a more mature model of eno-gastronomy and even set up the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, a new centre for training and research, the only one of its kind in the world. The Slow Food movement is also behind some of the region’s best known events: Cheese, Italy’s leading event in the sector, and above all the Salone del Gusto, which we are going to visit, perhaps the most important food and wine event in the world, which brings together the “ambassadors” of world food in the Lingotto Fair Centre every two years.

There are both Escorted and Customized Self-Drive options available - Request your Customized Program

Join Renato Vicario of Vantage World Travel to the Piedmont Region of Italy

• Attend the Salone del Gusto, the biggest and best food and wine festival sponsored by Slow Food.
• Visit famous wineries producing Barolo, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco.
• Discover distilleries with extraordinary small grappa productions.
• Experience the Sagra San Michele, the monastery from the film “The Name of the Rose”.
• Participate in dining experiences to remember for a lifetime.
• Stay in Castles, Palaces and Boutique Hotels.
• Walk with a “trifulau”, a professional truffle hunter, for a real Truffle search.

Download the lasted Escorted Itinerary brochure - Pdf format

Daily Itinerary

• Oct 17 Friday Depart USA - Individual air-travel arrangements will be coordinated to arrive at Milano Malpensa airport at the same time the following day - Airfare cost will be dependent from your originating city.
• Oct 18 Saturday Castello di Razzano - Arrive Milano airport. After customs formalities transfer to Alfiano Natta in the Monferrato, the heart of the Piedmont and the Castello di Razzano, residence of the Olearo family, an ancient building rich in history and charme. Evening Welcome dinner at local area restaurant featuring Monferrato specialties. (D)
• Oct 19 Sunday Castello di Razzano - Breakfast at the hotel. A day to discover the Monferrato region, the most fertile area of the province of Asti, producing a third of Piemonte’s wine, including outstanding Barbera and aromatic Moscato and Brachetto. It’s also the birthplace of Italian spumante (sparkling wine). We will visit a main wine maker for some tasting and a mid-day snack. Evening dinner at local area restaurant. (B - L - D)
• Oct 20 Monday Benevello - We travel to the “Alta Langa” known for its breathtaking views of pastures and age-old woods. Today our visit will concentrate on truffles and cheeses. We will meet with a “trifulau” for a truffle hunt. The only tools needed are a hoe and the dog, often a humble bastard, trained with infinite patience (by the trifulau himself) and a lifetime of knowledge. After the truffle search, our lunch takes us to a cheese farm, where we’ll enjoy a buffet featuring fresh and cured cheese. Check in at Villa d’Amelia, an ancient XIX century estate. (B - L)
• Oct 21 Tuesday Benevello - A full day discovery of the Alba region with Grinzane Cavour, Castiglione Falletto, Barolo, La Morra and Alba: communes that are centers of production of the homonymous wines, and the destination of gourmet pilgrimages that reach the top in autumn when the nature is abundant with grapes, mushrooms and truffles. Dinner at Slow Food restaurant with local specialties. (B - L - D)
• Oct 22 Wednesday Torino - Leave Alba, heading to the alpine valleys and the Sacra di San Michele, one of the most interesting monuments in Piedmont used as the setting for the movie “The name of the Rose”. One of Piedmont’s most interesting and suggestive monuments, the Sacra was founded in the Xth C. at the mouth of the Susa Valley. It became one of the most important Benedictine monasteries during medieval times and a stopping place for pilgrims traveling through the valley. Lunch at typical restaurant. Continue to Torino and the Grand Hotel Sitea. (B - L)
• Oct 23 Thursday Torino - The walking tour this morning visits some of Turin’s cafes and some of its historic sites. We complete the morning’s events with a visit to Peyrano for a demonstration and tasting of its famous chocolates. Then it is off to the Salone del Gusto where you will tour independently following your desires. This evening possible optional tour to the “Magic of Turin”, a “magical mystery tour” starting from Piazza Statuto, the “hearth of darkness” on the city. Even if you have never believed in magic, come and discover the place considered by the gurus of occultism as one of the world’s capitals for both black and white magic. (B)
• Oct 24 Friday Torino - Morning visit of the the Royal Palace. Then time to go again to the Salone del Gusto to have the opportunity to discover even more. (B)
• Oct 25 Saturday Torino - This morning visit Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest food market and Balon flea market. Walking among the most bizarre foods from all over the world (especially Africa and Asia) is like participating in an exciting treasure hunt, trying to find all the ingredients needed for a typical dish of any world’s cuisine. The rest of the day is yours for the final visit at the Salone del Gusto. This evening join the fun at a farewell dinner at one of Turin’s typical restaurants. (B - D)
• Oct 26 Sunday Depart - After breakfast transfer to Malpensa airport for your departure flight. (B)

Included: 2 Nights at Castello di Razzano in Alfiano Natta, 2 Nights at Villa d’Amelia in Benevello, 4 Nights at Grand Hotel Sitea in Turin, Local hotel taxes, Breakfast daily at the hotel, 4 dinners and 1 lunch at typical restaurants, Winery visit as listed with typical lunch during tasting, Truffle search with “trifulau”, Excursion to the Sacra di San Michele, Daily entrance at the Salone del Gusto, Special visit to the unknown “magical” Turin, All transfers and visits as per itinerary, Local guides for touring

Not Included: Any airfares, Any personal expenses and any items not specifically mentioned as included in the program

Possible Extensions

Extend Your Stay by adding Tuscany - Request your Customized Program
Include an Escorted Wine and Culinary Extravaganza in Tuscany! Oct. 26-November 1, 2008 - Stay at Villa Sant’Andrea in Cortona and experience the Olive Oil Harvest and Milling of the Oil and enjoy the treasures of the organic garden. Visit Siena, the Montalcino, Montepulciano and Chianti Wine Regions, Assisi, and Arezzo and have an insider’s view on the cooking and traditional culinary specialties of this glorious area of Italy.

Extend your stay in Northern Italy Custom Designed to your Desires - Request your Customized Program

• Northern Lakes and Padana: Novara: a town close to the Lombardy border, Ghemme: DOC wine and famous for the production of an excellent “Nebbiolo of the North” and visit Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore and and Arona cheese tasting
• Padana and Valsesia: Valesesia: wool and fabrics industry and cuisine of snails, frogs and polenta, Gattinara: excellent Nebbiolo, Vercelli and the Po: The best rice in the world
• Lombardy and the Aosta Valley: Lombardy: Milan, Bergamo, Pavia and Cremona, Franciacorta Chardonnay wine and the Padana Plain, Aosta Valley: Fontina Cheese and the wines of Chambave

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