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WineNot Boutique Wine and Gastronomy Tour

Rome, Umbria and Tuscany

September 28 to October 5th, 2019

or

October 5th to October 12th, 2019 Date Itinerary Accommodation Sept 28 /

Oct 5 Arrival in Rome and accommodation at the hotel 4 star River Palace

hotel Sept 29 /

Oct 6 Guided visits in Rome: Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum and Imperial Forum, and welcome dinner (B, D)

4 star River Palace hotel

Sept 30 / Oct 7

Transfer to Umbria, stop in Orvieto for a guided visit, visit to a winery and tasting, accommodation at the hotel (B, L)

4 star Ripa del Sole hotel

Oct 1/ Oct 8

Perugia guided visit, Chocolate factory visit and tasting, visit to a winery and wine tasting (B, L)

4 star Ripa del Sole hotel

Oct 2 / Oct 9

Truffle hunt in the woods an lunch, guided visit in Assisi and visit of Spello (B, L)

4 star Ripa del Sole hotel

Oct 3 / Oct 10

Cooking class and lunch, visit to Montefalco wineries and tastings (B, L)

4 star Ripa del Sole hotel

Oct 4 / Oct 11

Tuscany: visit to Montalcino, Brunello wineries and tastings, and Farewell dinner in Pienza. (B, L, D)

4 star Ripa del Sole hotel

Oct 5 / Oct 12

Transfer to Rome and departure

B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 Sept 28 (or Oct 5) - Arrival in Rome

Meet our English-speaking assistant at the airport. Private transfers by minibus to the magnificent 4-star hotel River Palace located in the center of Rome near Piazza del Popolo.

We will arrange two separate transfers by minivan with an English-speaking assistant.

Day at leisure, dinner on your own.

Day 2 Sept 29 (or Oct 6) - Explore The Best Of Rome With Our Expert Guide

Meet your guide at the hotel and transfer by private bus to the Vatican for a guided visit of the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. We start with the Vatican Museum, home of the most astonishing art collection in the world, ranging from Ancient Egyptian to Etruscan to Contemporary art, and consists of 4 miles of halls depicting some 2100 years of art.

The highlights will be the Laocoön, the Apollo, Raphael’s Rooms and the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's frescoes. Then on to St. Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s work.

Lunch on your own.

Then we will visit the Forum, Capitoline Hill, and the Colosseum. At the end of the visit make your own way to the hotel.

Welcome dinner in a gourmet restaurant, walking distance from your hotel (wine included).

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Day 3 Sept 30 (or Oct 7) - Umbria – Orvieto

Pick up from the hotel in Rome, today we will travel to Umbria region. We will stop on the way in Orvieto, where we will meet our guide for a half day guided visit of the Gothic Cathedral, one of the most important medieval buildings in Italy, containing the Last Judgment fresco by Fra’ Angelico and Luca Signorelli, the historic centre and a visit to the Etruscan underground tunnels, and lunch in a gourmet restaurant (wine included).

Then we will visit the superb Winery Decugnano dei Barbi for a guided visit and wine tasting. Decugnano dei Barbi is an elegant boutique winery producing wines that are extremely smooth and with a strong identity. The experience, led by the winery's Wine Master, includes a visit to the modern area of the Estate, a walk through the vineyards into the ancient caves, where the sparkling wine traditional method is made, and the French oak barrels are kept.

The wine tasting will take place in the old Medieval Chapel of Saint Mary of Decugnano where the Wine Master will guide you through three tastings, specially chosen for you, together with a selection of local delicacies.

Accommodation at the 4-star hotel Ripa del Sole in the countryside around Perugia. Ripa Relais Colle del Sole rises like a jewel between the sweet Umbrian hills in front of Assisi and Perugia. Although protected by the most enchanting scenery, Ripa Relais is a short distance from Umbria’s most beautiful destinations. The hotel features also a private Spa.

Dinner on your own.

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Day 4 Oct. 1 (or Oct 8) - Perugia, Torgiano Wines & Perugina Chocolate Factory

Pick up from the hotel and transfer by bus to Perugia’s historic centre, where we will meet our guide for a half day guided visit. The capital of Umbria was founded by the Etruscans in the 7th century B.C. The untouched historical centre is one of the largest and most interesting in Italy. From the ancient Etruscan remains to the Middle-Ages, from Renaissance to Baroque, every period produced absolute masterpieces. This beautiful town will surprise and charm you with unexpected sites and views.

Lunch will be in a gourmet restaurant in Perugia (wine included).

In the early afternoon you will visit the Perugina Chocolate Factory and have a chocolate tasting. The heart of Italian chocolate beats in a fascinating place rich in history. It is the Casa del Cioccolato Perugina, a unique place in the world, a few kilometers from the center of Perugia, where anyone can breathe chocolate emotions and make a real journey. A place in which to live a unique experience and discover all the secrets of "food for the gods".

Then we will reach Lungarotti Winery in Torgiano where we will visit the wine Museum, with a tour of the winery and wine tasting to follow. Umbria’s premier winery, Lungarotti is credited with earning the region its initial fame, thanks to its pioneering wines and insatiable drive to promote Umbrian wine and culture. The owners were also innovators in wine tourism in Italy, founding the wine museum.

Although wine has been made in Umbria for untold centuries, it was under the hand of Giorgio Lungarotti and his earthy Sangiovese blends that Umbrian wines reached a worldwide audience in modern times. Lungarotti produces a wide variety of wines but is best known for three iconic wines: San Giorgio, Rubesco (Umbria’s first DOC-recognized wine) and Rubesco Vigna Monticchio (a single-vineyard Rubesco Riserva).

Transfer back to the hotel.

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Day 5 Oct. 2 (or Oct 9) - Truffle Hunt & Assisi, Spello

In the morning we will reach the truffle hunter and his dogs in the countryside around Città di Castello for a truffle hunt in the woods. This is a unique and evocative experience. The truffle hunters and dogs will lead you on a fascinating expedition through the woods, hunting truffles! After an optional visit to a medieval hamlet you will join the cook in kitchen just to see how to prepare the day’s harvest and enjoy your lunch.

Lunch including truffle at the farm will follow (wine included).

In the afternoon we reach Assisi where Saint Francis of Assisi is buried in the monumental Basilica di San Francesco. With your private art guide, you will tour this wonderful village, seeing Giotto’s frescoes in the basilica, as well as the Romanesque-Gothic San Pietro church and the Piazza del Comune. On your way back to Perugia, we will stop in the perfect little medieval hamlet of Spello. Transfer back to the hotel and dinner on your own.

Day 6 Oct. 3 (or Oct 10) - Cooking Class & Montefalco Wineries

In the morning pick up from the hotel and transfer by bus to a Villa, a fine Country House on the outskirts of Foligno, fully immersed in an authentic Italian life-style, where we will have a hands on cooking class with the chef. During the private cooking class, the chef will guide you through the preparation of a traditional Italian meal. A real feast consisting in 2 appetizers, 2 pasta dishes, 1 second course and a light dessert. Lunch will follow (wine included).

In the afternoon we will visit Paolo Bea winery in Montefalco, one of the finest in Italy. The wines, made organically without pesticides or herbicides, are robust and complex. This winery considered to be the best garage winery in Umbria, producing cult wines for collectors. Paolo Bea’s flagship wine is the Sagrantino di Montefalco Secco, a fleshy, jewel-toned red. Also highly acclaimed is the Montefalco Rosso Riserva, and one of the most cherished wines for true Italian wine lovers is the Paolo Bea Sagrantino Passito. Tasting of these famous organic wines will follow.

We will visit then another flagship winery: Arnaldo Caprai which produces top-quality elegant wines that uniquely express the terroir of Montefalco and it's the leader in the production of Sagrantino di Montefalco wine. The owner Marco Caprai says that Tradition – Innovation – Territory are the key words that drive the everyday efforts at the winery. While Caprai is firmly rooted in tradition, such as using the native variety of grapes, they also focus on innovation and are constantly thriving to improve production methods both in the vineyard and the cellar. We will tour the vineyards, the winery and Barricaia (barrel room).

Transfer back to the hotel and dinner on your own.

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Day 7 Oct. 4 (or Oct 11) - Montalcino Village, Tuscany

Pick up from the hotel, we will drive to the Montalcino area of Tuscany. Today we will taste some of the most famous Italian wines: Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino. You will first reach Montalcino. This ancient village is best known for its red Brunello di Montalcino wines, made with Sangiovese Grosso grapes. You will have a private visit to the Brunello producer Winery Poggio Antico, a spectacular, family-run winery producing stellar wines. Poggio Antico is one of the highest-altitude estates in Tuscany and this high altitude leaves an unmistakable footprint on the wines made here, creating a full bouquet that’s hard to find elsewhere in Montalcino.

On the way to the winery, you will stop for a quick visit of the stunning ruins of the 9th century Abbazia di Sant’Antimo. At the winery you will tour the cellars, the vineyards and take in the gorgeous views and taste Brunello “Riserva” and Rosso di Montalcino.

Lunch in Montalcino (wine not included, we have a heavy tasting day today).

In the afternoon you will visit the superb boutique Winery Le Potazzine. Le Potazzine is one of the leaders in Montalcino with the production of first prize award winning Brunello di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva and Rosso di Montalcino. They also produce a simpler pure Sangioveto Grosso IGT wine, which you will sample to get the full understanding of the evolution of this unique variety through the different vinification and aging process. We wil have a wine tasting and tour of the estate.

Then we will reach Pienza, the wonderful Renaissance jewel, where we will have a truly special Farewell Dinner (wine included) in a truly special place: a restaurant located in the Convent's hanging garden, a large terrace that opens out over the Val d'Orcia. Tables are set under the linden trees, surrounded by the fragrant scents of the garden where there are still plants and herbs grown by the monks. Chef Michele and Maître Maurizio welcome you and offer their great skills and passion for cooking and flavors. The friendly service will accompany the menus selected according to the great Tuscan cooking tradition. To complement, there is an exceptional wine cellar. Transfer back to the hotel.

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Day 8 Oct. 5 (or Oct 12) - Returning to Rome

Private transfer by bus to Airport.

Price for the Trip: $ 3,395 (per person, double occupancy); $ 3,795 (per person,

single occupancy)

Included

• 4 stars hotels, 7 night accommodation, all breakfast

• Meals: 5 lunches, 2 dinners (1 welcome dinner and 1 farewell dinner). Wine included for all

the meals, wine not included on lunch in Montalcino.

• Private Transfer from/to airports, excursions as per program by private bus.

• Guided visits: full day Rome, half day Orvieto (day 3), half day Perugia (day 4), half day

Assisi (day 5).

• 6 winery visits/tastings

• 1 cooking class

• Gourmet food tastings: Visit of Perugina Chocolate factory

• Truffle hunt and lunch

• Reservation to skip the line and tickets for Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Colosseum

• Mineral water on the bus

Not included:

• Airfair

• Meals or snacks not listed above

• Private travel insurance