Piedmont: Barolo & Truffles

Transcription

1 PIEDMONT: LAND OF BAROLO & TRUFFLES 2018 Piedmont: Barolo & Truffles P E D A L Y O U R P A S S I O N ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Essence / Page 2 A feast for all your senses Daily Itinerary / Page 3-5 Our tour of Piedmont unveils a region that has achieved the status of gastronomic and enological perfection. Considered Italy s greatest single wine region, the most important and distinct vineyard centers of Gavi, Acqui Terme, and Alba in Piedmont serve as the focal points of our tour. At our exclusive winery visits, local experts discuss the tradition of winemaking and the nuances of the area s many microclimates that give the wine their prized sophistication. We also have some important enoteche (wine showrooms) housed in historic buildings. With great wine comes delightfully paired cuisine. The cuisine of Piedmont is a blend of northern Italian and French influences, with the truffle and mushrooms as seasonal key players. Arrival & Departure / Page 6 Ciclismo Classico Bike Information / Page 6 Terms & Conditions / Page 7 Reserve Your Space / Page info@ciclismoclassico.com 1

2 TRIP ESSENCE Less-traveled, gorgeous country roads Dinners at top restaurants in Alba and Acqui Terme Introduction to world-famous local wines Meet with a truffle hunter and his dog for a lecture on truffles Emerald valleys and vineyard-laden hillsides Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera Private wine tastings by our local hosts and sommeliers WHAT S INCLUDED Use of a carbon road bike (see page 6 for details) Service of local, professional guides throughout the program Ciclismo jersey and water bottle All accommodations All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 6 dinners 3 wine tastings 3 cycling clinics Guided walking tour of Acqui Terme Truffle hunting demonstration Shuttle at the end of the tour TRIP DETAILS 2018 Trip Dates May 25-Jun 1 Jun 8-15 Jul 27-Aug 3 Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct 5-12 Check website for departure dates Ability Level Intermediate Summary of Daily Distances Day 1: 13 miles Day 2: 38 miles Day 3: 37 miles Day 4: 40 miles Day 5: 35 miles Day 6: 49 miles Day 7: 38 miles Day 8: Arrivederci! Optional extra loops available Trip Price $5,195 Single Supplement: $800 Have something else in mind? Itinerary available as a private tour or... Create a custom itinerary with help from our experienced travel consultants! Contact Us info@ciclismoclassico.com Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 2

3 DAY 1 MONTEROTONDO DI GAVI Daily Mileage - 13 miles Elev. Gain ft Riding Terrain - Rolling Hotel - L Ostelliere Albergo Location: Monterotondo di Gavi Duration: 1 Night it/en/albergo DAY 2 GAVI TO ACQUI TERME Daily Mileage - 38 miles Elev. Gain - 3,025 ft Riding Terrain - Hilly Hotel - Grand Hotel Nuo ve Terme Location: Acqui Terme Duration: 2 Nights grandhotelnuoveterme.com/ DAY 3 ACQUI TERME Daily Mileage - 37 miles Elev. Gain - 2,400 ft We meet in the hotel lobby at 12:30 pm for lunch, introductions and an orientation to the trip. After a bike fitting, we take a short warm-up ride in the hills behind our lovely villa to Museo dei Campionissimi, an awesome exhibit of cycling memorabilia, pictures, and movies. In the evening we enjoy a scrumptious dinner at the hotel restaurant which allows us to savor the local yummy delicacies: buon appetito! L Ostelliere Albergo is a beautifully refined farmhouse dating back to the 17 th century and is set on the property of one of the finest vineyards in the region, Villa Sparina. It mirrors the surrounding countryside in both its simplicity and in its careful preservation of the original architectural features. Today we pedal from Gavi to Acqui, passing some of the castles of Monferrato, a hilly area where each village is protected by a castle. The vineyards of Dolcetto, Cortese, and Moscato are the landmarks of this ride. We stop along the way for a nice lunch of focaccia, an enological talk, and then arrive in the town of Acqui Terme. Before dinner, a local guide will lead us through town to discover the most important monuments of Acqui. Acqui has been well-known for its hot waters since Roman times. During our stay, we ll have the chance to enjoy the thermal facilities of our hotel and to uncover the best secrets of local gastronomy. In 1891 the Grand Hotel Terme was born. After careful renovation with respect to the original architectural design, this 4-star accommodation was reopened in 2002 and today, offers modern service in a quiet and welcoming atmosphere, equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Our ride brings us to the area of Nizza, which is famous for its Barbera wine. On our first visit to a local winery, we taste wines and eat a picnic lunch with the owner and oenologist, Daniele. The area features hills covered with vineyards and spectacular views of tiny villages. Riding Terrain - Hilly with a few climbs in the morning Hotel - See Day 2 Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 3

4 DAY 4 ACQUI TO ALBA Daily Mileage - 40 miles Elev. Gain - 3,630 ft Riding Terrain - Rolling with a few climbs Hotel - Calissano Location: Alba Duration: 2 Nights com/ DAY 5 LOOP TO BAROLO Daily Mileage - 35 miles Elev. Gain - 2,500 ft. This morning we pedal to Alba crossing the Alte Langhe, the highest and wilder portion of this territory where Cortemilia is the main town, famous for its hazelnuts and Nutella. A majestic view of the Alps will be on our side for almost the entire ride. Located in the historical heart of Alba close to the Piazza del Duomo, this early 19 th -century building has been renovated with special care taken to preserve the original architecture. Today we pedal through the vineyards of Barolo and Monforte, passing by La Morra, famous for its belvedere from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Langhe area. Along the way, we ll stop at the Barolo s castle for a special wine tasting. After lunch, a local truffle hunter will give us a special demonstration with his loyal dog. Riding Terrain - Several 1-2 mile climbs Hotel - See Day 4 DAY 6 CIOCCARO DI PENANGO Daily Mileage - 49 miles Elev. Gain - 3,575 ft Riding Terrain - Rolling hills Today s ride takes us nearby Barbaresco, home of the other great red of Piedmont. As we descend, the landscape offers a patchwork series of vineyards as well as fruit and nut tree farms. We continue north, entering the round hills area of Monferrato, and finally soothe our tired legs at the pool of our hotel in the countryside. The Relais Sant Uffizio is located in the heart of Monferrato, surrounded by vineyards and pretty red-brick villages, tucked away in the green hills. Hotel - Relais Sant Uffizio Location: Cioccaro di Penango Duration: 2 Nights home.html Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 4

5 DAY 7 LOOP TO VIGNALE MONFERRATO Daily Mileage - 38 miles Elev. Gain - 2,940 ft Today we visit the Monferrato area. By lunchtime, we arrive in Vignale where we stop and enjoy the local wines called Barbera, Grignolino and Ruchè. There is very little traffic along these roads, providing great cycling. In the afternoon, we arrive at Montemagno with great views of the surrounding countryside. Riding Terrain - Hilly with a tough climb Hotel - See Day 6 DAY 8 ARRIVEDERCI! After breakfast around 9 am, we provide one shuttle to Vercelli train station (40-minute ride), where the group can catch trains to all other destinations in Italy. We are happy to assist you with your travel plans! Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 5

6 ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE GETTING TO MONTEROTONDO DI GAVI Option 1: Fly to Turin-Caselle Airport (TRN) and take the frequent bus service (50 min) or taxi to Torino Porta Nuova train station. Take a train ( to Serravalle Scrivia (1 hour, 20 minutes), then a taxi* (5 minutes) to the first hotel. Option 2: Fly to Milan (MXP), take the Malpensa Shuttle to Milano Centrale train station (50 minutes), then a train to Arquata Scrivia (1.5 hrs) and taxi** to the hotel (15 minutes). Option 3: Fly to Genoa C. Colombo (GOA) and take the frequent bus service to the Genova Central train station (20 minutes), then a train to Arquata Scrivia (30 minutes) and taxi to the hotel (15 minutes). **Taxis are not always available at Arquata Scrivia. Contact the hotel to book the transfer once you arrive or in advance by calling OTHER INFORMATION For Flight Reservations Valerie Wilson Travel Call: or ciclismoair@vwti.com Travel Insurance MH Ross Call: Transportation Rome2rio DEPARTING FROM CIOCCARO DI PENANGO We provide a morning group shuttle around 9 am to the Vercelli train station (40 minutes). From Vercelli, there are direct trains to Turin (Torino, 1 hour) or there are trains to Milan (1 hour). BIKE INFORMATION Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Bianchi carbon fork, Shimano 105 triple groupset, an adjustable stem, and a wheel set laced with 32 spokes and 25mm tires. Included on all tours. Aluminum Hybrid More relaxed riding at a look-around-you pace, this is our custom-built, highperformance aluminum hybrid bicycles with straight handlebars. We also have a woman-specific frame. Included on all tours. Bianchi Intenso and Vertigo The carbon frame guarantees maximum performance with minimum stress for the riders, thanks to Bianchi s special C2C (Coast to Coast) frame design/ geometry and different material combination. Carbon bikes are equipped with compact crank and 11/32 cassette. Available for $250. Bianchi Intenso or Vertigo with Shimano included on all intermediate and advanced tours at no extra charge. Tandems Cannondale road or hybrid: racing posture with 700c wheels, or a more straight up position and 26 inch wheels. Available for $400. Co-motion Periscope: accommodates smaller team or even children. Available for $400. Honey tandem: light and responsive and perfect for experienced tandem riders. Available for $400. ebikes Available on all easy and athletic beginner tours, some intermediate and advanced tours. Please contact us for more information. Available for $400. ON THE BIKE Included Ciclismo Classico water bottle Two water bottle holders Map holder on handlebars and Garmin Edge GPS Handlebar bag Tire pump Combination bike lock Gel-padded saddle Choice of pedals Card with your tour leaders mobile phone numbers Garmin Edge GPS Included on all bikes Pedal Options Flat pedals Half-toe pedals (without straps) Toe cage pedals Things to Bring Helmet Optional: clipless pedals with shoes Optional: your own saddle Bike type outside of Europe may vary, please contact us at for more information. Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 6

7 INSURANCE, TERMS & CONDITIONS Insurance Ciclismo Classico will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. Information on travel insurance will be sent to you via once trip deposit is received. We recommend MH Ross, but travelers may choose the insurance carrier of their choice. Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to Ciclismo Classico. Exceptions to their cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. The purchase of short-term travel insurance policy is strongly recommended. Cancellation fees are determined as follows: Days before departure Cancellation fee 121+ days - 50% of the deposit* days - 100% of the deposit* days - 30% of the trip price days - 60% of the trip price 0-30 days - 100% of the trip price *You may transfer your trip deposit to another departure in the same tour season up to 90 days before your original departure with payment of a $100 per person transfer fee. Prices quoted are subject to adjustment without prior notification. OR your deposit (currently $600) may be carried forward to the following year as a credit toward the final balance of a tour. At the time of booking, we will ask for another $600 deposit to secure your spot. Carried-forward credits expire at the end of the year to which they are applied. Alterations to the tour itinerary Sometimes modifications may be made to the itinerary. We will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Any changes to the program are made in the best interest and safety of the group. To review our policies, please visit RESERVE YOUR SPACE To reserve a space, call Ciclismo Classico at Or, mail your deposit and contact information to: Ciclismo Classico attn: Rosa 30 Marathon St Arlington, MA At the time of registration, a deposit of $600 per person is due, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or check, made payable to Ciclismo Classico, along with your full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and address. We cannot confirm reservations without a deposit. Final payment is due 90 days before departure payable by check, credit card, wire transfer or money order. All travelers must review and sign a terms and conditions statement and a waiver form. Ciclismo Classico info@ciclismoclassico.com 7