Unforgettable memories and some of the world’s finest wines await! Italy’s Piedmont region, renowned for the prized Alba white truffle, is celebrated for its boutique wines and exceptional cuisine. Travelers from around the globe are drawn to its outstanding food, cult wines, medieval castles and hamlets, and the romantic, vineyard-covered hills. We’ll spend six nights at Hotel Da Felicin – Palazzo Boeri in Monforte d’Alba, a town the Guide Michelin calls “one of Italy’s most picturesque.” Highlights include a private tour of the ancient city of Turin, a genuine truffle hunt with a local trifalu (truffle hunter), and the breathtaking beauty of the Langhe countryside, painted in stunning seasonal colors. Most of all, you’ll enjoy exclusive tours and tastings at many of the region’s top wine estates, guided by wine expert Todd Ross, professional local guide Silvia Aprato, and internationally award-winning photojournalist Peter Martin, Managing Director of Martin Keegan Tours LLC.

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Sunday, Day 1 (Welcome to Italy!) – Pickup at Milan–Malpensa Airport, followed by a transfer to Monforte d’Alba and Hotel Giardino da Felicin Palazzo Boeri, located in the heart of one of the world’s foremost wine and gastronomic regions: the spectacularly beautiful Langhe of Piedmont. Situated in one of Barolo’s most charming wine villages, the hotel is just a short walk from the historic center of Monforte, a village offering panoramic views of vine-covered hills and the entire Alpine arc. This setting places the hotel at the epicenter of fine wine production, celebrated cuisine, and woodlands that hide the prized Alba white truffle. The Langhe has become Italy’s most prestigious food and wine region and is a “must” destination for lovers of wine, food, beautiful scenery, and medieval hill towns. Palazzo Boeri offers an ideal base for wine tasting and enjoying the area’s stunning landscapes. After settling in, guests are invited to join us for a welcome reception and an introduction to Piedmont wines, led by our expert local guide, Silvia Aprato. Dinner tonight is a short drive east to the tiny village of Roddino at Osteria da Gemma, a purely authentic and traditional restaurant where diners gather to eat as the Piedmontese do at home.

 

Monday, Day 2 (The Glories of Barbaresco) – After breakfast, we journey to Barbaresco for a tour and wine tasting at Gaja. Founded in 1859 by Giovanni Gaja, the estate has earned a reputation as one of Italy’s finest wine producers. Today, the winery is managed by Angelo Gaja and his three children, Gaia, Rossana, and Giovanni. Gaja’s wines are known for their rare purity, concentration, elegance, and distinctive personality. The estate produces a range of Barbarescos sourced from fourteen different vineyards, as well as cru Barolos and impressive white wines, including the Sauvignon Blanc Alteni di Brassica and the Chardonnay Rossj Bass. For lunch, we pause in Neive for a light meal at Al Nido della Cinciallegra, sampling local wines and Piedmontese delicacies offered by the house. After lunch, it’s a short drive to Produttori del Barbaresco, a historic cooperative winery founded in 1958 by local growers to produce high-quality Barbaresco wines together. Today it unites over 50 members cultivating nearly 120 hectares of Nebbiolo and is celebrated for its traditionally made Barbaresco DOCG wines, including several single-vineyard crus that reflect the distinct terroirs of the region. Dinner tonight is in Monforte d’Alba at the diminutive Osteria La Salita Sas di Saffirio Marco & C, a cozy, rustic osteria celebrated for its warm atmosphere and commitment to seasonal, locally sourced Piedmontese cuisine, with many dishes prepared from scratch. Guests enjoy a welcoming setting and thoughtful pairings with wines from the region’s rich cellar, making it a delightful stop for an authentic taste of Langhe culinary tradition.

 

Tuesday, Day 3 (Castiglione Falletto and Monforte d’Alba) – After breakfast, we wend our way north to the commune of Castiglione Falletto to begin the day with tastings of the sublime wines of Paolo Scavino. Scavino is a benchmark Barolo producer renowned for its precise, terroir-driven wines. Founded in 1921 and now guided by Enrico Scavino and his daughters, the estate marries traditional Piedmontese heritage with modern winemaking techniques to highlight the distinct character of each vineyard. Their Barolos are celebrated for elegance, structure, and remarkable aging potential. For lunch, we pause in the center of Castiglione Falletto at La Torri for a delicious meal in a lovely setting. In the afternoon, we visit another esteemed local producer, Giovanni Manzone, in Monforte d’Alba. Manzone is a respected, family-run estate known for producing Barolo wines of depth, balance, and strong territorial character. Working with prized hillside vineyards such as Gramolere and Castelletto, the Manzone family emphasizes traditional methods, including extended macerations and aging in large oak casks. The resulting wines are expressive, structured, and finely attuned to the rugged elegance of Monforte’s terroir. Dinner tonight is at the nearby Trattoria della Posta, a beloved, family-run restaurant celebrated for its warm hospitality and classic Piedmontese cuisine. The menu highlights seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, offering comforting regional dishes that pair beautifully with the wines of the Langhe.

 

Wednesday, Day 4 (Torino Detour) – After breakfast, we travel about an hour north to the vibrant city of Turin. With its Baroque architecture and many cafés, Torino is reminiscent of both Paris and Vienna, yet, surrounded by the Alps, has a character all its own. An expert, licensed Turin guide leads us on a walking tour of the city’s most important sites, including Piazza Vittorio Veneto; the Mole Antonelliana, home to the National Cinema Museum; the Borgo Medievale; the Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo; the Cathedral of San Giovanni, which houses the famous Shroud of Turin; Piazza San Carlo; and the Palazzo Reale. Lunch is at a lively bastion of the Slow Food movement, Ristorante Consorzio on Via Monte di Pietà, serving delicious Piedmontese specialties accompanied by excellent local wines and cheeses. In the afternoon, there is time to explore some of the city’s eleven miles of arcades, home to shops such as Guido Gobino, renowned for its incomparable chocolate, or to visit a museum. Turin’s stunning Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) contains one of the world’s finest collections of antiquities. Dinner tonight is back in Serralunga d’Alba at the elegant Michelin one-star Guido Ristorante, “situated in a splendid old building on the top of a hill with panoramic views. It is renowned for its fine cuisine and excellent wine list—a superb combination of beautiful scenery and cuisine typical of the Langhe region,” according to ViaMichelin.

 

Thursday, Day 5 (Morning in Serralunga d’Alba, Afternoon Truffle Hunt) – After breakfast, we spend the morning visiting the pioneering Azienda Agricola Vigna Rionda, one of the most revered vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba, owned by the historic Massolino family estate. Planted on the famed south-facing Vigna Rionda cru, the estate produces some of Barolo’s most structured and long-lived expressions, celebrated for their depth, precision, and sense of place. Massolino’s stewardship of this iconic site reflects generations of dedication to traditional Barolo craftsmanship paired with thoughtful innovation. We then break for lunch to enjoy the genuine flavors of the Piemontese table at Osteria Veglio in La Morra. In the afternoon, we meander east toward Valle Talloria for a truffle hunt. Giuseppe Marengo offers some of the finest truffle hunting in the region. Accompanied by his uncle Carlo and his dog, Red, Giuseppe leads a true hunt through the forests where the prized white Alba truffle, as well as black truffles, lie hidden. Along the way, he explains how the trifalu (hunter) and dog work together during the search, which lasts about an hour. After working up our appetites, we gather in the evening for dinner at another of Monforte’s colorful restaurants, Osteria dei Càtari, just a short stroll from our hotel in Monforte’s historic upper town.

 

Friday, Day 6 (Monforte d’Alba and Castiglione Falletto) – After breakfast, we wend our way south to the neighboring commune of Monforte d’Alba to begin our day of tasting with the sublime wines of Elio Grasso. After our morning tasting, we journey to the town of Barolo, where we may stroll the streets before having lunch at the charming Barolo Friends wine bar and restaurant, located in the heart of Barolo, just steps from the historic castle. Known for its warm, inviting atmosphere and excellent service, it offers a thoughtfully curated selection of local Langhe wines alongside Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, making it an ideal spot to relax and savor regional flavors. In the afternoon, we visit another esteemed local producer, Fratelli Cavallotto – Tenuta Vitivinicola Bricco Boschis, in Castiglione Falletto. Our farewell dinner takes place in the unique setting of Le Case della Saracca in Monforte d’Alba. “Situated in the delightful Saracca district (Monforte’s historic center), this restaurant occupies a restored old house with glass and steel décor that provides a harmonious contrast with the building’s original features,” according to the Michelin Guide. Over wine and this excellent meal, we share the memorable moments of our past few days together before saying Arrivederci; fino a quando ci incontreremo di nuovo.

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Saturday, Day 7 – After an early breakfast, guests will be transferred by shuttle to Milan-Malpensa Airport for departures home or onward travel.