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| Piedmont: Lush Vineyards & White Truffles.
Day One: Milan - Acqui Terme Welcome to Piedmont. After our meeting at the Acqui Terme Train Station our guides will transfer you to our hotel where you we’ll toast your arrival with a traditional Spumante during your bike fitting, safety talk, and map review. Enjoy an afternoon loop ride and a short walk around the village of Acqui Terme. You will spend the following two nights in a very prestigious 19th century refurbished villa, an exclusive environment where to treat oneself to the thermal waters and beauty farm services.
Meals: Dinner at hotel Accommodation: Hotel Roma Imperiale Accomplished: 15 km/ 9.3 miles
Day Two: Acqui Terme Loop Enjoy the quietness of this precious town, famous for its thermal waters and gastronomic specialties. Get excited to explore the real countryside of Piedmonte. You will bicycle up and down along country roads, passing lost villages like Cremmolino. Enjoy a private visit to our friend Giorgio's villa for a wine tasting's and lunch prepared by his family. You will be able to taste the excellent Dolcetto d’Acqui. After this memorable local experience, cycle back to our hotel and enjoy some down time at the spa, what an excellent reward after a day on the bike.
Meals: Breakfast/ Gourmet Picnic/ Dinner at private villa, home made cooking Accommodation: Hotel Roma Imperiale Accomplished: 40 km/ 24.9 miles
Day Three: Acqui Terme to Relais & Chateaux Villa San Maurizio Today you will cycle across the famous Langhe hills, lands of excellent wines and valuable truffles. You will get to know the gracious medieval towns of Montabone and Rocchetta Palafea before reaching Canelli, where you will visit the unique underground cellars – the “cathedrals” – where the wine rests and ages in order to grant that special quality, which is appreciated worldwide. Option to bike 2 miles up to our luxurious 17th century monastery, recently turned into a fascinating Relais & Chateaux property. You are in for an unforgettable stay, as you will enjoy the spectacular view on the Dolcetto and Moscato vineyards while relaxing in theirunique wine-therapy treatments at Caudelie's Vinothérapie Spa. Tonight, phenomenal meal and wine list at their Michelin-starred Ristorante Da Guido. It is a zigzag climb through steep vineyards to the high summit, where the relais is hidden behind tall cypress trees. The rooms are elegantly furnished, but what makes the relais special are its lush gardens at sunset and a to-die-for designer pool.
Meals: Breakfast/ Dinner Accommodation: Relais & Chateaux Villa San Maurizio Accomplished: 40 km/ 24.9 miles - hilly
Day Four: Santo Stefano Belbo to Monforte d’Alba Today is like cycling in a postcard! Gorgeous riding along the ride of the prestigious Piedmonte vineyards. The grapevine is the queen of the Langhe, Barolo is the king, and the white truffle is the treasure of this delicious reign! You will enjoy breathtaking views while majestic age-old trees will guide you through a territory rich in art-historical evidence. Welcome to the land of Angelo Gaja the King of Barbaresco to the Emperor of Italian wines, although he refers to himself as an 'artisan', perhaps you can meet him having lunch in a local Trattoria.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch Accommodation: Hotel Villa Beccaris Accomplished: 40 km/ 24.9 - hilly Day Five: Monforte to Barolo Loop You will visit Grinzane Cavour, famous for its castle – one of the most ancient and important of the Langhe – where the annual white truffle world auction is held. In Monforte you will be received in a 18th century elegant mansion, where you will spend the night after having tried the excellent Piedmont cuisine in a typical “osteria”. No trip to Piedmont can be complete without a visit to the cellar of famous winemaker, Domenico Clerico. A Private wine tasting with him is all about passion, as he explains his region, his viticoltori friends, the grapes and his own terrific wines, which are some of the greatest Barolo, Barbera and Nebbiolo you will ever sample. You'll see a great difference to the wines of Mascarello, as Clerico is the ultra-modernist, using only small French barrique barrels.
Meals: Breakfast/ Dinner Accommodation: Hotel Villa Beccaris Accomplished: 25 km/ 15.6 miles - hilly
Day Six: Monforte d’Alba - Alba After breakfast on the terrace, say goodbye to Piedmont however you see fit. Challenge yourself with an optional morning loop ride or finish your shopping in Monforte. Or we’ll see you off at the train station as you head on to your next destination. Our guides will shuttle you to Alba train station.
Meals: Breakfast Accomplished: Total Satisfaction!
TRIP TOTAL: 180 KM/ 110 MILES, averaging 25-40 km/ 15-30 miles per day. Optional longer rides available each day. Hilly, village on top of hills, vineyards |
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