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EPICUREAN LUXURY IN SOUTHERN TUSCANY AND UMBRIA
O c t o b e r 5 th T h r o u g h O c t o b e r 1 2 th, 2 0 1 9
Italy is the second largest wine producer in the world after France! This means there is literally something for every oenophile in Italy - a vast array of reds, a variety of whites, sparkling wine even Vin Santo. The long-lasting culinary traditions and history are so compelling. We will experience all this and more in southern Tuscany and Umbria!
TRIP ITINERARY
D A Y 1 Meet i n R o m e
12:00am Vino Venue will provide transportation from the Rome Fiumincino airport on this day only.
2:00pm On our way to our villa we will stop off at Fattoria Pianporcino. This is an artisanal cheese producer. We will enjoy a tour and tasting with a lite, late lunch of caprese with primo sale and tomatoes, pecorino cheese, charcuterie, typical Tuscan bread, salad, Red D.O.C. Orcia wine and ricotta with sugar for dessert.
4:30pm Back on the bus. We’ll make a short stop at a grocery to pick up any necessary supplies for the villa (snacks, soft drinks, liquor and beer). We’ll arrive at our villa, get unpacked, kick the shoes off and grab a cocktail.
Villa Rombolino is our home away from home for the next week. Perched atop a gentile hill, located right in the Unesco region of Val d’Orcia, Rombolino delights with a professional kitchen, stunning views, heated
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infinity pool, and only 30 minutes to either Montepulciano or Montalcino. The estate also produces extra virgin olive oil and seasonal produce from the vegetable garden and orchards, including various jams and honey, complimentary to us!
7:30pm Welcome Reception as we watch the sun slowly slide down the horizon.
8:00pm Giovanna, our personal cook for the week, will make us dinner. We’ll dine al fresco, weather permitting.
D A Y 2 O r v i e t o
Yumm! Giovanna’s homemade breakfasts! Ask her for an occhio di bue (sunny side up farm egg!)!
8:00am Bus departure. Today we introduce you to Umbria and to Chef Lorenzo Polegri. Lorenzo is longtime friend of Vino Venue and the Bryans, an amazing Chef and ambassador to all that is Italian, especially Umbrian cuisine.
9:30am We will enjoy a walking tour through the medieval walled village of Orvieto. Our tour will include the Duomo, Signorelli Frescoes, Torre del Moro and some shopping!
Next is our cooking class with Lorenzo. Our lessons will include bread and pizza making and Pici, the local famous pasta, with other Umbrian dishes. Lorenzo’s love of life and cooking will inspire you to try these techniques on your family and friends back home. Of course, the wine will be flowing before, during and through the meal.
4:30pm Depart for Casa Segreta, Lorenzo’s home. He is opening up his lovely villa for us to relax, view his vineyards and the serenity that abounds. We will see how harvest went, and sip some of his delicious wines. It might even be olive oil pressing time and an opportunity to observe.
7:30pm Lorenzo will ply us with more food, an Italian style BBQ!
9:30pm Depart for Villa Page 3 of 8
D A Y 3 B alsamic and Brunello
An espresso or cappuccino today?
10:30am Depart the villa for Castello Banfi. At over 7,000 acres, and American-owned, Castello Banfi is an Italian icon. After a brief stroll on the grounds, we’ll have a tour of the Glass Museum, the foremost collection of antique glass in the world. Next we’ll sample and tour the Balsameria, where Banfi produces their succulent Salsa Etrusca (12-year Balsamic Vinegar). Then we will enjoy a multi- course lunch. Molto Bene!!
2:45pm Depart for Argiano for a tour and tasting. This will be our opportunity to enjoy Brunello di Montalcino, one of the world's most famous red wines. Argiano has a long tradition, since 1888, of producing world class Brunellos. They have one of the oldest caves in the region, from the 16th century. Castello Argiano was at one time an important Roman military outpost.
6:00pm Depart for villa
7:30pm Reception and dinner by chef Roberto Crocenzi at the villa.
D A Y 4 Truffle Hunting Day!
9:00am Depart our villa for truffle hunting and a picnic lunch. Please bring a pair of closed toe shoes for our truffle hunt and be prepared for a delicious roasted pork (Porchetta) picnic lunch with our guide and truffle hunter.
After lunch we will drive to Montalcino. The town is situated on a hilltop, and known for its timeless character, with narrow steep streets that wind up to the Fortezza. The impressive ramparts from 1571 are where you can enjoy the amazing view from the walkways. There you will find the Enoteca Fortezza. Be sure to ask about the stairway that leads to the ramparts for an incredible view of Montalcino and surrounding area. The Enoteca offers free shipping of a case of wine, mixed and matched and shared with friends!! Ask for Tina, she is our contact and works from the office.
4:00pm We’re off to Casanova di Neri for a tour and tasting. This winery is distinguished by their 2001 Brunello, ranking #1 among the world’s wines in 2006! And the 2010 earned 100 points.
6:00pm Depart for Osteria Porcellum for dinner. The restaurant is located in Bagno Vignoni, home of 16th century bath and hot springs. The landscape of Val d'Orcia is in view as we enjoy local delicacies.
8:30pm Depart for our villa. Page 4 of 8
D A Y 5 M o r e M ontepulciano
11:00am Depart for Avignonesi, renowned for their Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine. This top producer makes reds, whites, sweet wines (Vin Santo!), different Grappas, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. After a tour, we’ll enjoy a fantastic lunch.
3:30pm Depart Avignonesi for a leisurely afternoon by the pool!!
8:00pm Dinner with Giovanna.
D A Y 6 Montepulciano
9:00am Depart for Tenuta Valdipiatta for our tour and tasting that will include their olive oil. This is a boutique winery where we’ll taste the famed Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines.
11:00am Now we’re off to discover the town of Montelpuciano, which stands on a hill 600 meters above sea level. Rich with history, art and culture co-exist in an agricultural landscape of vineyards and olive groves here.
A place of beauty and goodness, Montepulciano is an artist’s jewel set on a hill surrounded by green vineyards. The center of the Tuscan Renaissance, this town is steeped in culture, art, and architecture. In the 17th century Vine Nobile wine was referred to as the ‘Bacchus of Tuscany,’ the most important Tuscan red wine— even ahead of Brunello and Chianti for 300 years.
We will hit the market where we can pick up a few items for our Vino Villa Cook Off!
1:00pm We will meet Susanna Crociani and tour her 14th century cellar. Susanna is the lively, warm-hearted ambassador of not only her family's brand, but all things Montepulciano. Susanna inherited the winemaking from her brother, who did so from his Father, and so on. We will lunch with Susanna which will undoubtedly include her own pecorino cheese, her own salami, and her estate olive oil. As well as her wines of course!
3:00pm Depart for villa and enjoy a relaxing afternoon “Dolce far Niente” the sweetness of doing nothing!!
5:00pm This is “make our own dinner night” AKA the Vino Villa Cook Off! This is a perfect time to open any wines you have obtained thus far.
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DAY 7 Relaxation!
A Day Off! Spend the day hanging out at the villa, get packed and join us at 1pm for Giovanna’s pizza. Then take a snooze or relax by the pool.
For those of you would like a shopping trip or perhaps to see Pope’s Gardens, these excursions can be arranged. Please inquire about the options and associated costs.
7:00pm Meet at the pool for appetizers and our last Tuscan sunset.
8:00pm Finale dinner!
DAY 8 H ead Home or Extend Your Stay!
Guests please have your luggage ready by 4:30am to begin to load the bus. We depart by 5:00am for Rome Fiumincino Airport!
P r i c e $4299 double occupancy PLUS travel insurance. $4999 single occupancy PLUS travel insurance.
Travel insurance is required. Insurance will be quoted on a case by case basis and provided through by Vino Venue. Travel insurance estimate is $250-350 per person.
Y o u r I t a l i a n Experience Will Include ✓ Transfers to/from Rome Fiumicino Airport ✓ All Ground Transportation during stay ✓ Vino Venue Sommelier Wine Host ✓ (7) Nights Luxury Accommodations ✓ Private Chef & Cooking Classes ✓ Course guide, cookbook of all recipes, an apron and chef’s jacket ✓ All scheduled off-site tours ✓ Seven (7) breakfasts, lunches, dinners ✓ Travel insurance
NOT INCLUDED ⬧ Airfare
Debbie Ruskin will be happy to help with any pre-trip or post-trip travel plans. [email protected].
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Luggage Traveler should pack so that you may transport your own Terms & Conditions from Vino Venue luggage as required to and from the bus and into our accommodations. Activities, Tours, Excursions, Meals In the event any tasting, tour, meal or experience Living Standards listed in this itinerary should change due to matters Foreign countries standards of living are different from beyond our control, it will be replaced with a similar the U.S. Traveler should expect small hotel rooms, quality experience. Note that the actual days and bathrooms and showers. Tubs may be utilized instead of times of the experiences may slide depending on showers. Air conditioning is not always offered. Ice is weather and winery schedules. not supplied at most hotels/accommodations.
Traveler may opt to exclude themselves from any Transfers activity. Please communicate directly with your tour Where transfers are included, there is one scheduled guide. group transfer for arrival and departure at a designated time and place. It is the responsibility of the tour Minimum to Run Trip participant to be at the transfer point at the designated 16 travelers are required for the trip to run at the price time. Private transfers can be arranged for an additional quoted. fee. Please be advised that if you are arriving and/or departing on the dates of the program, a late arrival or Payment & Refunds very early departure may necessitate a special transfer Check/Cash, or any major credit card will be accepted at an additional fee. Neither VINO VENUE nor its for trip payments. A deposit of 50% is due with your providers are responsible for late arrivals due to flight registration. The final amount will be charged ninety delays or any other reason. (90) days before your trip date. If you choose to cancel inside of one-hundred and eighty (180) days before the Travel Documents trip commencement, 0% of your payment will be It is the responsibility of each tour participant to obtain refunded. Cancellations must be confirmed in writing and carry relevant travel documents including a valid to [email protected]. If for any reason VINO passport, visa(s), and any other documents required by VENUE cancels the trip, 100% of your payment will be applicable government regulations. Non-US residents returned. Travel insurance is required and a quote will may require special travel documents. Check with your be supplied to you based on your age, flight cost and local embassy or consulate. any other travel you plan during this trip. Any requested adjustments due to issues on the trip should Responsibility be taken up directly with your tour guide while on the VINO VENUE does not own or operate any of the trip. suppliers of services or accommodations for your trip. As a result, it is not responsible for any negligent or willful Certification of Health act or failure to act of any such supplier or of any third By making payment, traveler certifies that he or she party over whom VINO VENUE has no control. VINO does not have any condition or disability that would VENUE and its representatives act only in the capacity of create a hazard or hardship for other travelers an agent of all air/land transportation, sightseeing, tour participating in the program and the traveler operators and hotels which provide services included in understands that health care standards, facilities and the specified tour. The individual tour participant agrees services in countries outside the U.S. may be different that VINO VENUE and its representatives shall not be or inadequate for treatment of certain health liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or conditions. VINO VENUE makes no representations or irregularity, liability or expense to person or property due warranties and disclaims any made regarding special to any act of default of hotel, air/land transportation accommodations or handicap accessibility on any carrier, restaurant supplier or other contractor rendering program. VINO VENUE reserves the right to decline or providing services. VINO VENUE and its accepting or retaining any traveler whose health or representatives shall not be responsible for any expense actions in VINO VENUE’ sole judgment impedes the or liability resulting from labor disputes, war, acts of operation of a trip or the welfare or enjoyment of fellow terrorism, government restraints, weather conditions, travelers. sickness, pilferage or any other cause beyond their control. VINO VENUE and its representatives reserve the VINO VENUE cannot guarantee to accommodate right to accept, or to retain or refuse any person as a allergies, dietary needs or restrictions. It is the sole participant of any tour or to cancel any program of a tour responsibility of the traveler to take care of their own if circumstances so demand. VINO VENUE and its dietary needs on this trip. representatives reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason (including insufficient Daily itinerary will include walking 3-5 miles and number of participants) or to change itineraries and/or multiple flights of stairs. substitute services or hotels of equal quality without prior notification. Wine cellars may not be conducive to those with asthma or allergies.
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Participant Agreement Release and I, the undersigned, have read, and agree to the Terms Acknowledgement of Risk and Conditions, as listed within this brochure.
Waiver and Release of Liability ______In consideration of VINO VENUE furnishing services to Printed Name enable me to participate in one of its programs, I agree as follows: ______I fully understand and acknowledge that culinary and Signature travel activities have: (a) inherent risks, dangers and hazards and such exist in my participation in VINO VENUE sponsored activities; (b) my participation in ______such activities may result in injury or illness; (c) these Date risks and dangers may be caused by the negligence of the owners, employees, officers or agents of VINO VENUE, the negligence of the participants, the Please provide a signed Terms and Conditions page negligence of others, accidents, breaches of contract, FOR EACH TRAVELER. the forces of nature or other causes; and (d) by my participation in these activities, I hereby assume all This signature portion may be faxed to: risks and dangers and all responsibility for any losses 404-745-8991 or emailed to and/or damages, whether caused in whole or in part by [email protected]. the negligence or other conduct of the owners, agents, officers, or employees of VINO VENUE, or by any other person.
I, on behalf of myself, my personal representatives and my heirs hereby voluntarily agree to release, waive, discharge, hold harmless, defend and indemnify VINO VENUE and its agents, officers and employees from any and all claims, actions or losses for bodily injury, property damage, wrongful death, loss of services or otherwise which may arise out of my participation in VINO VENUE's activities. Travelers further agree that they will indemnify and hold VINO VENUE harmless in respect of any claims arising in connection with the trip made by: a) third parties, which arise from the misconduct of the travelers; b) the traveler's family members, dependents of heirs, c) third parties, which the traveler, their estate, their family member, dependents of heirs have sued, if damages are recovered from such third parties, to the extent the third party obtains any indemnification from VINO VENUE. I understand that VINO VENUE reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any of its programs, and hereby agree that VINO VENUE may use any such photographic or film records for promotional and/or commercial purposes without any remuneration to the traveler. The traveler agrees to assign all right, title and interest they may have in or to any media in which their name or likeness might be used to VINO VENUE.
The venue of any dispute between the parties that may arise out of this agreement or otherwise shall be the Circuit Court of the state of Georgia.
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Italy 2019 Credit Card Authorization Form
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Note: All transactions will appear on your statements as Vino Venue Fax to 770-668-0435 or email to [email protected].
For Additional Information: Vino Venue 770-668-0435 www.vinovenue.com