This is a six-day celebration of Autumn for two people entering the Autumn of their lives, Charles and Julia, turning 50 this year. For them we have sought out a prime cut of Northern Italy, from Torino into the Langhe, with its undulating hills of vineyards and hilltop fortresses. The story of this region in Autumn is the story of osterias and ochre forests, white truffles and big red wines. And, of course, our mortality.
Welcome cocktails at Pfatisch, an Art Nouveau cafe under the gilded arcades of old Torino
Classic Piemontese osteria dishes in a long, relaxed, family-style dinner at Antiche Sere
Transfer after dinner down to the Langhe to our villas for the week
Day
2
Stars of the Langhe
Scarpa Villas
Cascina Monvigliero, 28, 12060 Verduno CN, Italy
+393484765176
Silvio Pistone, iconic cheesemaker, hosts us at his farm for sheep cheese, salume, and, if the gods smile upon Silvio and us, there may be fresh truffles
A visit to the workshop of hazelnut producers Gallesio in Benevello
Siesta, hangout at Scarpa
Private dining at the historic Michelin-starred restaurant Guido on the Fontanafredda Estate
Day
3
Hello Bocce
Scarpa Villas
Cascina Monvigliero, 28, 12060 Verduno CN, Italy
+393484765176
Sleep in, wake up to great Italian coffee and baked goods and the site of the ochre vineyards all around
Head to learn the beautiful game, bocce, in Alba. With beers and wine, just to raise the difficulty a bit.
Lunch at OsteriaDa Gemma, picturesque Piemontese pasta palazzo
Siesta or hang at the villa
Agnolotto-making workshop in the test kitchen of Italy’s greatest food studies school, Pollenzo University
Cook and eat our masterwork for dinner with a private chef back at Scarpa Villa
Day
4
The Stars of the Langhe
Scarpa Villas
Cascina Monvigliero, 28, 12060 Verduno CN, Italy
+393484765176
Visit to the Ettore Germano winery, making Barolos in Serralunga d’Alba since 1856
Look for wines that are even older than Charles and Julia in Germano’s cellar
Hike the vineyards from Barolo to La Morra with plenty of cheese, wine and salami
Time for another Scarpa siesta
Classic Langhe cuisine at Restaurant Il Centro in Priocca, famous for its Fritto Misto
Day
5
Into nature
Turin Palace Hotel
Pack up and head north. Roadtrip to the heroic cliffside vineyards of Carema with Gian Marco Viano, one of Italy’s great young winemakers
Rice historyand lunch at Carema with a risotto meal cooked by two of northern Italy’s greatest risotto masters
Last dinner in Torino, this time at Consorzio, the innovative, eclectic wine bar and restaurant run by friends
Optional Torino bar crawling
Day
6
GOODBYE FRATELLI
Arrivederchi unfortunately has nothing to do with ‘arrive’. It’s all goodbyes as everyone heads back on their flights home.
