Northern Italy food and wine tour from Parma

Get ready to taste some of the world appreciated Italian food excellence such as Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Culatello di Zibello and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.

With the comfort of a private transportation and driver throughout the tour, you will visit small producers, wineries and workshops, learning the processes that lead to the creation of these excellences of Italian food and wine. 

DAY 1 - Arrival and welcome dinner

Pick up from Milan or Bologna Airport. Private transfer to the province of Parma, the very real heart of the Italian Food Valley. Check in at an historical and charming Castle Relais in the hills surrounding the city. Free time. Typical dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight at the Relais.

DAY 2 - Food and wine day tour!

Breakfast at the Relais and head on to visit one of the best wineries of the nearby province of Piacenza, which real connaisseurs will discover as one of the richest wine estate areas of Italy, with up to 18 PDO wines ranging from local to international varieties, to start with its still or sparkling elegant red Gutturnio. Tasting lunch at the end of the visit. On the way back to Parma, stop-by gt the charming fortified village with own fortress in Vigoleno: a walk within its high walls will let you live a romantique escape and the un mistakable atmosphere of the Italian Middle Ages…and don’t forget to try a sip of Vin Santo, a liqueur wine produced in minimal quantities only by the best vintages.
A last must-stop in a completely different landscape, i.e., the lowlands of the Po River, will make your day: you can’t skip the emotion of combining Culatello di Zibello PDO, one of Italy’s most artisanal cured meats, with the local sparkling red/rosé Fortana del Taro.  This magic combo will be served in another castle which nowadays houses not only the ageinf of Culatello, but also a Michel starred restaurant and a
country-chic relais de charme: no need to add a dinner after it! Back to the hotel and overnight

DAY 3 -  Torrechiara, Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano, Balsamic Vinegar

Check-out, meet our guide in Parma and start your tour of the Food Valley icons! First of all, visit an authentic producer of Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO: you'll first see the hand making, then the salting process in the pools and finally the "wheel cathedrals", real walls mountains of cheese in a single room. Tasting at the end. Photo stop at the medieval Castle of Torrechiara dominated by its romantic castle: for sure the most spectacular amidst the Castles of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza and Northern Italy, dating back to 1448 DC. After that visit one of the family-run Prosciutto di Parma factories producing the mythical Prosciutto di Parma. You will get to know why the best ham can only be made in the hills of Parma, where the Marino wind blows from the Ligurian Sea through the so-called Food Valley of Italy. Full lunch based on the typical products of the territory in a farm-to-table restaurant Parmigiano, Prosciutto aswell as other kind of local cold cuts, a typical filled pasta dish (tortelli di Parma), homemade cakes. All paired up with local wines like Lambrusco and Malvasia! In the afternoon transfer to the province of Reggio Emilia OR Modena for a guided visit + final tasting at a family run production site of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar PDO . End of activities and transfer to the Franciacorta wine region between lake Iseo and Lake Garda (administratively: Lombardia). Check-in at a local luxury country resort, with welcome drink and typical dinner to follow.

Day 4 - Franciacorta Wine Day Tour

Breakfast at the hotel and head on to your tour at the discovery of the Franciacorta PDO wines. First of all, you’ll have to visit Berlucchi, worldwide famous for their different kinds of precious spumante wines made according to the classic champagne method. Final tasting at the end of the visit and typical lunch at one of the typical restaurants of the area. In the afternoon, visit another world-famous winery located in a spectacular location called Bellavista: after the cellar tour, you’ll experience their unforgettable tasting of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero. Final dinner in a restaurant of the area and night at the
hotel.

DAY 5 - Departure

Breakfast. Check out. End of our services. Optional transfer to Verona or Milan Airport