How to prepare for a food and wine tour in Italy? Check out these ten tips so that you can enjoy your experience to the fullest!
A food tour in Italy is no joke. Italy’s biodiversity means that you’re likely to find a special product with qualities that render it completely different from any other product in Italy…even one produced or harvested just down just five miles away.
Suffice it to think that the precious truffles of Piedmont cannot grow in the soil of nearby Lombardy, where instead the conditions are ideal for Gorgonzola. Anchovies are the flagship of Liguria, while the dish of excellence in its neighboring Tuscany is Bistecca Fiorentina, the famous Chianina veal steak. The same goes for wines, of course: From north to south, from east to west, each grape variety boasts its own special characteristics.
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A food tour in Italy is no joke. Italy’s biodiversity means that you’re likely to find a special product with qualities that render it completely different from any other product in Italy…even one produced or harvested just down just five miles away.
Suffice it to think that the precious truffles of Piedmont cannot grow in the soil of nearby Lombardy, where instead the conditions are ideal for Gorgonzola. Anchovies are the flagship of Liguria, while the dish of excellence in neighboring Tuscany is Bistecca Fiorentina, the famous Chianina veal steak. The same goes for wines, of course: From north to south, from east to west, each grape variety boasts its own special characteristics.
So, how to make the most of a food and wine tour in Italy? It’s most certainly possible to taste all the delicacies of the Italian terroir without feeling guilty about all that sugar and carb intake. We promise! All you have to do is keep these ten simple tips in mind.
1. Read the program carefully
Simple, but not unimportant: Firstly, read the program from the tour operator carefully and thoroughly. Don’t assume that it will follow the same flow of any previous food and wine tour you might have taken..every tour is different! What is always certain, however, is that you’re in for a treat.
2. Keep an eye on the clock
You’re having fun on vacation, and you’re right to be relaxed, but just take care to be mindful of the time. The tiniest of delays could possibly affect the entire tour.
3. Be open to changes
Obviously, the itinerary is important. However, if you’re open to accommodating a surprise or two, you just might find yourself, say, having lunch with a wine producer or analyzing the terroir with an oenologist. An informal chat can teach you a lot!
4. Have a light breakfast
Don’t fill up on croissants, bacon and eggs or toast…yes, our dear English and American friends we’re talking to you. Rather couple your tea, coffee or a cappuccino with some fruit.
5. Appreciate quality
Keep in mind that one hour is the minimum duration of a wine tasting, as it’s necessary to allow enough time to appreciate the qualities, aromas and perfumes of five different wines. Savoring a product of excellence should never be rushed!
6. Fats and carbohydrates are your friends
To avoid feeling tipsy during a wine tasting, fill up on fat and/or carbs. This is why breadsticks, taralli, bread or (depending on where you are) hazelnuts are always on the table. And don’t be shy! Accept what is offered to you. The last thing you want is for your head to start spinning.
7. Set your alarm for an oil tasting
An olive oil tasting is always done in the morning, when the senses are sharp and uncontaminated so that you can sense the oil’s particular substances.
8. Forego lunch in lieu of a cheese tasting
Cheese tastings can be a bit heavy as four to eight varieties are usually sampled, so it’s best to lunch on a salad or some cooked vegetables. Or you can just wait until snack time to enjoy a refreshing fruit-flavored gelato.
9. Appropriate truffle hunting attire
Truffle hunting is so much fun, especially for adventurous travelers who decide to hunt at night. Keep in mind, however, that this is not an easy stroll in the woods. The dogs pick up speed and start running as soon as they smell the truffle, and you have to keep up with them. So, leave the chic outfit at home and get ready to lace up your hiking boots.
10. Nature is the best gymnasium
How not gain 20 pounds in ten days of food tours? Go for jogs and long walks in the nature surrounding your hotel. In any case, we recommend that pack wide clothes and comfortable trousers (leggings and suit trousers are a blessing!) in case working out between tastings isn’t enough.
Check out this video to see one of our food and wine tours in action!