Piedmontese Wine:
Cycling Tour (for groups of 6 to 10)
7 nights - £X (includes all food, wine, airport transfer and a support van) + bike hire
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This is a 7-night (8 day) tour. Piedmont is famed for its food and wine, not least the ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ of Italian reds, Barolo & Barbaresco. But there’s a wealth of lesser-known wines to enjoy as we cycle through the mosaic of small vineyards, still largely family-owned. Most of this circular route is on very quiet roads or strada bianche (gravel tracks) away from crowds and traffic.
Though there are hills to climb, the pace is gentle with 30 to 40 miles to cover every other day moving between hotels, with our support van carrying bags and anyone who needs a rest from cycling. A reasonable level of fitness is required, though the option of E-bikes makes the tour accessible to most abilities. There’s a pool at most of the hotels / villas we stay in where you can unwind before a delicious, well-earned dinner. Depending on the weather, we have picnics among the vines, or light lunches in a local trattoria.
On the in-between days we cycle a short distance to a vineyard for a wine tasting and lunch. We then return to our hotel/villa in the support van for a relaxing afternoon.
We will happily transport bikes to and from the UK for those using their own, or arrange hire including E-bikes.
Transfers to Turin airport are included, as is all food and wine. Dinners in restaurants and occasionally with private chefs at our villas are extremely good.
Both Tom and Aidan will be accompanying you.
Tour highlights
We start the tour in La Morra, a bustling hill-top delight in the heart of the Barolo DOCG wine area. (A quick swim and glass of wine awaits on arrival.)
A great first wine tasting at the boutique Barolo producer, Ruggeri Corsisni.
A delightful Agriturismo set within a hazelnut farm south of Benevello.
A tasting at Marchesi di Gresy, one of the Grandees of Barbareso.
The private villa in Mombaruzzo with our own chef.
The quiet woodland and countryside the morning after we leave Mombaruzzo.
Wonderful home cooking and hospitality from hotelier Marco in a private dining room in Monta.
A tasting at the Pelassa, a top Roero winery just outside Monta.
Piedmont tour
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Testimonial
The Carrols
My wife and I were extremely fortunate to join the Saddle Grape and Grain Tour to Piedmont in 2024.
From the very beginning it was clear that we were in good hands.
Having teamed up with the group at our first accommodation we were introduced to our allotted bikes which were ideal for the trip ahead. Robust and with plenty of available gears they were an excellent choice.
Our first evening meal proved to be a delight and set the scene for culinary excellence throughout the days ahead, perfectly planned by the team.
The route each day was carefully thought out and executed with plenty of guidance in both electronic and paper form. The odd diversion only added to the fun and friendly banter along the way!
The tastings and vineyard visits which were all carefully selected and perfect choices gave a real sense of the depth and breadth of the superb Piedmont wines.
Throughout we were brilliantly looked after by Aidan and Tom with necessary bike maintenance and provision of snacks, energy drinks and al fresco lunches making the taxing hill climbs so much easier to cope with.
I can only heartily recommend this wonderful tour arranged by the team at Saddle Grape and Grain.
Dr Nick Carroll
President & Fellow. Magdalene College,