Pedal Piedmont
Sample custom-tour itinerary {8 days/7 nights}
Available for groups of 4 or more

Located in view of the Italian Alps, the hills of Piedmont are famous for their wine and truffles. They're also a biker's paradise. Quiet back roads wind through quaint villages and prestigious vineyards. The hills offer long but nicely-graded climbs, with Savoy castles crowning each hilltop. Bikers can re-fuel in style, with gourmet cuisine in the towns of Alba, Asti, and Gavi.

Highlights:
. Wine estates: Villa Sparina, Renato Ratti, Giacomo Bologna
. Biking: 25- to 35-mile routes (additional miles can be arranged)
. The Castle of Barolo
. The medieval towns of Alba, Asti & Gavi

Cost: Approx. $3,495 for 8 days/7 nights; bike rental $300. Priced based on double occupancy in 3-star accommodations; one guide; one 9-seat van; all breakfasts and all dinners but one.
See our Custom Tours page for more details and variables on custom-tour pricing.

Available for custom tours only. Minimum group size: 4. Itinerary can be customized, with more daily mileage and less wine tastings, greater or fewer days, upgrade in hotel accommodations, and/or exclusion of meals. Price varies accordingly.

Meet: Arquata Scrivia
Depart: Asti

Day 1 - Welcome to Piedmont
Tucked into the southeast corner of Piedmont is Gavi. After bikes are fitted, we'll do a short warm-up ride before lunch. This is a loop around Gavi, the wine town from which Gavi di Gavi white wine takes its name. Here the roads go over wooded mountains, across stretches of farmland, through the river town of Arquata Scrivia, and back to the hotel. Lunch will be at a nearby agriturismo that offers homemade cooking, a beautiful view, and peacocks roaming the grounds. In the afternoon, you have the option for more miles, or a tour and tasting at Villa Sparina, the preeminent winery in the Gavi area. Dinner introduces us to the French-influenced cuisine of Piedmont, which features risotto, porcini mushrooms, and woodland meats such as wild boar (cinghiale) or stewed rabbit with polenta. (15+ miles) L, D

Day 2 - Spotlight on Gavi
Over hill and dale, we cycle through Piedmont's picturesque countryside. Our morning ride takes us through the tiny hilltop villages of San Cristoforo, Castello d'Orba, and Montaldeo, offering quiet riding in a pristine landscape that time seems to have forgotten. We'll ride through the wine roads of Gavi into the terrain of Dolcetto d'Ovada, a friendly red table wine. After our bike ride, we'll shuttle by van to an afternoon wine tasting at La Guistiana, located in a splendid countryside villa and offering delightful wines. Dinner offers such traditional Piemontese fare as plin (tiny ravioli) in a bowl of wine, pasta with fresh porcini mushrooms, and a delectable chocolate-hazelnut pudding called bounet. (31 miles) B, D

Day 3 - The road to Asti
Today, we move to the land of Asti (as in Asti Spumante and Moscato d'Asti wine). Our bike ride starts in San Salvatore and cuts across a swath of rolling terrain in the region of Monferrato. We'll pass ancient hilltop villages, with the majestic Alps rising dramatically in the background. Our destination is Asti, where we'll settle into our next hotel. We'll have our afternoon tasting at one of the local wine producers who specializes in hearty red Barbera and the fragrant, fizzy dessert wine, Moscato d'Asti. Dinner is in Asti, where we'll encounter and savour such regional treats as handmade egg pasta, roast lamb, and hazelnut tortes. (30 miles) B, D

Day 4 - Bravo Braida!
Morning offers a loop ride that takes us north of Asti, past vineyards that produce Moscato d'Asti, Barbera, and Grignolino, a light and fragrant red. This ride passes through more of Piedmont's beautiful landscapes, with long rolling hills capped by stone villages and baroque country churches. After lunch, we'll head off by van to a tasting at Braida, the estate of Giacomo Bologna. This was the man who single-handedly revolutionized Barbera, transforming it from a rustic table wine into a wine of great character and finesse. Dinner is on your own at one of Asti's fine restaurants. (30 miles) B

Day 5 - From Asti to Alba
Today, we transfer from Asti to Alba by bike, riding along the ridge overlooking the Tanaro valley. We'll pass through quaint hilltowns every few miles and ogle at magnificent castles in Govone and Guarene. After a well-earned lunch, we'll shuttle to the town of Barbaresco and sample its eponymous wines, which are among Piedmont's most-prized reds. We'll visit the highly-regarded estate of the Marchesi di Gresy, where the noble family still lives. Here, we'll get acquainted with the Marchese's Barbaresco and also sample his Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc -- rare grapes in Piedmont. Dinner is at a Slow Food restaurant in Alba, which serves up stellar versions of Piemontese cuisine. (30 miles) B, D

Day 6 - Mango & Moscato
In Piedmont, Mango is not a fruit, but a town. Our ride today loops through this land, south of Alba. We first climb to Diano d'Alba, riding past scenic Dolcetto vineyards and hazelnut groves, then along the ridge into Mango for lunch. Afterwards, we can do more miles or have an introduction to Barolo, dubbed "the king of wines and the wine of kings." We'll head to the Castello di Barolo, where the French-born Marchesa Guilia Colbert created Barolo in the 19th C. We'll have our first tasting at her historic estate, Marchesi di Barolo. Dinner is in Alba, where we might sample guinea fowl in wine sauce or perhaps some dishes laced with the regions's famed white truffles, a perfect match for a good Barolo. (30+ miles) B, D

Day 7 - Into the heart of Barolo
Today, our bike ride takes us through some of the most spectacular landscapes in Piedmont. We're now in the heart of Barolo country, passing through the wine towns of Serralunga, Monforte, Barolo, La Morra, and Verduno. After a day of long climbs and fun descents, we'll be primed for our final tasting at the Renato Ratti estate. Our host, enologist Massimo Martinelli, will show us around their wine museum, which showcases antique winemaking implements, old labels, and the evolution of bottle shapes. Then, he'll lead up through their top-notch Barolos, Dolcettos, and Barberas. The day concludes most memorably with a wine dinner at one of the area's fine restaurants. (30 miles) B, D

Day 8 - Buon viaggio!
A shuttle to the Asti train station and assistance with your travel plans. B



How to book: Fill out the online Reservation Form along with a certified cheque, Visa or Mastercard for the amount of the desired tour to Harsan Inc., Ste. 902-5790 Patterson Avenue, Burnaby, B.C., V5H 4H6, CANADA.

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