Wine and tasting for San Valentine’s Day

Are you looking for an original Valentine’s Day present for someone passionate about wine?

Here are some simple ideas for you from the Josetta Saffirio cellar:

–A gift certificate for a tasting for two: it includes a guided tour of the cellar and a winetasting experience. You can choose between the Authentic Experience: that include a visit and a tasting of four wines, one of which is a Barolo, for have the possibility to taste different types of wine and have a 360-degree view of the company’s wines. Or, the Barolo Experience, a tasting of five wines, of which three are: Barolo Classic, Barolo Persiera and Barolo Reserve. A tasting more focused on Barolo and the different characteristics of this wine.

– A gift certificate for lunch in the cellar for two people: a cellar visit and a tasting in the cellar is followed by a light lunch. Lunch includes three antipasti and dessert in the Piedmontese tradition paired with four of the Estate’s wines. It’s for anyone who appreciates total wine and food culture.

– A gift certificate for truffle-hunting for two people: a truffle hunt with our ‘trifolau’ (truffle hunter) and his ‘tabui’ (truffle dog) in the local forest. It’s an experience for animal and nature lovers. The truffle hunt is followed by a cellar visit and a tasting of four wines (of which one Barolo) paired with a charcuterie and cheese board.

-Picnic amid the vines for two: a cellar visit is combined with a tasting of four wines (of which one Barolo). Following the tasting, a lunchbox with everything for a picnic is supplied: threetraditional Piedmontese antipasti, bread, water, dessert, plates, knives and forks and cups. The lunchbox also contains a bottle of either Barbera d’Alba Superiore or Langhe Nebbiolo along with a Josetta Saffirio corkscrew. It’s an experience to have outside!

-Gift certificate for an amount that you choose. The recipient can decide to use it to reserve an Experience on the Estate or convert it to buy wine.

-A mixed box of six bottles of wine: You can compose your own box of wine, choosing from Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Langhe Nebbiolo, Barolo Classico, Barolo Persiera, Barolo Riserva, Langhe Rossese Bianco, Classic Method Nebbiolo Spumante, Moscato d’Asti, Passito, grappa and oil. Compose your box of six bottles as you see fit!

All gift certificates are valid for a year; the recipient can decide when to use them. All activities should be reserved in advance and are subject to the availability of the cellar at any particular time.

Winery’s eno-turism projects: from the artistic activities to the picnic in the vineyard

By Sara

Here’s great news for wine lovers and anyone interested in the world of wine. Offers of food and wine served outdoors are on the rise in response to the demand for activities that put people in touch with nature and offer a chance to get out of the city for a day.

Food and wine tourism focuses on getting to know wine-producing areas and local cellars. Winemakers in these areas offer various activities, in addition to wine tasting which make an indispensable contribution of economic development throughout Italy.

For both experts and neophytes alike, visiting a cellar, getting to know the producer and his philosophy, learning about vineyard and vinification techniques and understanding the effort and enthusiasm behind each bottle of wine are all fantastic opportunities.

This is not a marketing strategy, it is communicating essential information to the client–useful knowledge to help in choosing products that reflect his or her taste as well as ideas about responsible, sustainable production.

We can no longer make excuses–we now know that we are what we eat and drink.

What can Piedmont contribute to satisfy this thirst for knowledge?

Here are some activities we recommend you try:

Guided visits to wine estates, with tastings accompanied by local products.
Spa and beauty packages using products derived from grapes, with their anti-oxidising and anti-inflammatory properties;
Visits to local vineyards, as well as exploring and trekking in them to enjoy nature and the area’s magnificent panorama;
Cellar and vineyard lunches that pair traditional local cuisine with typical wines of the area;
Scooter tours with stops in various cellars and wine shops;
Harvests open to tourists, so that they can participate in this unique experience firsthand;
Bicycle and electric bicycle tours for exercise that respect the surrounding region;
Truffle hunts with a truffle hunter and his dog, to discover all the tricks of the trade and observe a trained dog in action;
Artistic and cultural activities such as installations and design-oriented cellars, many of them built with environmental considerations in mind.
Yoga in the vineyard, to relax and exercise in the midst of breathtaking scenery;
Vineyard picnics.

For this last activity the first picnic booking site, Picnic Chic, has been established.

This platform helps picnickers to find restaurants, gastronomy shops and cellars that offer special experiences, such as picnic baskets with local products ready for tasting outside.

A simple solution to the job of organising a day out.

These experiences combine the discovery of new places, both close to home or further afield, with support for small Italian businesses that now more than ever are in need.