Wine, Balsamic, Ham and cheese tour in Parma and Reggio Emilia

Day 1

Arrival in Parma, the Food Valley. Parma is the watchword that opens the gate to the paradise of food, music and art. Because Parma is a unique place where you can hardly distinguish where art blends into the way food products are crafted as masterpieces to be enjoyed first with the eyes, then in the mouth. Spend your afternoon sightseeing, walk along the quaint streets of the city, visit the masterpieces as Antelami’s Baptistery, the imposing medieval Cathedral and the impressive Farnese Theatre. Drive to a Traditional Balsamic Vinegar PDO loft set in the green Reggio Emilia hills imbued with the peace and tranquillity of nature’s unchanging rhythms. You will be welcomed by the owners and invited into their home to be part of an age-old tradition where hospitality is a given. The three guestrooms in the historic listed farmhouse speak of their traditional way of life. Dinner at leisure in the nearby local restaurants or food-delivery by one of the best restaurants around. Overnight stay.

Day 2

Delicious breakfast served under the medieval arches of the farmhouse surrounded by an Italian garden and a huge park beyond, home to wild flowers, hares and roe deer. Take time out to savour a magical place. Guided visit to the cellar by the owners and taste the delicious black nectar, learning to identify the various types, on its own or paired with other local delicacies. Chance to drive through the rolling hills of Reggio Emilia and visit the perfectly preserved Rossena Castle, built in 960 a.C. by the grand-father of the great Matilde di Canossa. Lunch in an Agriturismo sampling the locally produced delicacies like fresh homemade pasta (tortelli, tagliatelle, anolini, lasagne…), locally grown vegetables and traditional desserts: healthy and delicious food! On top of a green hill overlooking the valley, guided visit to a local wine cellar producing honest and authentic wines. The owners will share the production methods behind some of Parma’s most prestigious wines. Taste them on their own or have fun pairing them with other typical local products. The tasting could be set in the vineyards or in the panoramic room admiring the Po Valley till the Alps. At the end, have a walk through the countryside around the cellar, relax and toast your holiday whilst soaking up the splendid scenery of Parma Hills. Dinner at leisure in a local restaurant or food-delivery by one of the best restaurants around. Overnight stay.

Day 3

Exquisite breakfast served under the medieval arches of the farmhouse and check-out. Together with your food expert private guide, visit to a Parmigiano Reggiano PDO factory on Parma hills. Meet the dairymen passing down their expertise to the next generation. Taste the product at its various maturations, surrounded by towering shelves of cheese wheels, and discover the secrets of traditional recipes. Opportunity to visit the farm encompassing the whole production chain, from rearing the animals to processing the cheese. Drive to a family-run PDO Parma Ham factory and discover the different processing stages and the secrets to recognising the quality of Prosciutto di Parma PDO with the help of experts, then treat your taste buds to sampling the product at various ages during the tasting inside the panoramic room: a celebration of unique flavours. Photo-stop at Torrechiara Castle, set on a high hill overlooking the Parma valley, surrounded by vineyards as far as eye can see, it is one of the best preserved fortifications in whole the region. It was built between 1448 and 1460 by Pier Maria Rossi, who had it girded with a triple wall and four corner towers linked by battlemented parapets. End of the tour.

More special activities

• Possibility of renting a car with driver, to experience a slow tour on the hills of Parma and Reggio Emilia.
• Learn how to cut Parma Ham with a Berkel slicer. Discover the history of the device and have a go yourself! Also learn to slice by hand with a knife and to present the product perfectly.
• Chance (to be confirmed in advance with the various producers) to adopt a set of barrels and produce your own vinegar. (Price will be estimated)
• Chance to meet artisan barrel makers to hear about the characteristics of the different woods and their effects on the vinegar.
• Extra for a food expert private guide on Day 1 and Day 2.