***SOLD OUT, NEXT TRIP IS TO SICILY EARLY JUNE 2023***

Join Chef Paolo Laboa and his partner and Solo’s wine guy, Jesse Bania, on a tour of Paolo’s home region, Liguria, and neighboring Piemonte. The gorgeous coast overlooking the Ligurian Sea is where age-old cooking traditions were met with passion and inspiration to create much of Paolo’s unique culinary style. Meanwhile, up and over the dramatic mountainous landscape in Piemonte lie equally iconic and historic opportunities for cultural and gastronomic exploration.

Share the best food and taste through a special variety of wines at local hidden gems while learning the stories that lie behind it all. If you have a love for Italian food and wine and an interest in learning as you travel, you are in for an amazing vacation!

YOUR CHEF & GUIDE:

Paolo Laboa’s love for the cucina started in his mother's kitchen, where he learned the secrets of real Genovese cooking. After many achievements and adventures, including winning the World Pesto Championship, Paolo has found his new home in Portland, ME. Here he and his wife Mercedes live with their two children and run Solo Italiano, a much-loved pillar of the farm to table tradition in Portland. Paolo is very excited to share his home country and its cultural culinary traditions with you on this special trip!

Jesse connected naturally with Paolo and the mission behind Solo Italiano on the day it opened its doors. He went on to become the wine director of one of Portland’s most exclusive and unique wine lists as well as General Manager and friendly face of the restaurant. He LOVES Italian wine and has built Solo’s program around the natural connection it has to food, origin and atmosphere. He has traveled extensively around the world. He will be your tasting buddy, translator and travel partner. Ask him any question you might have along the way; he will be your pocket guide.

ROUGH ITINERARY:

Sunday, 10/23/22:
Arrive at your hotel in Genova, check-in and meet up with Paolo and Jesse for a classic aperitivo hour to meet your traveling companions and review plans for the delicious week to come! Light dinner and rest for days to come.

Monday, 10/24/22:
You will head south along the coast to explore Recco and sample their special Focaccia, as served in Solo Italiano as “Focaccia di Recco.” We will visit La Possa winery in Cinque Terre and then spend the evening in Camogli and dine at one of Paolo’s personal favorite restaurants, Cucu.

Tuesday, 10/25/22:
We will travel up the Ligurian Riviera coast to Albenga for lunch and then inland for dinner at a fabled winery in the mountains of Pornassio.

Wednesday, 10/26/22:
We spend the morning exploring the city of Genova. In the late morning and for lunch, we will visit Genova’s Oriental Market, sampling Genovese street food. The afternoon will be yours to roam or rest, but we will reconvene for dinner. Optional full rest day with meeting for dinner, as desired.

Thursday, 10/27/22:
We will travel north into Piedmont, lunching in Acqua Termi before continuing to Alba for our truffle hunt. Dinner in Calamandrana will be at our guide’s favorite local venue flush with the day’s discoveries! Final days’ accommodations commence in Calamandrana.

Friday, 10/28/22:
Begin the day with bubbles and vermouth at winemaker Contratto (Asti), lunch with winemaker Cantine del Glicine (Neive) and finish at amaro and grappa distillery Sibona (Roero). Light afternoon rest before dinner and chestnuts in the streets of Alba.

Saturday, 10/29/22:
We will travel north for the day to visit famed Torino chocolate maker, with the afternoon and evening free to explore the city on your own or with Paolo & Jesse.

Sunday, 10/30/22:
Check out of your accommodation in Calamandrana and savor one last goodbye breakfast with the group.

PRICE:
$4,200 per person double occupancy
$5,200 per person single occupancy

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
7 nights accommodation including taxes
5 lunches and dinners per itinerary (incl. gratuities)
Continental breakfasts as offered by accommodations
All scheduled wine tastings
All ground transportation per itinerary
All sightseeing/admissions per itinerary

DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airfare or travel to and from Italy and our initial meeting/departure locations. There will be some free time built into the schedule for relaxation or personal exploration. All meals and activities therein are the responsibility of the guest(s).

CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Trip guaranteed departure is based on 6 attendees.
Travelers must be at least 21 years of age.

RESERVATIONS:
To reserve your spot on the trip please fill out the form below and call (207) 780-0227 to submit your deposit of $1500 per person.

CANCELLATIONS:
If you must cancel your trip reservation with us before 8/1/2022 you will receive a full refund of your deposit minus a $500 cancellation fee. After 8/1/2022, your deposit will be nonrefundable. Once the final balance is paid, it will also be nonrefundable.

Please consider taking travel insurance to help cover any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. For insurance information please visit InsureMyTrip. Your credit card company may also offer trip protection for such a purchase automatically, as another option to explore. In the event that our boarders close anew or other federal restrictions stop us from traveling, we will work with participants where insurance/trip protection doesn’t cover deposits and final balance payments.

TRAVEL NOTES:

In addition to purchasing travel insurance, we also recommend packing light to the extent that you are comfortable. You may be staying overnight in different towns throughout the week. Having that personal item be a day bag is also helpful for your daily adventures.

RESPONSIBILITY:
Solo Italiano and Paolo & Jesse Bania accept no responsibility for any delayed departures or arrivals, missed connections, loss, damage, or injury to person or property. We reserve the right to change the itinerary and substitute arrangements of any equal value, if circumstances warrant change.