Food & Wine Trails Offers 3 New Authentic Italian Culinary Adventures

Italy has long been one of the world's most popular food and wine destinations, but with increasing popularity, its become more difficult for the culinary enthusiast to find quality and authenticity. To counter that, all Food & Wine Trails trip-hosts are recognized culinary experts, to insure that guests enjoy inside-access and local knowledge.

For the 2011 travel season, Food & Wine Trails is offering three unique and authentic culinary experiences.

Cinque Terre Walk and Nosh: The Cinque Terra region of Liguria is widely considered to be one the most beautiful walking regions in Europe. Liguria also has a regional cuisine that is not as well known, with wonderful local products such as unique style of white-wine, anchovies, fruity olive oils, and aromatic pesto. On April 11, and again on September 11th, a five-day trip will be offered that explores the famed five villages of the Cinque Terre. Here the food and wine lover can generate a hearty appetite by walking the over 70 plus kilometers of trails and paths with a professional hiking guide and historian, and then delve into the regional cuisine with an American cookbook author who lives full time in Italy. Prices for this inclusive trip are 2,950 Euros per person double occupancy (approximately $4000), not counting airfare or transfers to the trip's home-base in Levanto.

95+ rated wines at Divino Tuscany: From June 2-5 in Florence Italy, F&WT President Larry Martin will be hosting a small group of friends and clients at Divino Tuscany. This four-day celebration of the "Best of Tuscan food and wine" includes a dinner at Piero Antinori's or Lamberto Frescobaldi's private villa, a traditional Tuscan boar-roast at Sting's country villa, and the opportunity to taste 95+ rated wines with the former European Bureau chief of Wine Spectator. Also included is a gala dinner on the banks of the Arno, overseen by the 3-star Michelin-rated restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri and a concert in Florence's 19th century concert hall. F&WT clients will receive preferred seating and VIP hosting with Martin and tickets for the four-day event are approximately $2200 not including flight, and hotel.

The V. Sattui Winery Italy Cruise: There are many wine-cruises to Europe, but on Nov. 12th, those who love Italy will gain special insight on a 10-day cruise hosted by Dario Sattui. Dario is a fourth generation Napa Valley winemaker whose family emigrated from Italy and who now spends much of his time in Tuscany. Dario will be leading a group of wine-lovers on an Oceania cruise that focuses on the Italian Peninsula. Included are visits to five Italian ports that include overnights in Venice, Florence and Rome, plus stops in Kotor, Dubrovnik and Monte Carlo. Onboard the ship, Dario will lead tastings of his Italian influenced wines and host a winemaker's dinner in Toscana, the ship's Italian restaurant. Also offered will be optional family-style lunches and wine tastings at top Italian wine estates. Prices begin at $3,449 per person including airfare from 20 US cities.

Food & Wine Trails explores the world's regions and cultures through their food and wine. A nationally or regionally recognized culinary expert hosts all programs. Food &Wine Trails is the tour division of the HMS Travel Group, a 25-year old company based in Santa Rosa, California and has designed travel programs for such culinary icons as Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, the Culinary Institute of America, and many of America's top food magazines and wineries. Larry Martin, the President of the company, is a wine collector, vegetable gardener and the Regional Governor for Slow Food, an international food advocacy organization. The editors of Conde Nast Traveler have chosen Martin for the past three consecutive years as The World's Top Wine Travel Specialist.

CONTACT: Larry Martin
TEL: 1-800-367-5348
EMAIL: Larry@foodandwinetrails.com
WEBSITE: www.foodandwinetrails.com