Faq

Why the name “Open”?

Travel is about immersing yourself in local culture, disclose the intriguing secrets of history and traditions. And there’s no better way to do that than through wine and food adventures with an insider. I strongly believe that to truly enjoy a Piedmont immersive gourmet adventure you need a key that connects you with the vibrant local culture and opens the door for you, no matter what is your delicious destination.

What part of Italy are your tours in?

The focus of my tours is Langhe Roero and Monferrato, the world-class wine district that in summer 2014 was placed on “UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites”. These landscapes are a succession of hills, hamlets, medieval castles, and churches, cheese aging cellars and family run wineries. Of course, all this can be slightly hidden, so being escorted by a local will open several doors and can make it possible to enjoy all these gems in a friendly environment, without losing time.

Do you offer customized tours?

Of course I do! I give mostly private tours. Write to me about the day of your dreams, and we will build it together to meet your needs. You can mix and match different activities in one day or unite different tours to have a longer experience. Just let me know, we Italians are big on flexibility!

We are a small group, can we book a tour?

Yes! Contact me to receive my “Small Group Tours” special proposals via mail.

I’m a solo traveller. Can I book a tour too?

Of course you can! If there is no other tour already booked, you can have a private tour, with a surcharge.

Are children allowed on the tours?

Of course! As a mother of three kids, I know how difficult it can be to combine a family holiday with a relaxing wine tasting or interesting city walk. To deliver the most relaxing, though entertaining, experience in Piedmont, I put together a tour of my favorite kid friendly cellars plus chocolate, cheese, and truffle experiences to allow the whole family to make the most of the day. In my cheese tours, your kids will get to meet a bunch of goats or sheep with big personalities! Ask me for more details.

Do you pick us up at our hotel?

Yes! To ensure a relaxing experience, I make sure you do not to have to worry about driving while tasting Piedmont wines. If you are staying within the Alba, Barolo, or Barbaresco area, I can pick you up and drop you off wherever you would like. If it makes it easier, I can also meet you at the Bra or Alba station.

We are staying in Turin, is it possible to do a day tour if I come in on the train?

Yes. We can meet at the Bra or Alba station. The train trip takes less than 1 hour from Turin. It is very convenient and getting a ticket is easy, ask me for more details if you would like. If you don’t feel like moving from Turin, then you can pick my Turin Food Walking Tour and I’ll meet you there!

Can I purchase wine and ship it?

Of course! I can almost guarantee you will like the wine so much that you will wish to get some at home for Italian-style dinners with special friends. If you want to buy and ship wine, I can provide you with a shipping service. If you prefer to take the bottles with you on the plane, please just check your country and travel company policy on this matter.

How far in advance do we have to book a private tour?

At least 2 weeks in advance is the perfect timing to allow us to organize your customized tour and to deliver you the best Open Piedmont Tour experience. About a month’s notice would be best, especially during peak season (Spring and Fall), but Italians are well known for their flexibility, so I will be happy to arrange a last minute tour, if you can be flexible too.

How can the weather affect our tour?

Open Piedmont Tours go on rain or shine! Chocolate tours could be unavailable during certain weeks in the summer months. Truffle hunts might be canceled due to rain or snow, we will work with you to come up with other interesting activities as a substitution though.

How many wineries will we visit?

To ensure an authentic knowledgeable experience and the right quality time to share with the wine makers, we prefer not to squeeze more than two wineries in one day. The wine makers are always happy to show the cellar, the barrels, the winemaking process, pictures, and old bottles which is the real magic of a private tour. You may also want to ask questions or just admire the landscape in silence for a few moments of pure joy. All this will take at least 2 hours per winery. That means that we will visit two family-run boutique wineries with comprehensive wine tastings, time consenting we will have an extra wine tasting in a special location, plus we will enjoy a nice bottle of premium wine in our leisurely lunch. A total of 4 different high quality wine tastings for a very educative depth-in experience in Piemonte.