La Via Gaia

What we love: Because Claudia grew up in Bergamo and her relatives still live there, we feel most connected to this historic walled city, where we spend most of our personal family time in Italy.

• Explore Lombardy's culinary culture, inspired by the bounty of the surrounding countryside.
• Stay in a restored medieval fortress in Bergamo, famous for charming narrow streets and picturesque squares.
• Share traditional specialties like Acquarello carnaroli rice, balsamic vinegar, and the distinctive regional cheese, Grana Padano.
• Cruise the hidden gem of Lake Iseo, situated in the Franciacorta wine region, producing some of Italy’s best sparkling wines.
• Settle into Milan’s stylish Navigli neighborhood for a classic aperitivo in a canal side bar, followed by a traditional Lombardy dinner.

Best of all, experience the cooking classes of award-winning chefs and friends Dominic Piperno and Jeff Michaud, as they reveal the secrets of the area’s quintessential flavors, and even arrange a dinner with Jeff's mother-in-law, a true Italian home cook.

What we love: This relatively overlooked region introduced us to the legacy of craftsmanship in its heritage foods, and the authentic character of Lambrusco, its delicately sparkling red wine.

• Visit the village of Savigno, meeting artisans who carry on family traditions, including Guido of Bottega del Macellaio, raising a local Mora pig breed and truffle hunting for 3 generations.
• Walk the streets of Modena, encountering Mercato Albinelli, the city’s oldest covered market, redesigned in Art Nouveau style.
• Learn about Italy’s luxury racing automobile at the Enzo Ferrari Museum with classic models on display.
• Become acquainted with the Spigaroli family, makers of prosciutto’s unsung cousin, culatello, sharing lunch at their Michelin-star restaurant, dedicated to the Po River territory’s culinary heritage.

Best of all, join the sfogline (the masters of fresh pasta) in the traditional art of pasta making at their legendary school in Bologna. Assisted by friends and chefs Colin Lynch and Jeff Michaud, learn how to use a matterello (or wooden pin) to roll out the yolk-rich dough and then shape regional specialties like Tortellini, Tortelloni, and Tagliatelle.

What we love: We launched our La Via Gaia trips here, taking over a farmhouse to welcome our very first guests, and enjoying a concert evening spent under the stars at Verona’s Arena, a Roman amphitheater built in 30AD.

• Meet Veneto wine masters and learn to appreciate the difference between regional superstars, Amarone and Valpolicella.
• Appreciate the magic of Chiaretto di Bardolino, the rosata/rose famously produced in Alpine-Mediterranean environment of Lake Garda.
• Find yourself square in in the middle of Verona’s Piazza delle Erbe, crossroads of city life.
• Spend Sunday Supper with an olive oil producer for the Spiedo ritual of slow spit-cooking meat, among the world’s oldest techniques.
• Embrace the ritual of café life, socializing over a glass of wine and traditional chicchetti e ombre, savory bites and side dishes.

Best of all, play a part in making authentic creations with award-winning chefs Jeff Michaud and Missy Robbins in intimate classes designed to give you first-hand experience.

What we love: Every year our family returns here, to the town of Alba known for its white truffles, to drink in spectacular vistas, romantic hill towns, wonderful food, and finely crafted wines.

• Roam through world-famous wine regions, The Langhe and Roero's small DOCG wine district, to the hills of historic Monferrato.
• Buzz through vineyards on a Vespa, or "Wasp", icon of stylish Italian design.
• Experience robust Barolo and Barbaresco, produced from the intensely aromatic Nebbiolo grape in bottlings from top winemakers.
• Venture into the wild patches of forest on a truffle hunting escapade.
• Discover what a cheese refiner does in the storage caves where flavor happens.
• Float above vine covered hillsides and storybook villages in a sunrise balloon ride over Barolo, the heart of the Piedmont region.

Best of all, learn about Piemonte's unique cuisine in dinners at trattorias, Michelin-star restaurants, and in two memorable cooking classes, held by award-winning chefs and friends, Nicholas Elmi and Jeff Michaud and discover that, here, every meals tells a story.

What we love: We could not pass the opportunity to travel alongside Anthony Giglio and dive even deeper in this amazing wine region. So this year we return to Piemonte twice! Sleepy villages, hillsides blanketed in grapevines, pasta dusted with shaved truffles, and wines that are some of the finest of the world.

• Experience robust Barolo and Barbaresco, produced from the intensely aromatic Nebbiolo grape in bottlings from top winemakers.
• Venture into the wild patches of forest on a truffle hunting mission.
• Roam through world-famous wine regions, from The Langhe and Roero's small DOCG wine district, to the hills of historic Monferrato.
• Taste the lush, buttery mouthfeel and a depth of flavor of Giorgio Cravero, a fifth generation cheese refiner in Bra.
• Float above vine covered hillsides and storybook villages in a sunrise balloon ride over Barolo, the heart of the Piedmont region.

Best of all, learn about Piemonte's unique cuisine in menus specially curated by the best chefs of the region and expertly paired by wine connoisseur Anthony Giglio, and in two fun filled cooking classes with award-winning chef Jeff Michaud.