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Gastronomic Barolo Cycling

Day 1: Arrive at Benevello
We meet you at Asti train station and take you to your stunning hotel (45 mins) just below Benevello, in time for dinner.

Day 2: Benevello to Castiglione Tinella  (35km/21mi)
A perfect start with a gentle ride along an open road with balcony views and hawks soaring high above the breathtaking Langhe countryside. You visit lovely Treiso, formerly a summer retreat for Alba’s noble families, before reaching Barbaresco for lunch and cheese-tasting in the piazza. Try some wine too in the enoteca, housed in a 19C church built by the locals in thanks for a good grape harvest! Time to visit Neive, officially one of Italy’s prettiest villages and home of Romano Levi, a renowned grappamaker, before a panoramic climb through Moscato vines to Claudia’s lovely hotel in Castiglione Tinella.

Day 3: At Castiglione Tinella
Castiglione is a great place to spend a lazy day, especially by our hotel’s panoramic pool. However, a short journey away you’ll find the thermal spas at Acqui Terme or the spumantecapital of Asti, with its quaint cobbled historic centre – each September the main piazzais home to a crazy palio horse race to rival Siena’s! The rest of the year there are colourful markets and historic towers to explore.

Day 4: Castiglione Tinella to Grinzane Cavour  (42km/26mi)
The day starts with an exhilarating whiz through vineyards to Castagnole Lanze. From here you pedal along the banks of the gently meandering River Tanaro, where herons and fisherman jostle for the best catch from its limpid waters. Time to explore the cobbled streets and bustling piazzeof chocolate-perfumed Alba (Ferrero Rocher come from here!). Then it’s on to Grinzane Cavour where the gregarious signor Grimaldi awaits with a warm welcome at the elegant Casa Pavesi.

Day 5: At Grinzane Cavour
Perhaps visit nearby Brà today, a gastronomic treasure trove where the Slow Food movement was initiated – so plenty of choice for a long, lazy lunch! Lots to explore in the town too, including Bernardo Vittone’s 18C rococo church and the strange octagonal Zizzola, where local witches held their meetings!

Day 6: Grinzane Cavour to Monforte d’Alba  (29km/18mi)
Cycling first through sunflower fields to Roddi, whose 13C castle was once a family home of Pico della Mirandola, the Renaissance humanist. Then onto Barolo, an ochre-hued village perched above its world-famous vineyards – the tangle of mediaeval streets are dominated by the Marchesi Falletti’s 11C castle, which now houses the enotecaand corkscrew museum! Pedalling on through archetypal Langhe countryside to Monforte d’Alba, whose lovely honey-coloured old town seems to cling enchantingly to the hillside. Your hotel here is pretty special too!

Day 7: At Monforte d’Alba
You might not want to leave our gorgeous 18C villa hotel with panoramic swimming pool, but it’d be a shame not to explore mediaeval Monforte. It’s a lively town with attractive buildings grouped around an atmospheric cobbled piazza; the amphitheatre hosts a jazz festival under the stars during the summer. Maybe strike out a little further to Dogliani, dominated by it’s beautiful onion-domed church and famous for being at the heart of Dolcetto wine production.

Day 8: Monforte d’Alba to Benevello  (35km/21mi)
Your final cycling day starts with a gentle coast along the Rea valley before a short climb takes you to a stunningly panoramic ridge, weaving through fields of wild flowers and sleepy hamlets to Serravalle Langhe – a great lunch spot with belvedereviews. Onwards, you pedal alongside chestnut carpeted hills with delightful vistas once more to reach your beautiful country hotel at Benevello.

Day 9: Leave Benevello