The Salone del Gusto

Piedmont foodTurin, a city of taste, is host to the Salone del Gusto, or Salon of Taste. The exhibition, held every two years at Lingotto, organized by Slow Food and the Piedmont Regional Authority, has become one of the finest food and wine sector’s major events at international level. Food, or rather food as an expression of culture and identity has to be respected, defended and valorised. This was the inspiration for themes like biodiversity and healthy eating education. The fair involves cooks, wine specialists, restaurateurs, journalists and experts, with an increasing number of devoted visitors and fans.

Part of the Salone is the Terra Madre event, the world meeting of food communities which in the last edition brought together almost 9,000 people in Turin: 4,803 farmers, breeders, fishermen and artisan food producers from 1,583 food communities and 150 nations; 953 cooks; 411 professors and representatives from 225 universities; 2,320 observers and guides; 776 volunteers.

The appointment for the next Salone del Gusto is October 23 to 28, 2008.

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Join Renato Vicario of Vantage World Travel to the Piedmont Region of Italy -

  • Attend the Salone del Gusto, the biggest and best food and wine festival sponsored by Slow Food.
  • Visit famous wineries producing Barolo, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco.
  • Discover distilleries with extraordinary small grappa productions.
  • Experience the Sagra San Michele, the monastery from the film “The Name of the Rose”.
  • Participate in dining experiences to remember for a lifetime.
  • Stay in Castles, Palaces and Boutique Hotels.
  • Walk with a “trifulau”, a professional truffle hunter, for a real Truffle search.

Introduce your palate to the Chocolate of Torino, the first and the best. Piedmont is a must for food and wine lovers with its small charming villages and “Slow Food” style of touring and a tour of the palate here has to start from the vineyards boasting an unbeatable heritage in terms of wine with 44 “Denominazioni di Origine Controllata” (D.O.C.) and 10 “Origine Controllata e Garantita” (D.O.C.G.), the highest national standard, granted to only 31 wines throughout Italy. Then it continues through the many delicacies that only an area as outstanding as this can offer: meat, to start with as “Razza Piemontese” beef has the lowest cholesterol content of all, then cheeses as stated by the existence of 8 products with “Denominazione di Origine Protetta” (D.O.P.) status and the prized traditional vegetable crops, cultivated on its fertile plains. Then there is the real “king” of regional gastronomy: the white truffle, that little “tuber”, worth more than its weight in gold. A sprinkling of tiny slivers over tajarin pasta or even just fried eggs, releases the truly unique aroma.

The heart of this authentic “cultural revolution” is without a doubt the Slow Food movement, the international association for the promotion of local food and wine culture. Slow Food defends traditional products, including lesser known specialties, organizes training courses and tasting sessions, has established a more mature model of eno-gastronomy and even set up the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, a new centre for training and research, the only one of its kind in the world. The Slow Food movement is also behind some of the region’s best known events: Cheese, Italy’s leading event in the sector, and above all the Salone del Gusto, which we are going to visit, perhaps the most important food and wine event in the world, which brings together the “ambassadors” of world food in the Lingotto Fair Centre every two years.

The Salone del Gusto - 2008 - The Salone del Gusto will be held in Turin (Lingotto Fiere) from Thursday to Monday, October 23-28, 2008. Scents, colors, sounds, personalities, cultures and histories create the exciting atmosphere around you as you stroll through the lanes of the Salone del Gusto Market. You are on a journey in search of food quality. This year, as never before, the exhibitors are committed to preserving – to guaranteeing – food quality by supporting the Slow Food Manifesto, and by sharing the principles associated with a broader idea of quality attentive to every element in food production.

You will find the very best artisan food products from Italy in Pavilion 2, where about 300 selected producers will represent the ‘Buon Paese’. The Mea Lane, the Oil Lane, the Cheese Lane, the Sweet Lane – these are just a few of the stops on your ‘tasty journey’ through the market, which will be divided once again by themes so you can easily find whatever takes your fancy.

If you find it hard to satisfy your gastronomic curiosity, all you have to do is change pavilions and go in search of some of the most unusual flavors in the world. In the 5,000 square meters of Pavilion 1, small producers, institutions, consortia and larger companies will give life to the international market. The work carried out in conjunction with the various international branches of Slow Food has made it possible to involve a growing number of quality artisans. At the Salone del Gusto Market you will have the opportunity to discover unusual Japanese sweets or to taste the most celebrated traditional French and British cheeses and compare them with lesser known products such as Kaymak from Montenegro. Also present will be the famous Jamòn Iberico de Belota, meats from England, Scotland and Argentina and lots of other unusual goodies to taste and purchase. Pavilion 3, on the other hand, will be entirely devoted to Slow Food Presidia products, traditionally scattered throughout the market.

Biodiversity and food education have always been at the heart of the Salone del Gusto and all of Slow Food’s activities. This year the inspiration for all the initiatives at the event will come from three key words: good, clean and fair. According to Slow Food, good, clean and fair are the essential components of a new concept of food quality. The slogan is an expression of the association’s desire to create common directives that can be used as reference points to mark the virtuous path all the players in the food chain should follow. And that means everyone, from producers to consumers. This is why we are launching the Manifesto of Quality According to Slow Food at the Salone del Gusto 2006. And we ask everyone – exhibitors, journalists, visitors - to start putting into practice dietary principles that are respectful of taste, the environment and social justice.

Included: 2 Nights at Castello di Razzano in Alfiano Natta, 2 Nights at Villa d’Amelia in Benevello, 4 Nights at Grand Hotel Sitea in Turin, Local hotel taxes, Breakfast daily at the hotel, 4 dinners and 1 lunch at typical restaurants, Winery visit as listed with typical lunch during tasting, Truffle search with “trifulau”, Excursion to the Sacra di San Michele, Special visit to the unknown “magical” Turin, All transfers and visits as per itinerary, Local guides for touring

Not Included: Any airfares, Daily entrance at the Salone del Gusto, Any personal expenses and any items not specifically mentioned as included in the program

Note: Entrance and transportation at the Salone del Gusto are not included in order to give you complete flexibility on your visits. Being members of Sloiw Food we are the first ones to understand that any approach to food is very much part of the person we are and very different from the approachjsomeone else would have.

  • Entrance fee for Slow Food Members is about Euro 60 for the full show
  • There is a regular city bus service to Lingotto (where the Salone del Gusto is held) every 30 minutes at the cost of a very few dollars
  • Taxi servicfe would cost about Euro 10.00 for up to 3/4 people

Download the lasted Escorted Itinerary brochure - Pdf format

Daily Itinerary

  • Oct 17     Friday     Depart USA - Individual air-travel arrangements will be coordinated to arrive at Milano Malpensa airport at the same time the following day - Airfare cost will be dependent from your originating city.
  • Oct 18     Saturday     Castello di Razzano     (D) - Arrive Milano airport. After customs formalities you are met and transferred to Alfiano Natta in the Monferrato, the heart of the Piedmont, an enchanting landscape of villages spread out through the hills, with horizons marked by the profiles of old churches, towers and hills. Here your home will be the Castello di Razzano, residence of the Olearo family, an ancient building rich in history and charme. The Relais Castello di Razzano offers ample, elegant spaces, richly furnished with period furniture along with charming views on the hills and a beautiful Italian-style garden. Check in at the Relais and have time to relax and enjoy its grounds after the overnight flight. Later in the afternoon a visit of the ancient cellars, with the owner, Mr. Augusto, who is an expert oenologist, where the superior quality wine produced in the Olearo’s family estate are aged will start your introduction to this land of wines. Evening Welcome dinner at local area restaurant featuring Monferrato specialties.
  • Oct 19     Sunday     Castello di Razzano    (B - WT - LL - D) - Breakfast at the hotel. A day to discover the region of the Basso Monferrato Astigiano called Astesana. This is the most fertile area of the province of Asti, producing a third of Piemonte’s wine, including outstanding Barbera and aromatic Moscato and Brachetto. It’s also the birthplace of Italian spumante (sparkling wine) and, here, you find extraordinary grappas and the only Italian DOP goat’s milk cheese, incredible vegetables and famous truffles. The territory of Asti, with its elegant atmosphere and wealth of traditions, offers incredible explorations of the food, wine, and culture that make this area unique. We will visit a main wine maker for some tasting and a mid-day snack and also visit an olive oil producer: impossible as it seems, because of the weather, olives grow in a small area of the region and produce a very good extra-virgin oil. Evening dinner at local area restaurant
  • Oct 20     Monday     Boutique Hotel La Contea - Neive (B - WT - LL) - Depart the Astigiano and travel to the “Alta Langa”. The Langhe region extends from the province of Cuneo to the provinces of Asti and Alessandria. The Belbo stream cuts the territory in half, to the north the Bassa Langa and to the south the Alta Langa. The Alta Langa is known for its breathtaking views of pastures and age-old woods with a landscape dotted with ciabots, traditional stone constructions used by local farmers to store agricultural tools. The most important activities of the area are sheep farms (excellent varieties of cheese are produced) and winemaking with vineyards planted on terraced land and supported by stone ramparts. Today our visit will concentrate on truffles and cheeses. Truffle season is in autumn and “trifulaus” are the most characteristics features of the truffle world so, we will meet with a “trifulau” for a truffle hunt. They are legendary, with their ancient and mysterious habits, they know when truffles grow, what are the trees and grounds that breed them, how to push the “tabui” (the truffle dog) to search and how to reward it. The only tools needed are a hoe and the dog, often a humble bastard, trained with infinite patience by the trifulau himself and a lifetime of knowledge. After the truffle search, our lunch takes us to a cheese farm, where we’ll enjoy a buffet featuring fresh and cured cheese. And, of course, we’ll meet their makers, both animal and human. We arrive at a charming inn, La Contea perched above a panoramic view of vineyards at the small village of Neive where the owner’s have been passing cooking traditions down for generations. Neive is situated in Western zones of the Langhe, on the right of the Tanaro river. Its origins are Roman; in fact the origin of its name derives from a noble family of the time of which it was possession.
  • Oct 21     Tuesday     Boutique Hotel La Contea - Neive (B - WT - LL - D) - A full day discovery of the Alba region with Grinzane Cavour, Castiglione Falletto, Barolo, La Morra and Alba: communes that are centers of production of the homonymous wines, and the destination of gourmet pilgrimages that reach the top in autumn when the nature is abundant with grapes, mushrooms and truffles. Barolo is considered Italy’s king-of-wine and this morning we are treated to a tour and tasting of a top area producer: Elio Grasso. Our explorations will focus primarily on the Nebbiolo variety, as it is the grape that has distinguished the area as one of the world’s finest viticulture zones. The vine is very sensitive to both soil and geography and can yield wines that vary widely in body, tannin and acidity, as well as aroma and flavor complexity, when grown in only slightly different locales. Some winemakers feel that Nebbiolo is even more difficult to work with than pinot noir as it can be changeable, moody and unpredictable while undergoing typical cellar and aging procedures. Nebbiolo is the only variety allowed in the famous Barolo and Barbaresco DOCG wines, and is the primary component in Roero DOC wines. In the afternoon we will visit Alba with a walk through the main streets of the old centre with Piazza Risorgimento, part of the Roman forum in ancient times, when a temple dedicated to Mercury (the god of commerce) represented the centre of administrative and economic life. Dinner at Slow Food restaurant with local specialties.
  • Oct 22     Wednesday     Torino    (B - L) - Leave Alba, heading to the alpine valleys that connect Italy to France. Near Torino, in the Val di Susa, stands the Sacra di San Michele, one of the most interesting monuments in Piedmont used as the setting for the movie “The name of the Rose”. One of Piedmont’s most interesting and suggestive monuments, the Sacra was founded in the Xth C. at the mouth of the Susa Valley. It became one of the most important Benedictine monasteries during medieval times and a stopping place for pilgrims traveling through the valley. The majestic abbey includes various buildings placed on several levels in fortified blocks of which many still remain today. The Romanesque-Gothic abbatial church overlooks the complex, and inside we find Romanesque high relief sculptures and frescos from the 15th and 16th centuries. Lunch at typical restaurant. Continue to Torino, a great city ringed by a continuous backdrop of mountains and hills. The Grand Hotel Sitea, situated in the heart of the city, behind the Piazza San Carlo, is the most refined embodiment of the hospitality of Turin with period furnishings and elegant surroundings.
  • Oct 23     Thursday     Torino    (B) - Turin is the world capital of gourmet delights. Its famous cafés are found on almost every street once created as meeting places for the intellectually elite – poets, politicians and writers, and still oozing charm and sophistication. The walking tour this morning visits some of Turin’s cafes and some of its historic sites. A walk in Turin is a walk under porticoes and luminous public squares. We complete the morning’s events with a visit to Peyrano for a demonstration and tasting of its famous chocolates. Then it is off to the Salone del Gusto. Scents, colors, sounds, personalities, cultures and histories create the exciting atmosphere around you as you stroll through the lanes of this World Market: you are on a journey in search of food quality. In the 5,000 square meters of Pavilion 1, small producers, institutions, conso tia and larger companies will give life to the international market. You will find the very best artisan food products from Italy in Pavilion 2, where about 300 selected producers will represent the ‘Buon Paese’. Pavilion 3, on the other hand, will be entirely devoted to Slow Food Presidia products, traditionally scattered throughout the market. Return back to the hotel by 8:30pm as this evening we are going to show you Turin in a very unusual way. For two and-a-half hours you will be plunged into the darker side of the city. Turin has two souls: one linked to white magic, the other to evil-black magic. You are going to explore them both with our guides during a “magical mystery tour” starting from Piazza Statuto, the “hearth of darkness” on the city, that Romans, who founded Turin, considered an unlucky area and used as a burial site. At sunset we will drive you past scary stone monsters, sinister architecture, unusual statues adorning ancient buildings and a small strange detail of the Duomo, which houses the famous Holy Shroud. Even if you have never believed in magic, come and discover the place considered by the gurus of occultism as one of the world’s capitals for both black and white magic
  • Oct 24     Friday     Torino    (B) - Morning visit of the f the Royal Palace. Begun in 1646, for Cristina of France, was the residence of the Dukes of Savoy, the Kings of Sardinia and the first King of Italy. The “piano nobile” (noble floor), accessible through the great staircase reconstructed between 1864 and 1865, contains works by the most important artists who worked in Turin from the 17th to the 19th century. The building is completed by the Royal Garden, built at the end of the 17th century and designed by André Le Nôtre, the most important European garden designer in the 17th century. The monumental fountain and numerous statues adorn it. Then time to go again to the Salone del Gusto to have the opportunity to discover unusual Japanese sweets or to taste the most celebrated traditional French and British cheeses and compare them with lesser known products such as Kaymak from Montenegro. Also present will be the famous Jamòn Iberico de belota, meats from England, Scotland and Argentina and lots of other unusual goodies to taste and purchase.
  • Oct 25     Saturday     Torino    (B - D) - This morning you’ll visit Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest food market and Balon flea market. Centered on Piazza della Repubblica and its surrounding streets, its sprawling jumble of stalls (including three indoor markets) sells everything from regional gastronomic specialties to underwear and cheap pots and pans. Just north-west of here, the Balon flea market is held on Saturdays and centers in and around Borgo Dora. Walking among the most bizarre foods from all over the world (especially Africa and Asia) is like participating in an exciting treasure hunt, trying to find all the ingredients needed for a typical dish of any world’s cuisine. The rest of the day is yours for the final visit at the Salone del Gusto. This evening join the fun at a farewell dinner at one of Turin’s most typical restaurants.
  • Oct 26     Sunday     Depart    (B) - After breakfast transfer to Malpensa airport for your departure flight

Extend Your Stay to Tuscany: Include an Escorted Wine and Culinary Extravaganza in Tuscany! Oct. 26-November 1, 2008

Stay at Villa Sant’Andrea in Cortona and experience the Olive Oil Harvest and Milling of the Oil and enjoy the treasures of the organic garden. Visit Siena, the Montalcino, Montepulciano and Chianti Wine Regions, Assisi, and Arezzo and have an insider’s view on the cooking and traditional culinary specialties of this glorious area of Italy.

Also tagged with: Journal, Italy, Culinary / Wine Discoveries, Langhe