Category Archives: Italy

Hiking, Italy, Nutshell

Anello del Prosecco: Trail in a Nutshell

Trail Name: Anello del Prosecco (Prosecco Circuit)

Trail Type: A short to medium distance circuit; very diverse surfaces (asphalt, trackless, cart trail, dirt), somewhat maintained; the route itself is marked diversely, and sometimes not at all.

Length:

Total – 15 kilometers/9.33 miles

Segment – 8.5 kilometers/5.25 miles

Convenient to: Valdobbiadene, Italy

Marking: Varies, sometimes following different CAI numbered paths (1019, 1014), and the occasional large iron stands with yellow and white signs waxing poetic on the wines and vines of the area.

Trail 1014b Signs

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Biking, Italy

Discovering Valle d’Aosta

 

Recently, I visited a quiet corner of Italy. That is almost a contradiction of terms nowadays, and often difficult to find in the summer. Seeking a refuge in the great outdoors, free from crowds, I came across a bike ride through vineyards in Aosta Valley. Since I had never been there, I decided to make the trip. What a trove of new discoveries of all sorts!

Aosta
Aosta

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Italy, Wines

Wine Notes: Valle d’Aosta

 

What I Learned:

Valle d’Aosta (Aosta Valley) is in the northwest corner of Italy, where Italy, France and Franco-phone Switzerland meet. It is an autonomous region with a heavy French influence. This influence, and of course earlier Roman settlement in the region, means that wine and wine production figure heavily in local culture. Being not only in the north, but also at a rather high elevation, wine-making is a challenge. But it is one that local winemakers have accepted, especially those vintners close to the French border, whose vineyards lie at altitudes greater than 1000 meters above sea level. (In fact, these vineyards lying below the highest mountain in the Alps, Mount Blanc (itself over 4800 meters above sea level), include some of the highest vineyards in Europe.) While there are other contenders for the highest vineyard elsewhere in Europe, there can be no doubt that Aosta Valley winemakers work in seriously mountainous terroir.

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Biking, Italy, Nutshell

Tour dei Vigneti: Trail in a Nutshell

Trail Name: Tour dei Vigneti

Trail Type: Short to medium distance bicycling trail; almost exclusively paved, well maintained, but the route itself is infrequently marked.

Length:

Segments – 1.5, 3.5, 5, 5.5, 8 and 10 kilometers

Total –  10 kilometers/ 6 miles

Convenient to: Aosta, Italy

Marking: Green rectangular Sign with white lettering “Tour dei Vigneti” and a number

Signage for Tour dei Vigneti
Signage for Tour dei Vigneti

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Biking, Italy

Celebrating the Bubbles

 

As wine tourism in Italy expands to include active options, there are more trails to hike or bike than ever before. I recently had another chance to visit Franciacorta. East of Milan, and just south of the sparkling clear waters of Lake Iseo, Franciacorta is an ideal location for a wine-themed biking vacation. The lake, in addition to being a beautiful, scenic backdrop, helps to moderate temperature; the hills shelter you and the vines from excessive wind; the wine villages are small, and charming. Best of all, it is quiet and laid-back: I encountered more people cycling than driving on some of the back roads.

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Biking, Italy, Nutshell

Franciacorta Pas Dose: Trail in a Nutshell

 

Trail Name(s): Franciacorta Pas Dose/Itinerario 2/Percorso Blu (Blue)

Trail Type: Mid-distance circuit; surfaces mostly hard-packed gravel, or paved in built up areas; well maintained and fairly well-marked.

Length: Total – 30 kilometers/18.6 miles

Marking: Brown rectangular signage with white and blue writing (“Itinerario 2 Percorso Blu”)

Itinerario 2 Percorso Blu Pas Dose
Itinerario 2 Percorso Blu Pas Dose

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Hiking, Italy

Marching Through Winter in Italy

 

There is nothing like Italian sunshine to chase away the winter blues. And in vineyards in March, the sun melts the snow faster, and the vineyards begin to show hints of life earlier, making a March hike through the Piedmont countryside a true delight.

Add to this the opportunity to taste a light, sweet wine, with sweet summer berry flavors, and dreams of summer flood the senses. In this case, the wine was Malvasia, and the countryside was around the Piedmont village of Casorzo, homeland of the DOC  Malvasia di Casorzo.

Casorzo Fields
Casorzo Fields

 

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Italy, Wines

Wine Notes: Monferrato Varietals

 

What I Learned

The Monferrato wine district lies within Italy’s Piedmont wine region. The DOC system recognizes various unique varietals and some interesting wine production techniques. The wines from here are not only high quality overall, but also closely related to the land and the history of this district.

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Hiking, Italy, Nutshell

Sentiero del Malvasia: Trail in a Nutshell

 

Trail Name: Sentiero del Malvasia

Trail Type:

Mid-distance; paved in the urban area, dirt, loam or grass in other parts; somewhat maintained, but the route itself is not well marked.

Length: Total – 10 kilometers/ 6 miles

Convenient to: Asti, or Casale Monferrato, Italy

Marking:

Rectangular sign with red and white stripes overwritten “2” (or not)

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