Puglia is a fascinating region in south-eastern Italy, which includes the heel part of Italy's boot. It is bordered by the sea on two sides (the Adriatic Sea in the east and the Ionian Sea to the southeast). Its climate is Mediterranean, warm and dry, ideal for cycling. Endless olive groves are dotted with white villages; long fields of grain and vineyards extend down to splendid costs washed by a crystal clear sea. Puglia is a land rich in flavors; its products from the country (Apulia has the best olive oil in the world) and the sea, prepared according to the local tradition, make Apulia cuisine one of the best in Italy. Cycling in the Salento is a fantastic experience; panoramic roads stand out between the blue of the sky and that of the Mediterranean. Visiting the small sea-side towns, sipping an excellent Salice Salentino, watching the seagulls court the fishermen will be an unforgettable experience!
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Puglia Food and Wine
La Cucina Pugliese |
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When you visit Puglia and go north from Bari towards the Gargano Peninsula, you will pass dozens of miles of olive groves. It's little wonder that olive oil should play a major role in the region's cooking, as do cereals and grains gown on the flat stony plateau that extends south from Bari, reaching all the way to Taranto. Some of the grain becomes pasta -- Puglia is especially known for orecchiette, pasta whose shape brings the human ear to mind -- and some becomes bread; the bread of the town of Altamura is renowned, and throughout the region you'll find friselle, disks of dried bread to be dipped in water and seasoned, with olive oil, hot peppers, and freshly cut tomatoes.
What else is there to enjoy? Fine cheeses and excellent lamb and kid -- Puglia was once one of the major shepherding regions of Italy -- and superb fish: the region boasts hundreds of miles of coastline, the water is crystal clear, and the catch is both plentiful and varied.
Among the preferred vegetables are fava beans, lampasioni (a type of bulb), and eggplant. And to finish up, Puglia boasts some spectacular almond cakes, and has excellent fruit; especially figs.
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La Vino Pugliese |
Apulia produces more wine than any other Italian region usually making up around 17% of the national total. It also competes with Sicily for first place as grape producer. For a long time much of the wine made here was shipped north to Turin were it was used to make Vermouth, or to France where it was used to give structure to French wines when the local harvest was either poor or insufficient.
In recent years, Pugliese vintners have changed their views and tastes and are pursuing wines that effectively balance sweetness, acid, alcohol content and density.
Apulia counts 25 DOC wines including the Primitivo di Manduria, a red named after the grape with the same name that a California researcher, Carole Meredith, proved to have the same DNA as the American Zinfandel, the appreciated and prize-winning California Grape. The Accademia dei Racemi, an association that brings together vintners, agronomists and oenologists is dedicated to promoting and enhancing the quality of wine production in the region. Under the leadership of Mr. Gregory Polucci, it produces an excellent Primitivo and is experimenting with Zinfandel grapes imported from the USA.
A special mention should be made of Salice Salentino, a powerful red produced in the Lecce province. It is made primarily with Negro Amaro and has gained an enthusiastic following abroad because of the excellent ratio quality-price.
Puglia has long seen a prevalence of co-operative wine production. As both Italian and European community subsidies for co-op wineries have almost completely dried up, these large establishments and their grape-grower members are facing the choice of either changing their politics or risking annihilation. This is probably best for wine connoisseurs, as many co-ops have already scaled back production in order to focus on quality, branded, bottled wines.
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What's included on your Puglia bike tour: 6 days-$3,495
- All accommodations in charming villas, and wine estates, 5 nights.
- All accommodations include the best rooms with private deluxe baths and luxuries such as terraces, gardens, and pools.
- All breakfasts, two lunches, four gourmet dinners including wine.
- Bilingual guide(s) who look after your every little need.
- Support vehicle that sweeps the day's route distributing refreshments, picking up your purchases, and offering lifts to the hotel.
- All wine cellar tastings.
- All entrance fees to historic sites, museums and parks, and all other exclusive-access events featuring guest experts.
- Choice of top of the line aluminum hybrid and road bicycles, choice of five lightweight frame sizes, light weight helmet, gel seat, handlebar bag, rear carrier rack, lock, patch kit with spare tube, pump, lock, DuVine water bottle, bell, toe straps option.
- Highlighted regional maps with background on each noteworthy sight and plenty of options to try along the way.
- All transportation from rendezvous to final drop-off.
- All gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service.
- All baggage transport.
- Exceptional customer service.
- Your guides review each morning at breakfast the best route-including which direction to take at the crossroads, where to turn for a flatter option and how to find that shortcut back to the hotel.
- DuVine Adventures t-shirt, water bottle, luggage tag.
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Price: $3,495 per person based on two sharing
Upcoming dates for 2008:
April 27 – May 2, May 18 – 23, May 25 – 30, June 15 – 20, July 6 – 11, July 13 – 18, August 31 – Sep 5, Sep 7 – 12, Sep 14 – 19, Sep 21 – 26, Sep 28 – Oct 3, Oct 5 – 10, Oct 12 – 17, Oct 19 – 24. |
Detailed itineraries will be available soon!
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