1. Votto Vines
Private Italian Wine Estate Tour
Scrapbook 2010

2. Votto Vines Private Italian Wine Estate Tour
Countless Acres of Grapevines
Although the primary focus of Votto Vines is to import Italian wines, Votto Vines also organizes and
guides wine tours in Italy with a focus on Italian agriturismo. Italian agriturismo is a form of rural
tourism whereby guests visit working farmhouses, vineyards and villas in some of the most beautiful
regions of Italy.
A Glimpse of Life in the Italian Country-side
Ranging from relaxing holidays of lounging at pools surrounded by countless acres of grapevines to
10-hour days learning to farm and prepare the regional cuisine, visitors have the ability to get a
glimpse of what life is really like in the italian country-side.
A Unique Opportunity
We have the good fortune of working with many small Italian vineyards that not only produce fine
wine but also offer customers and friends the chance to visit and stay on their properties.
Dodici persone, dieci giorni, sette aziende vinicole, cinque
regioni, e troppo bottiglie di vino per contare.
Twelve people, ten days, seven wineries, fi regions, and too many bottles of wine to count.
ve

4. DAY 1: We depart the United States on our overnight flight to Rome. DAY 5: Today we take a private tour of Vecchia Cantina in
Montepulciano. The afternoon is available for shopping and exploring in
DAY 2: We arrive in Leonardo da Vinci airport where we meet our Montepulciano and then a private dinner at the cantina. Overnight at
chauffeur and travel to the award winning vineyard of Domodimonti near Sanguineto.
the city of Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche. Later we enjoy lunch and a tour of
the vineyard. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner and hospitality as we DAY 6: After breakfast we travel from Montepulciano to Radda in
preview the tour itinerary and sample local cuisine and Domodimonti’s Chianti. Situated down a winding dirt road is the hamlet of Livernano.
olive oil and wine. Domodimonti features red wines blended from Owned and operated by Bob and Gudrun Cuillo, Livernano grows its
Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Montepulciano grapes as grapes respecting the environment through sustainable farming. The
well as the little known Passerina white varietal. Overnight at Cuillos’ passion and quest is to produce only the best, high quality wines
Domodimonti. possible. We enjoy lunch and an afternoon of relaxation before having a
wine dinner prepared by Livernano’s Michelin-star rated chef. Overnight
Azienda Agricola Domodimonti, www.domodimonti.com, Via dei Sabini, at Livernano.
28, 63100 Ascoli Piceno, +39 0736 245 981
Azienda Agricola Livernano, www.livernano.it, Loc. Livernano 53017
DAY 3: Today we visit the city of Ascoli Piceno and the Adriatic coastline Radda in Chianti, (Si) Tuscany, +39 0577 738353
in the lesser known region of Le Marche. Part of the afternoon will be left
open for personal exploration, shopping and relaxation. This evening we DAY 7: Today we have the option to visit Radda in Chianti, Castellina in
again enjoy local cuisine and wine from Domodimonti. The chef will also Chianti and surrounding villages in the Chianti Classico region of
allow us to participate in preparation of the meal. Overnight at Tuscany before returning in the afternoon for a cooking class with the chef
Domodimonti. and another unforgettable wine dinner at the estate. Livernano and its
sister vineyard, Casalvento, boast several 90+ point rated wines that we will
DAY 4: After breakfast at Domodimonti, we depart for the Umbrian sample and enjoy throughout our stay. Overnight at Livernano.
village of Montefalco. Today we visit the award winning Tabarrini
vineyard. Owned and operated by third-generation wine maker, DAY 8: After breakfast, we begin our journey back to the region of
Giampaolo Tabarrini, this vineyard produces red wines from Sangiovese, Umbria. We visit the family winery of Tenuta Vitalonga in the province of
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and local favorite Sagrantino. We’ll tour the Orvieto. Owned and operated by the gracious and kind Maravalle family,
vineyard, enjoy lunch and wine with Giampaolo and his family and barrel Vitalonga boasts 90+ point rated red wines from Montepulciano, Merlot
taste Tabarrini’s early-maturing vintages. Aferwards we continue the and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. After touring the property and sampling
journey to the village of Montepulciano and the agriturismo Sanguineto. the wines, we enjoy a farewell dinner and overnight at the estate.
Azienda Agricola Tabarrini, www.tabarrini.com, Frazione Turrita, Tenuta Vitalonga, www.vitalonga.it, 05016 Ficulle (TR), Località
06036 Montefalco (PG), +39 0742 37 93 51 Montiano, +39 0763 836 722
Agrturismo Sanguineto, www.sanguineto.com, Via Sanguineto 2-4 53045, DAY 9: After breakfast we will transfer to the airport to board our
Acquaviva, Montepulciano (Si), +39 0578 767782 flight home.

5. Domodimonti a le Marche
The Domodimonti vineyard was the dream of Dr. Francesco Bellini, a prominent figure in the
pharmaceuticals and biotechnology field. Their incredible devotion to the art of great wine-making and
consistent philosophy of tradition and family makes them a great partner of Votto Vines Importing. We are
very excited to report that Domodimonti has recently developed a fabulous Agritourism destination at the
vineyard where these excellent wines are being produced.
"What an amazing way to start off such a wonderful trip. As soon as
we passed through the beautiful entrance gates of Domodimonti, we
were met with such kind and inviting people... and one of the most
spectacular lunch displays I have ever seen. After a long journey,
you cannot ask for more than food, wine, and good company. Above
all, the views were nothing short of spectacular."

6. Later that evening, the chef invited a guest to
help prepare a regional specialty, Olive
Ascolane. To make the famous fried olives, they
are filled with fresh meat mash of beef, pork and
small quantiies of!chicken liver (and sometimes
turkey). They are then fried in boling oil and
eaten hot to appreciate the In addition, Ricardo, the caretaker
full flavor. shared another specialty of the area,
Vino Cotto (cooked wine). In fact, a
bottle of the homemade after-dinner
drink was graciously given to the
guests to take along for the rest of the
trip. Of course, homemade biscotti
was included.

8. "Being taught about the wine you are drinking by those who produce it was an enlightening
experience. Before descending to the cellar, we learned how the grapes are harvested, dried,
selected, how long the skins are left in, what temperature is necessary for each varietal.
Learning more about how one makes wine only makes me appreciate and enjoy the wine that
much more. Another aspect of the tour I greatly enjoyed was learning the differences, as well
as the similarities in the wine making process at each vineyard we visited"
-Barbie Jean H., NYC

17. "While I have visited Italy many times, the Votto Vines experience completely altered
my vision of Italy! Although I will continue to visit Rome, Florence and all the wonderful
Italian destinations, I will also be sure to spend time in the countryside enjoying our
new friends in Umbria, Marche and the lesser knownregions of Italy."

19. The Casalvento vineyard was the place that spurred the creation of Votto Vines.
President Michael Votto was vacationing with his wife and having learned about
Casalvento through the National Italian American Foundation, decided to stay at the
vineyard. The Chianti Classico is a supreme example of the depth and quality of the
sangiovese grape grown in this region for centuries.

21. "The people; the food; the wine; the rustic charm and beauty of the tour
was simply incredible. I did not want the trip to end, but I know the
memories will last forever.”