October is harvest time in Umbria and what better time to experience the bounty that has led this region to be called "the green heart of Italy." Join our experts on an insider's voyage of discovery of the food and wine of Umbria where they were meant to be enjoyed -- in their native setting. You'll taste fabulous, one-of-a-kind wines from family run wineries whose production is so small that the only way you can enjoy them is to drink them here. And you'll taste wines collected around the world and boasting the most prestigious international awards, such Arnaldo Caprai's Sagrantino di Montefalco. You'll tromp through the woods following trained truffle hunting dogs in search of the elusive aromatic tuber. You'll overdose on chocolate as we visit the annual Eurochocolate festival in Perugia, the region's capital. And you will learn the secrets of Italian cuisine through hands on cooking classes in our private villa.

This seven-day, six-night package includes deluxe accommodations at our villa, the historic Fattoria del Gelso, a lovely seventeenth century farmhouse on a 40 hectare working farm centrally located in the shadows of Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis.

From the villa we'll tour the region's most distinguished wine zones and historic towns, including Montefalco, Bevagna and Bettona. We'll visit numerous wineries during the peak season, the area's rolling hills ablaze with reds, oranges, yellows and browns, experiencing the harvest firsthand and gaining an intimate understanding of the winemaking process. We'll meet the men and women whose families have worked this land for generations, gaining their insight into what makes their wines special (and better than their neighbors!). And we'll taste. And taste. And taste.

And how about a little food to go with your wine? Your itinerary includes two cooking classes at the villa, taught by local experts whose very DNA is imprinted with the secrets of Umbrian cuisine. You'll work with the freshest, most authentic ingredients the region has to offer, from hand made pasta to farm fresh produce to sausages and cutlets from Italy's pork capital -- Norcia, whose very name means pork in Italian. You will witness the olive harvest firsthand and taste fresh olive oil as it pours from the press. We'll travel to the Tuscan border to go truffle hunting in a town famous throughout Italy for its abundance of truffles, and spend a day in the company of the industry's leading family, learning about this unusual fungus, cooking with it and savoring it.

When you're not busy enjoying the wine and food, you will enjoy the historic and cultural treasures of the region's hilltowns, from the ancient Etruscan fortress town of Perugia to the important religious town of Assisi. We'll visit Todi and Torgiano, home of the region's wine museum, a labor of love built by the Lungarotti winemaking family. And we'll dine in some of the unforgettable family-run trattorias and Slow Food restaurants that dot the countryside which we have discovered during our trips to the region.

Fall is a magical time in Umbria. Experience the magic of Umbria's wine, food and culture yourself this October with Experience Umbria.

October 25 - 31, 2008

Price per person: €1,500 (convert to dollars)

Limited to 8 participants

Package Includes:

• 6 nights at the private villa La Fattoria del Gelso
• Truffle hunting excursion
• Two cooking classes
• Winery visits and tastings
• Eurochocolate Festival excursion
• Private guided walking tours
• All meals
• Ground transportation throughout your stay

Package Details:

• Package is for 6 nights for two persons, double-occupancy room.
• Pricing: Price quoted is per person, double-occupancy sharing a double bedroom. A single room supplement of €400 will be charged to guests not wishing to share a room. Packages are land packages only. Air travel is not included. Transfers to and from La Fattoria del Gelso are not included but can be arranged for an additional fee.
• Accommodations: Accommodations are included in the package price. Guests will stay at the Villa Fattoria del Gelso, our private villa outside the village of Cannara in the Umbrian countryside. All accommodations are double occupancy in a double room. Single occupancy can be arranged for a single supplement. All rooms include a private bath. Each group is limited to a maximum of 8 guests. For more information regarding the available accommodations, visit the Accommodations page of our website.
• Meals: All meals are included in the package price unless otherwise indicated. Meals include a daily continental breakfast served at La Fattoria del Gelso. Lunch and dinner may be provided at the Villa or at local restaurants, in some cases in connection with a planned excursion (e.g., lunch is included in the Sagrantino wine tour). If a guest opts not to participate in an activity, no substitute meal will be provided. Meals at outside restaurants have been negotiated in advance with the restaurant and may include fixed menus and limited choice. All efforts will be made to accommodate dietary restrictions (please let us know in advance) and to provide the greatest choice and flexibility possible.
• Transportation: All ground transportation to and from events, meals, and excursion is included and will be provided by private coach. Transfers to and from the Villa Fattoria del Gelso are not included but can be arranged for an additional fee. Free parking is available at the Villa, and you are welcome to provide your own transportation. Call us if you would like to arrange a rental car for your stay that can be picked up locally.
• Deposit: A deposit of 50% of the total is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due September 30, 2008.
• To reserve your spot, call Suzy Menard at (202) 957- 3811 or e-mail us at tours@experienceumbria.com. Make sure to include your contanct information.