Cheese & Wine in Lake Maggiore, Italy

Our Italian Culinary programs are designed to be added to your travel itinerary to introduce you to a world of tasty gastronomic riches and unique experiences. Observe at close hand, the work of wine and food producers that open their wineries and food shops to visitors. Savour the different flavours and satisfy your appetite by discovering something typical, traditional and unusual. 

Wine and cheese: the perfect pairing.
The area around Lake Maggiore is renowned for its cheese and wine production – an ideal place for gourmands to sample this likely pair. Arrive in Lake Maggiore, a large Italian lake on the south side of the Alps in Northern Italy. Relax at your hotel, Grand Hotel Majestic, originally built in 1870 and acclaimed as one of the most beautiful hotels in Europe. Recently renovated, nearly every room features views of the lake. Enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. In the morning after breakfast, visit Arona for a lesson from a cheese artisan in a cheese seasoning grotto to learn how to pair Italian cheeses with salami, mustards, breads and wines, followed by a cooking class – lunch is when you will appreciate your creations! In the afternoon, take a boat excursion on Lake Maggiore, visiting the Borromean Islands and sailing around Isola Madre, including a tour of its formal gardens. After breakfast the next day, visit Gheme, a medieval, fortified town where you will meet winemakers Paulo and Antonello, who offer a demonstration and guided tour of their cellar; enjoy a wine tasting with salami and cheese.