Golf & Wine tour

1st day:

Arrival in Novi Ligure, starting point of the tour. Hotel accommodation.
The day trip kicks off with a visit to the "Museo dei Campionissimi" (The Great Champions Museum): you'll see the many models of bicycle developed along the time, from the ancient ones down to the modern carbon fibre chassis, and will find out about the careers of the greatest cyclists of all time, from Costante Girardengo (born 1893) to the unforgettable Marco Pantani.
You'll set off on your bike to discover the territory, whose fame is due to a white wine appreciated all over the world: that's the fresh, perfumed Gavi DOCG; its aroma nuances are typical of these hills known as "Dolci Terre" (Sweet Lands). Even the English Royal Family is very keen on the finest Gavi; the tour evokes a British atmosphere: you'll have the chance to visit the prestigious golf clubs spread on these green hills.
First leg: pedalling uphill and downhill, you'll come to "La Marchesa" country estate: its Eighteenth Century villa has been declared a national monument due to its artistic and architectural value. Here, an excellent Gavi is produced using the "barrique" method. After a visit to the estate and its cellars, you'll be taught how to taste the Gavi wine in order to detect its colour nuances, scents and flavours.
Lunch at the nearby farmhouse plunged into the vineyards.
In the afternoon, always pedalling through hills and vineyards, you'll come to the village of Tassarolo. Then, take the lanes bordering the "Colline del Gavi" golf course to come to Francavilla Bisio. Past the Lemme and another climb, take the downhill descent to Capriata D'Orba and plunge yourself into the relaxing atmosphere of Villa Carolina Golf Club.
Dinner at the Club House.

2nd day:

Reach by bike the heart of the Gavi hills: Rovereto, a Gavi fraction. This small village, made up of a handful of houses, is believed to be the place where the Gavi wine was first invented. Here, you'll find the main wine producers of the territory.
Visit to "Villa Scolca" country Estate and its "technological" cellar. Wine tasting on the panoramic terrace facing the hills and vineyards: enjoy the breathtaking view with the Alps in the distance.
A short path winding through the vineyards will lead you to another ancient country estate, that is the "Castellari Bergaglio": visit the cellar and taste their wines!
Lunch.
In the afternoon, you will have to face an almost hard track but the impressive landscape is worth it: past amazing hills spotted with vineyards and dark green woods, you'll come to three river valleys: Lemme, Scrivia and Borbera. First of all, you'll find out about Gavi, a medieval village at the foot of the Apennines: the mentioned wine has been named after it. Next, you'll come to Arquata Scrivia: take a stroll along the interesting "Via Interiore" enclosed between two medieval portals. Next, you'll come to "Val Borbera". Climb to Vignole Borbera for a visit to Poggio wine producer. Visit and wine tasting.
Then, at the confluence of the Borbera and Scrivia rivers, take a steep descent. Follow the Scrivia river to Stazzano: dinner and overnight stay.

3rd day:

Once quitted Stazzano, you will be faced with another hard track, but the pay-off is priceless: through impressive wild landscapes, you'll come to "Val Curone": climb through gullies, woods and green country fields to the small village of Vargo. Past the tiny village of Albarasca, take the downhill path to Valle Grue. Reach Casasco and then reach "Val Curone": at Momperone, the Golf Country Valcurone will welcome you for a relaxing day along its golf courses: all the club facilities are available, the 18-hole course, the golf teacher, the restaurant, the swimming pool.
In the late afternoon, take the downhill path to Monleale for a visit to Massa wine producer who have restarted the "mountain" wine "Timorasso" production that was at risk because of the depopulation of these valleys. The grapes are grown along the sunniest Val Curone slopes as well as the slopes of Val Borbera running parallel to Val Curone.
Massa, who strongly trusted his project, has finally succeeded in producing a high-quality wine.
Dinner and overnight stay at Volpedo where the famous painter Giuseppe Pelizza was born.

4th day:

One quitted Volpedo, past the Curone river, climb to Montemarzino (400 mt. above sea level) and take a look at the ruins of an ancient ligurian castle. Then, take the downhill path to Cerreto Grue for a local food and wine tasting. Continue pedalling through the hills of Tortona where some excellent wines such as Cortese, Barbera and Dolcetto are produced. All these wines has been DOC labelled. You'll come to Montale Celli for a visit to the wine producers Boveri and Valli Unite. Food and wine tasting.
You'll come back to Stazzano for dinner and the overnight stay.

5th day:                                                                                                 

Once quitted Stazzano, cross the high bridge over the Scrivia river. Past Serravalle Scrivia, just outside the town, climb to Monterotondo, a Gavi fraction: visit to the renowned Villa Sparina country estate whose sparkling Gavi wine is even appreciated by the fastidious Japanese people. In the cellar, the wine bottles are placed upside down in their racks in the dark and at precise moments they are turned one by one the other way round in order to avoid disturbing...the wine bubbles.
Come back to Serravalle for a visit to an ancient villa which dates back to the Nineteenth Century: La Bollina. Here, you'll also find a Golf Club.
In the afternoon, following an amazing partly dirt countryside path winding through vineyards, green fields and woods, you'll come to the wine producer "la Perpetua": visit to the cellar, the vineyards and the country world museum, wine tasting included.
Continuing along Strada del Castellone you'll come back to Novi Ligure.

Tourist offices:

Iat di Novi Ligure
Viale dei Campionissimi, 2
15067 Novi Ligure
Tel. +39 0143 72585
Fax +39 0143 767657
Email: clicca qui >>
Web: www.comune.noviligure.al.it

Il Cuore di Novi
Corso Marengo, 103
15067 Novi Ligure (AL)
Tel. +39 0143 322118
Email: info@ilcuoredinovi.it

Iat di Tortona
corso Alessandria n. 62

presso il Palazzo Municipale

Settore Sviluppo Economico - Ufficio Turismo e Manifestazioni
15057 Tortona (AL)
Tel. 0131 864297
Fax 0131 864276

E-mail: affarigenerali@comune.tortona.al.it

Web: www.vivitortona.it

Iat di Ovada
Via Cairoli, 103
15076 Ovada
Tel. +39 0143 821043
Fax +39 0143 821043
Email:iat@comune.ovada.al.it
Web: www.ovadese.it

Ufficio d'Informazione Turistica
delle Valli Borbera e Spinti
Via Martiri della Benedicta
15060 Vignole Borbera (AL)
Tel. +39 0143 630026
fax +39 0143 630026
Email: utvalborbera@libero.it
Web: www.valborberaespinti.it