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STEVE
THURLOW.COM
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Wine, enjoyed in moderation, is a healthy food which enriches life. Wine Tours Splendours of Sicily - Wine, Food and Culture May 27 - June 7, 2008 - BOOKING CLOSED There
will be a similar trip Sep 23 to Oct 4, 2009
Imagine early summer in the vineyards of Sicily. With its splendid climate, magnificent ancient treasures and great beauty, Sicily is truly a feast for the senses. Join wine expert and educator Steve Thurlow as he leads an 11 day excursion of discovery and enjoyment. Visit wineries, see some of the world's best ancient Greek ruins, learn how to cook Sicilian style, dine in splendid traditional settings at wineries with their owners and winemakers, bathe in the warm Mediterranean and soak up the warm early-summer sunshine. Experience Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, wander in streets little changed since mediaeval times and shop in traditional markets for the freshest produce. Late May each year, before summer arrives in Toronto, there is plenty of warm sunshine in Sicily; daily highs of 25-27°C and lows of 16-18°C.
As well as tasting and dining at all the major wineries we will find time to visit many of the major Greek and Roman sites. Staying in three luxury beach hotels near Marsala, Agrigento and Taormina, the visit will culminate with (safety permitting) a visit to fiery Mount Etna. If all this sounds like too hectic a pace, don't worry. There will be time for relaxing by the pool in the warm sunshine and wandering around some of the beautiful mediaeval towns and villages that lie along the southern shore of this golden isle. Email steve@stevethurlow.com for more information or phone Steve on 905-880-7183 if you are interested in Sicily 2009. Price Click here to see photos of previous Sicily Wine Tours. Wednesday Sep 23rd 2009 Day 1: Thursday – Marsala Day 2: Friday - Marsala Day 3: Saturday - Marsala Day 4: Sunday - Erice and Trapani Day 5: Monday - Menfi and Agrigento Day 6: Tuesday - Casteldaccia Day 7: Wednesday - Agrigento This is a day for relaxing at the hotel. Maybe visiting the ancient
city of Agrigento for shopping or spending time on the beach near the
hotel. In the morning there will be an optional visit to a local olive
oil producer, Olio
Taibi. Here Gino will show us how olives are harvested before visiting
the crushing plant and sampling really fresh olive oil. In the cool
of the evening, there will be an organized tour of some of the world's
Day 8: Thursday - Butera and Piazza Amerina  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Baia Taormina high up above the sea with a magnificent view of Taormina and the coastline as far as Catania on a clear day. Day 9: Friday - Mount Etna Day 10: Saturday -Taormina Day 11: Sunday Oct 4th, 2009– Catania / Toronto The above itinerary is as planned. However we reserve the right to make adjustments depending upon weather and other constraints, to substitute visits to alternative wineries and to arrange accommodation at similar standard hotels in the resorts mentioned. Prices are for double occupancy in twin and double rooms (single supplement available on request), flights are in economy (business class upgrade available) on scheduled flights to and from Toronto. Air and hotels subject to availability. The price was C$3950 in 2008 and covered flights, ground transportation in Sicily, bed and breakfast hotel accommodation, 10 or more meals with wine but will not include Airport Taxes and Fuel Surcharges which are subject to fluctuation (in November 2007 they were $260). This price is correct at present but may change as a result of currency variations, airline surcharges or other circumstances beyond our control. In accordance with the Ontario Industry Travel Act, below is the registered name, address and registration number of the provider of the travel services: K. Walsh &
Associates, 1240 Bay Street, Suite 700, Toronto, ON, M5R 2A7 Home | Festivals | Tastings | Consulting | Qualifications | Reviews About Steve | Contact Us | Events |
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Sicily" 
Wine
for Life in co-operation with Wine Access magazine, and 
After breakfast, the morning will be filled with a cooking class. Assist
with the preparation of today's lunch at the hotel under the expert
guidance of Giancarlo Manza and his team. Learn about the range of fresh
produce, herbs, fish, meat, vegetables and fruits that are available.
After lunch the afternoon will be free for relaxing at the hotel. Late
afternoon we depart for a visit to two nearby wineries. Alcesti and
Donnafugata including dinner at the second.
will
be used for lunch at the hotel. We will stay in Marsala for sightseeing
and shopping until lunchtime. Lunch will be at the Beach restaurant
at Delfino Beach. After lunch the afternoon will be free for relaxing
at the hotel. Early evening we will depart by coach for a winery visit,
tasting and dinner at Carlo Pellegrino winery in nearby Marsala.
Planeta
winery near Menfi where we will have lunch. We then depart for Agrigento
where we stay overnight at
best-preserved
Greek ruins in the Valley of the Temples. Dinner will be served at the
hotel.