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Italy Gourmet food and wine information - Index | Aosta Valley | Piedmont | Lombardy | Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol | Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Venetia (Veneto) | Liguria | Emilia Romagna | Tuscany | Umbria | Marche | Abruzzo | Lazio | Campania | Molise | Basilicata | Apulia | Calabria | Sicily | Sardinia

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The capital of Lombardy is Milan, and many of our suggested tours start and end there. The region is one of the three richest in Europe; the Lombard GDP is higher than those of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland or Sweden. Milan's gastronomic traditions differ from the customs of the provinces in a territory that extends from the Alps along the lakes of Garda, Como and Maggiore across the Po plains to the Apennines. Lombardians show growing signs of pride in their preferences for the metodo classico sparkling wines of Franciacorta, which have attained the status of DOCG (while the red and white wines of the zone come under the Terre di Franciacorta DOC). On your gourmet tour to Lombardy, your tour guide will introduce you to the following culinary specialties and recipes, and to the following wines and liqueurs:

Torrone from Cremona is a traditional sweet made of almonds, nougat and honey

Risotto alla Milanese, sautéed rice cooked in broth and saffron

Polenta is a corn meal cooked in copper pots with a variety of sauces

Ossobuco is shank of veal with its bone and marrow

Pavese Soup is clear broth served with toasted bread and eggs

Bresaola from Valtellina is cured meat served sliced as prosciutto

Franciacorta Spumante - (DOCG) white

Bonarda - (DOC) red

Lambrusco - (DOC) red

Valtellina superiore - (DOCG) red

On your private tour, your tour guide will help you distinguish and appreciate the flavors of Lombardy specialties like the mountain inspired Taleggio cheese, buttery and smooth olive oil from the northern region of Lake Garda, super fine, chef-friendly rice Carnaroli, and tell you about the mistake that created the flavorful Dolce Gorgonzola. If you wish a private Italy tour customised to include Lombardy gourmet foods and wines, please enquire; at A La Carte Italy Tours we will be delighted to design a special itinerary for your privately guided tour.