For the deep-pocketed wine buff: Divino Tuscany 2012
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Do the words “ultimate,” “luxurious,” “exclusive” set your heart a-pitter-patter? Do you have very deep pockets and are you a card-carrying member of the 1%? You love wine, but never drink a bottle under 95 points? (Why bother?)
Then the second annual “Divino Tuscany” may just be your cup of tea, or glass of wine, so to speak. The four-day Divino Tuscany 2012 has quite the ring to it. And quite the price: 1900 euros per person (about $2,486), not including airfare or hotel accommodations, for four glorious days in Tuscany, May 17 to May 20. “Drink 90- to 100-point wines in some of Florence’s most historic buildings, with some of Italy’s most famous vintners.” Just to do the math; that’s about $621 per day. And the first day consists of a welcome dinner.
Those who are really keen can sign up for the Ultimate Divino Tuscany Pre Package, May 13 to May 17, for an additional $3,429 per person ($3,759 single occupancy), in which a sommelier takes a small group on a winetasting tour of Tuscany, “complete with charming hotels, deluxe transportation and all meals including three gala winery meals and a 1-star Michelin meal!” Plane fare is not included.
Former Wine Spectator European bureau chief James Suckling, who has long been based in Italy, hosts the Divino Tuscany event, which includes tastings, seminars, special dinners and entertainment, and ends with a picnic at Sting and wife Trudie Styler’s Chianti estate Il Palagio. “People last year enjoyed getting to hang with Sting,” the email I received states. I bet they did.
Just how many privileged souls get to attend? Five hundred or so. Suffice it to say the group is “exclusive.”
For more information, visit www.foodandwinetrails.com/ultimate_tuscany or call (800) 367-5348.
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-- S. Irene Virbila
Twitter.com/sirenevirbila