TESTIMONIALS | T.O.P. Tours

~SUCH A DELIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE~

Given the opportunity to travel to Northern Italy, my wife and I flew into Milan Airport and were greeted by our hosts Dave and Chris Hops. They loaded the van with our luggage, and we left the driving to them. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way to Cherasco, a quaint little town, where we stayed for several nights, a very familiar town to the Hops. Each day we would visit a new location, having Chris and Dave lead the way as our personal guides.

While in Cherasco we sampled several local restaurants where they prepared their signature dishes for our delight and paired the wine accordingly. And our timing could not have been any better, as the locals all gathered under a huge market tent and celebrated the annual escargot festival with wine and music. Of course we toured local wineries in Barolo and Barbaresco and sampled the superb wines each had to offer

We visited Torino and set foot exploring cathedrals and market places. We sampled local truffles while enjoying Alba's truffle festival, and tasted everything from incredible salamis & cheeses to local pastries to home made gelato and chocolate. We also traveled to Stresa, which is on Lake Maggiore, where we stayed at an elegant hotel overlooking the lake and snow capped Swiss Alps. After

a breakfast at the hotel fit for a King and Queen, we took a boat ride to the island of Isola Bella where we explored the royal palace and the cozy local shops.

This was a such a delightful , pleasant and personal experience, that we plan on returning real soon! Chris and Dave really know their stuff and made us feel welcomed. We highly recommend touring with them!

Ed & Linda, USA

~AUTHENTIC TASTE OF ITALY~

"We absolutely loved our personalized tour of the Piemonte region! Mark and Debi were fantastic tours guides, and their love of food, wine, and the unique culture of northern Italy really shown through on our trip. They were very accommodating and curated a tour with our specific interests in mind.

With Treasures of Piemonte we got to enjoy both Italy’s picturesque landscapes and exciting cities. We toured the Duomo of Milan and the Egyptian museum in Turin was a fascinating highlight of the trip! Our home base for most of the trip was Cherasco, a cozy hilltop town, with such friendly locals, cute shops, and yummy restaurants.

Mark and Debi have excellent taste when it comes to food and wine! We had a well rounded tour of Italian cuisine from bountiful farmers markets to private wine tastings at a multi-generation owned vineyard to delicious local restaurants.

We enjoyed our “off the beaten” path tour of Northern Italy and would recommend Treasures of Piemonte to anyone looking for an authentic taste of Italy. We can’t wait to go back!"

Megan & Alec, USA

~FOOD EXTRAVAGANZAS~

"In the past I've always been in charge of booking and figuring out all my trips with family and friends. This was the first time handing over the reins to someone else. It was such a pressure relief to just show up and go with the flow. And everything did flow. From the minute Dave and Chris picked us up at the airport we knew we were in good hands. Everything met our expectations and beyond. From the accommodations to the sights seeing, Italian cooking class and nightly dinner experiences (and I'm talking "experiences" as in food extravaganzas with the local chefs!) It was good food, fun adventures and most of all.....great wine! :) I highly recommend TOP tours for your Italy wine tour experience!"

Susan J, USA

~DEFINITELY NOT YOUR TYPICAL TOUR~

"Treasures of Piemonte tours offers so much more than just your typical tourist tour experience. My husband and I had the fortunate experience to travel with the Treasures of Piemonte owners throughout much of the Piemonte region of Italy, and it was a truly memorable trip. Our experience with the Hops’ and Cavataio’s tour company was nothing short of perfection. Every detail was considered and executed flawlessly. The day trips to all of the beautiful cities and quaint towns were organized and planned with the intention of providing the traveler with a personal, hometown experience. My husband and I felt very much a part of the italian culture and were made to feel at home everywhere we went. The Cavataio’s and the Hops’ make personal arrangements at restaurants, wineries and villas. They have close friends in the Piemonte region of Italy and you really feel the love of the Italian people. Their attention to detail is noticeable. Thank you Treasures of Piemonte for a memorable experience! We look forward to our next visit to beautiful Italy."

Dave & Julie, USA

~ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!~

This whole trip was indeed a treasure. Given the opportunity, I would do it again in a heartbeat! Chris and David know the area like the back of their hands. Every meal was fantastic, the wineries were beautiful with delicious tastings. Don’t get me started on the food! Every meal was mouth wateringly delicious. Just the right number of activities and down time. A perfect intimate experience of the Piedmont region. I never felt like a tourist. The attention to detail was superb! Definitely a part of Italy that should not be missed with this tour group. TOP is a top notch tour for sure!

Camille, USA

~RELAXING & ENCHANTING~

“Needless to say our first trip to Italy was eventful! We spent the first half of our trip on our own learning our way through towns and figuring out how to make the most of our time and travels. It wasn’t until meeting up with Mark and Debi that our vacation became the relaxing enchanting venture it was meant to be. Armed with all the stories and locations friends have visited was in no way a replacement for having someone with intimate knowledge of the area to show you around and introduce you to such a wonderful part of the world. From spectacular accommodations to memorable sights and food to dream about. We could not have asked for a more special end to our trip that was made so easy by this knowledgeable couple.”

Jeff & Sharon, USA

~TOP OF THE BUCKET LIST~

"From the first trip to the most recent with Dave & Chris, we have always had the most amazing time! From wine tastings (meeting the wine makers personally) to the amazing food venues to the beautiful landscapes. Many of the local restaurateurs are personal friends with the Hops family, making the dining experiences incredible by talking with chefs at tableside for pairing recommendations and always a good story. How many courses can one consume in an evening? Don’t forget the amazing dessert selection, Dave will not!

One of our trips happened to coincide with the annual Tartufo Bianco De Alba (The White Truffle Festival) where the minute the aroma hits your senses you will never forget the sensation. Amazing food, cheese & wine were abundant all weekend!

We had excursions to Lago Maggiore, many local wineries & gelaterias, food and wine pairings, more gelato and enjoyed the

big city culture of Turin during which we toured great museums such as the MAUTO National Automobile Museum.

Walking and cycling around Cherasco, having cappuccino while talking with the locals and relaxing were all highlights. If you’re up for it and a bit brave you can rent a local Vespa to tour the hillsides on your own, (Ask Dave). Seriously, by far one of the best trips we have ever taken, and we will enjoy many more trips with the Hops as our guides. We are always up for an adventure!"

Alan & Vandee, USA

~FOOD & WINE LOVER'S DREAM~

"Being a self proclaimed "foodie" and lover of wine, I wanted to take a trip that would explore the great wines and cuisine of Northern Italy. My daughter and I were not disappointed! The food & wine was incredible, and the scenery all around us was breathtaking! It almost didn't seem real. Chris & Dave planned such a memorable trip for us and were very well-known in the town of Cherasco. We especially loved the pasta making class, wine pairings, and time spent at Lago Maggiore. Every detail was planned for us! All we needed to do was get there. I would definitely recommend!"

Susan, USA

Wendy & Mike, USA ~ Review Coming Soon!

Brad & Angelique, USA ~ Review Coming Soon!