• Master
    23 Sep 2012, 3:50 p.m.

    From time to time one should walk his watches - just to make sure they see something of the world. So I was thinking in which area of the world I should walk my watches ... I felt it needs to be a very special area which proves worthy of the great engineering of the watches.

    So, off I went on Thursday evening to the airport. Here two pics taken at the airport:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0202_zpsfc9aa78b.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0201_zpsa631b918.jpg

    That is were I was flying to.
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0205_zps2f3ec1b6.jpg
    Then heading two hours by car into the target area - The Langhe Region (Barolo area) were the world's greatest wine is being produced. A wine which is so special as each single IWC watch is.

    Arrived in Bra (a small city in the Langhe) we met my client for dinner. And see there, also him was wearing an IWC
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0209_zps18b17d65.jpg

    The evening started with some great food and great wine - here a Barbera D'Alba (2009) from Conterno.
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0211_zpsdd8978dc.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0213_zps4938498d.jpg

    Big Pilot meets Octopus:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0214_zps609acfe6.jpg

    That is how one looks like after the 4th bootle of great wine, killed with 2.5 people drinking:-)
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0217_zpsd94af137.jpg

    The GTG picture:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0220_zps74f3470f.jpg

    Our hotel in Bra, Cantina Ascheri, a vineyard with hotel
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0221_zps3f6a73be.jpg

    In other parts of the world, a bottle of water is waiting for you at the hotel room. In this area, you have a bottle of wine waiting for you;-)
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0222_zps0f852172.jpg

    Next morning at breakfast - trying to decide which IWC to wear for the day
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0223_zps43e55de9.jpg

    After breakfast we went visiting Altare's vineyard. Elio Altare is one of the popes of Barolo. He is a symbol for art and innovation around Barolo. He is producing only about 60k bottles per year, doing the grape harvest completely without machines, he is not using any kind of chemicals for his wines ... his wine is kind of as handcrafted as an IWC is.

    Some views of his vineyards
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0227_zps0b90bac4.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0229_zps87b4c11f.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0230_zps758be160.jpg

    These are Elio's private wine bottles
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0240_zps73bc7b7a.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0241_zps93bc9e60.jpg

    Elio was telling me about his passion for wines, that he produces only pure wines, and I told him about my passion for IWC, and that an IWC is also something very special. I told him about my KK DV and the perpetual calendar, and he was fascinated of this. So we took a picture of the two of us, and as you can see, he is wearing my KK DV. I am so proud!
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0248_zps1f2dc027.jpg

    After about two hours of talking about wines and IWCs, we went upstairs to taste "a few" wines:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0250_zps115fe272.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0252_zps238eea69.jpgi1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0253_zpsb408fb9b.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0254_zpse6cae2d0.jpg

    What a great taste. A few hours later I needed some fresh air;-) Ideal time to take some pics at the Belvedere of La Morra
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0261_zps5a0ec144.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0262_zpse7d6f4bd.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0265_zpsae85c95b.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0266_zpsa69ffa41.jpg

    Enough fresh air, time for late lunch ... obviously with some wine. Mission accomplished, bottle empty:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0274_zpsf1d8208a.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0275_zps0472738a.jpg

    Walking around and taking some pics here and there, before visiting the next vineyard, the one of Roberto Voerzio, another Barolo pope.
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0278_zpsc7c94636.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0280_zpsf9a8f4c7.jpg

    These Voerzio's vineyards and cellar:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0287_zpsc3d86965.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0303_zps7a59480e.jpg

    Look at this great red color. The Regulateur Platinum really fits into the scene:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0307_zpsddfd7965.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0308_zps9a4aaf24.jpg

    Time for dinner at one of the greatest restaurants in that area - Bovio. Well, what should you have for dinner in that area in that period of time? Right, White Alba Truffel:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0315_zps67e14ccc.jpg

    Look at these two great truffles. Can you smell it?
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0316_zps031b202f.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0321_zps0dedf9a0.jpg
    A complete dinner with white truffles, even the cheese at the end, obviously accompanied by some great Nebbiolo (A La Spinetta in this case) and some great Barolo (A Pio Cesare in that case). Sorry, but I was too busy enjoying the food, and therefore I could not take too many pictures.

    Enough for that day. The next day in the morning a visit to a bigger vineyard, Fontanafredda, which by the way belongs to the founder of Eataly.
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0328_zps03bea3da.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0330_zps177b01c7.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0350_zpsaa05082f.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0354_zpsf530f61b.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0357_zpsfdecc8d7.jpg

    Double watched in front of Barolo's from 2001:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0367_zpsc3bd86d4.jpg

    Having a walk before the next ... lunch with wine;-)
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0337_zpsb9965ebe.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0338_zpscb5859cb.jpg
    The IWC tree ... LoL

    Time to kill some wine bottles over lunch
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0371_zpsd40a1f66.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0372_zps154699a2.jpg

    Two great brands having a short GTG
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0376_zps9621965d.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/DSC_0375_zpsb8e6e7f5.jpg

    A few hours later ... time for dinner, with some great wines:
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/Foto1_zpsb8141836.jpg
    i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z376/giova26/Foto2_zpsde37228f.jpg

    It was a great experience ... probably with just a little little little too much wine ... but hey, who cares ... life it too short to not enjoy such great things:-))

    Thanks for looking

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 4:07 p.m.

    Wow. What a trip and nice IWC to boot. You are taking on Nad and his travelogues with the post. Nicely done.

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 4:11 p.m.

    Great wine-travelogue! Admittedly I know very little about wine unlike my namesake KS(Kee Siew) who is big on wine and cigars. Your splendid few days at the vineyard would have been a dream holiday for me. Thanks for report and if memory serves me well it's the first time your photo is being published on the forum and you are indeed a fit and fine looking guy!

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 4:17 p.m.

    Wow, what a great trip! Thanks for taking us along. I've been to Bra, is it is fantastic- you brought back great memories!
    Nelson

  • Connoisseur
    23 Sep 2012, 4:28 p.m.

    Amazing!! Thanks for your travelogue. I like your IWC watch travel case too. All the food and wine, cars and watches are wonderful!

    Regards,
    Ricky

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 4:33 p.m.

    Wonderful report Giovanni. Looks like a very enjoyable brief trip. Bill already beat me to the Nad comparison.

    Is that a VC Inge in the center position of your watch box on the breakfast table? If so, it's keeping some very nice company.

  • 23 Sep 2012, 5:12 p.m.

    great report, two of my favourites ; IWC and Barolo wines.

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 5:26 p.m.

    Ciao Giovanni,

    Nice to see you experiencing all the great thinks in life, IWC watches, great wines, wonderful scenery, amazing company and White Truffles!!!!!!

    Looks like an awesome trip. I am bookmarking your post and will try to someday follow your footsteps through this wine region!

    Thanks for sharing!

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 6:30 p.m.

    It's a tough job but you seem to do it great :-)
    The amount of wine you had to taste would have killed me! Great report, wonderful watches, delicious food, stunning cars and tasty wines, what else could you wish for?

    Kind regards,

    Clemens

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 6:56 p.m.

    Aloha Giovanni -

    Thanks for the great travelogue!

    • Tracy
  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 7:38 p.m.

    Γεια σου Giovanni,

    thanks for posting all these beautiful
    photos, really a rare travelogue!!!!

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 7:55 p.m.

    Giovanni, great post. Your pictures make me want to book a trip and leave tomorrow. Thanks for taking us along on your trip.

    Regards,
    Kevin

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 9 p.m.

    Oh my gosh Giovanni! I miss one of your watches there...where is the vintage AT? - LOL

    What a wine trip - with good food and friends.

    Thanks for sharing.

  • Master
    23 Sep 2012, 10:12 p.m.

    Fantastic set of pictures. The wine and food look great. And of course the watches. Bellisima!

  • Connoisseur
    23 Sep 2012, 11:35 p.m.

    Wine and watches --two of my favorite things! I will try to match you when I go to Napa in a few weeks for the harvest.

    Thanks for posting.

  • Master
    24 Sep 2012, 12:09 a.m.

    Your friend's Yacht Club has me sorely tempted. With Kevin's shots earlier....I recognize this feeling

  • Connoisseur
    24 Sep 2012, 3:29 a.m.

    Great prarade of IWC watches in such a wonderful environment. I.e. Barolo, truffle, nice landscape, etc. life is good.

    Thanks for sharing with us.

  • Apprentice
    24 Sep 2012, 6:31 a.m.

    This post is hidden. You cannot not see its contents.

    Hidden by on 8 Nov 2018, 4:34 p.m..