BY POPULAR DEMAND: “ITALIAOUTDOORS FOOD AND WINE” ADDS SECOND WEEK TO ITS

2013 LINE-UP OF CULINARY SKI VACATIONS IN THE DOLOMITES

Small-Group Tours in March Pair Legendary Ski Runs with Local Culture, Wine and Cuisine;

Custom Private Tours Also Available This Winter

Responding to demand, Italiaoutdoors Food and Wine has added a second six-night ski and snowboarding experience to its 2013 line-up of active culinary vacations in the Dolomites region of Northwestern Italy. Offered March 10-16 and March 17-23, 2013 and priced $3995 per person, based on double occupancy, the programs invite winter sports enthusiasts to explore the snow-capped Alto Adige region of Italy, where they can ski and snowboard the majestic Dolomites and immerse themselves in the rich Austro-Hungarian history, cuisine and culture of Sudtirol. The small-group tours are led by ski and snowboard instructor and mountain guide Vernon McClure, and PSIA-certified ski instructor, cooking instructor and chef Kathy Bechtel. Together, they offer two decades of experience in the region. www.italiaoutdoorsfoodandwine.com/index.php/bike-tours-italy-ski-holidays-italy/ski-holidays-italy-ski-trips

Trips include accommodations, guided ski tours, meals, daily wine tastings and activities; equipment rental and air are additional. Daily routes include shorter trails and groomed terrain for novice and intermediate athletes as well as off-piste explorations for the advanced skier, allowing groups of mixed interests and abilities to enjoy the region’s offerings. At the end of each day, Chef Bechtel introduces participants to locally produced wines from the regions of Trentino and Alto Adige including Schiava, Lagrein, and Vino Santo. Dinners are enjoyed in charmingosterias and more refined ristorantes.

Additionally, tours of five days or longer can be customized for groups of four or more. Set at a variety of price points, these private tours includes daily wine tastings and activities tailored to all ski levels, and offer bespoke alternatives for families, groups of friends and ski clubs.

For all programs, Italiaoutdoors Food and Wine crafts a custom itinerary providing a balance of activity, rest and relaxation. A maximum of 12 persons per group allows daily itinerary refinement, based on participants’ interests, pacing, and real-time “finds.” In any given tour, novice or intermediate skiers can enjoy daily lessons while expert skiers can enjoy steeper slopes and ungroomed terrain. Other outdoor activities can include snowboarding, cross-country skiing, winter hiking, or snowshoeing. For those interested in non-slope activities, day excursions to Verona, Innsbruck and other cities can be arranged for shopping, museum visits, guided walking tours and other cultural activities.

About Italiaoutdoors Food and Wine

Italiaoutdoors Food and Wine is an owner-operated private guide service, creating and guiding active culinary tours in Northeastern Italy. Unique in their ability to combine active biking, skiing and hiking adventures with world-class culinary programs, Italiaoutdoors customizes vacations for groups of 4 to 12 people. Italiaoutdoors has more than 15 years of recreational programming experience in the region, plus formal culinary and wine training. Programs also include cooking classes, wine tastings, and restaurant dining which explore the best in local regional cuisine and undiscovered wines. Itineraries are rounded out with city visits, shopping, cultural excursions or just relaxing. The owners — experts in fitness, food, and the region — personally lead each tour.

For more information or to receive Italiaoutdoors Food and Wine newsletter, recipes and wine information, visit www.italiaoutdoorsfoodandwine.com or Chef Bechtel’s blog at www.chefbikeski.com. 1-978-270-5774. Twitter: @italiaoutdoors Facebook: www.facebook.com/foodandwineitaliaoutdoors. Discounts are available for ski clubs and other groups.

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Meryl Pearlstein I MDP Publicity I 21 East 87^th Street #5A I New York, NY 10128

T: 917.359.3512 I F: 212.534.3227 I meryl@mdppublicity.com I Twitter: merylpearlstein

www.mdppublicity.com I Blog: www.travelandfoodnotes.com