By KevinTheB
August 6 2003

This excursion is open to all, but has to be taken as part of the inclusive Saturday package, due to transport restrictions, unless you are prepared to make your own way to and from the vinyard.

Exact timings are yet to be confirmed, and depend upon release of kick off times as yet unknown. We are assuming a KO in the region of 1900hrs on Saturday for planning purposes. If this proves not to be the case, event timings will be adjusted to suit.

We plan to leave our hotel, the Hotel Master in Brescia, at 1100hrs by coach and travel to the Azienda Agricola Ricci Curbastro in Capriolo, about 40 kilometers to the West of Brescia, up the motorway. Here we have a guided tour of the Ricci Curbastro wine museum and to the cellars of the farm. We will be able to see some stages of the production of their “Franciacorta” and “Terre di Franciacorta” wines, although I suspect this will be limited in December. After this, we have a tasting of these wines, accompanied by local “ Grana Padano ” cheese.

I have advised them to make sure their best wines are on hand for sampling, as it is possible to buy these wines in the cellars (they can send wines at your home via carrier). Last year, we took away over 100 bottles of the best reds on offer as hand luggage!

Should you wish to make your own way here to meet up with us, the cost of the tour and sampling (negotiated as part of the Drunken Wasps party) is currently £7, although this may vary as we negotiate how many glasses of wine are included!

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