A day in San Gimignano with Filippo Bartolotta, Gianfranco Vissani and Mario Cipollini

I originally wanted to talk about Orienteering, Gourmet Team building activity outdoors, perfect for creating team spirit. Instead, we will reminisce about a day we found ourselves in San Gimignano on La7 that ran an episode of "I’ll Bring You There (Ti Ci Porto Io)" the following week. Filippo was the star as a wine expert and the episode was filmed between the towers in San Gimignano of the “Manhattan of Tuscany.” The region is best known for Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine, saffron, gold and masterpieces of art just like the masterpieces of the senses!

Along with Fillippo, Gianfranco Vissani and Michela Rocco di Torrepadula were assisted by an exceptional host, Mario Cipollini, world champion of high level cycling of Italy worldwide!

The piece was filmed starting with masterpieces of Pinacoteca di San Gimignano and continued to Piazza della Cisterna at the top of the rocky hillsides, where with jokes and lots of laughter, we enjoyed a glass of Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva!

The view from hills was breathtaking, all with wonderful light snow!

It's really incredible to have the opportunity to see all San Gimignano and countryside around with so much snow.

The episode was aired March 11 2012, the theme was of course Tuscany!

Le Baccanti attends Vinitaly!

Vinitaly is an annual wine expo and convention for producers, journalists and operators in the magical world of wine.

 

Vinitaly is the most important Italian exhibition dedicated to Italian wine. Those in the wine world absolutely cannot miss the annual Vinitaly event.

Le Baccanti Tours and Le Baccanti Corporate attends Vinitaly in order to make connections with the most iconic wine professionals for their Team Building activities with wine. During the event, Filippo Bartolotta our resident wine journalist for the L'Espresso Wine Guide and Gourmet Journal “Gazzetta Gastronomica” provides us real-time updates and insider info for the event.

How is Vinitaly useful for Le Baccanti corporate events and Team Building with wine?

In order to organize corporate events where we offer Team Building courses with wine, it is necessary that our activities respect very high wine market standards while exceeding our client’s expectations of any level of wine knowledge.

This objective for our wine teambuilding events is achieved by:

-the use of professional wine experts and engaging speakers

-the search for high-quality wines and doing our homework at events like Vinitaly

-Thorough research of trends and quality wines in order to arrange new corporate events and Team Building activities with wine for our other Team Building activities

Our Team Building activities with wine will be precisely where, alongside renowned wines, your corporate group can participate in game-tasting while learning about Italian terroir, wine makers and great wines from all over Italy!

Team Building...in the snow!

Snow or shine, it's always the right time for Team Building activities!

If the snow has made you want to climb a mountain, a weekend hiking trip in Italy is the right team building activity to arrange for your guests!

We can be of service if you wish to plan a business meeting in Italy for either a day or for an entire weekend. And why not add some gourmet pit-stops? We can organize a gourmet treasure hunt in a local town near a mountain resort in Italy as part of a winter business trip where you and your guests play with flavors and aromas of the these small mountain towns of Italy. The winter team building meetings take place in zones famous for certain culinary products and is sure to satisfy lovers of cured meats, breads and cheese!

 

If the city remains your preferred setting, why not arrange a gourmet treasure hunt in Tuscany? Florence may be the ideal "battleground" where among wine bars, soup houses and hot chocolate cafés will warm your guests body and soul!

Top Management Meetings. Destination: Franciacorta!

Here’s an idea for your next Top Management meeting in Northern Italy proposed by Le Baccanti Tours and Events!
Where: Franciacorta Wine Region (about an hour from Milan, Italy). This area is famous for its beautiful sparkling wine producing region.
Lodging: Relais & Chateaux L’Albereta, 5-Star Resort that offers maximum comfort in a picturesque setting.

Venue: All teambuilding activities are held within the highly rated restaurant of chef Gualtiero Marchesi.
Here is what your Top Management Destination Meeting in Franciacorta could look like....
Day 1: Arrival and check-in at L’Albereta
13.00 Welcome lunch
14.00 Meeting in a private room, including coffee breaks

18.00 Meeting Finale
Relax
20.00 Dinner in a private room at the restaurant of Chef Gualtiero Marchesi with a Wine Challenge Dinner, led by Filippo Bartolotta.
Day 2:
9.00 Meeting with morning coffee break
13.00 Buffet-style lunch
14.00 Early afternoon meeting
16.00 Farewell and departure
To customize and book your corporate event in Italy please CONTACT US.

Destination Rome: Cellar tours and Wine Challenge Dinner

To book or to customize an Incentive Activity in Italy, the team of Le Baccanti is at your disposal.

If Rome is your base city for your next corporate or business meeting and would like to organize an activity outside the gates of the capital for your Incentive, here's an idea from Le Baccanti.

Here is a sample of what your next corporate meeting in Rome can look like: 

Pick-up from your luxury hotel in downtown Rome. Destination: Ancient Roman Castles!

Welcome activities including a tour of a prestigious, charming wine cellar in a spectacular castle venue.

After the wine tour activities, guests can relax with an aperitif, where our Master of Ceremonies will give the basics for how to taste wine, so that no one feels embarrassed or pressured.

Then the dinner kicks off with Le Baccanti’s own Wine Challenge Trivia team building.

Each table is assigned a team and is set with the challenge!

The team winner will enjoy premium bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner and, if the winner wishes, they can share it with other guests!

Contact Le Baccanti Corporate team for details and how to customize your team building event in Italy according to your needs.

Le Baccanti's charity events in America

Every year since 2010, Filippo Bartolotta takes Le Baccanti to America to facilitate charity dinners and events organized by Alice Waters, Joan Nathan and José Andrés with a team of Italian food & beverage professionals.

Forty famous chefs from Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Martha's Vineyard, New Orleans, from France and Italy, led charity dinners and events across 20 venues in Washington DC.
In 2012, More than 200,000 dollars were collected and donated to two American non-profit organizations D.C. Central Kitchen and Martha's Table, which deal with at-risk socio-economic American cities, providing them with meals and basic necessities. The two main events, Saturday and Sunday Night Sips, were a huge a success! The gourmet team from Italy was present for the third year in a row thanks to the American roadshow Italy At Your Table organized by The Baccanti.

                                                        

Filippo Bartolotta has coordinated events with forty chefs together with a shipped selection of Italian wines, which in 2012 were represented by Arnaldo Caprai in Montefalco (Sagrantino alert!) and Graziano Pra in Amarone. Past editions of Italy at Your Table led Filippo to conduct master classes and events throughout the United States. In addition to these events, Filippo was also hosted by The White House chefs along with Alice Waters, José Andres and Joan Nathan to talk about nutrition and the value of the Mediterranean diet.

On the same trip, Filippo, the chefs and wine producers were invited by Nycci Nellis, radio host of "Foodie & The Beast" to be featured in the January 22 episode to talk about Italian wines and discuss their presence in Washington.

A summary of the main events:
Saturday Night Sips: a cocktail party for about 500 people held at the Newseum in Washington with some of the most revered pioneers in the food world: Alice Waters, Joan Nathan and Jose Andres.

On Saturday Night Sips were asked chefs created an unforgettable menù and the following mixologists were present:

Will Artley The Restaurant SAGE-Amy Brandwien House Nonna-Antonio Burrell MASA 14/Center-Frederick de Pue 42 Degree Dellaccio Janeen Catering-DolciGelati-Michael Keaveny, Panel-Geoff Quarry Half Maites-Dennis Marron Poste-Matthew Morrison-Rock Harper DCCK Entyce Kitchen Director and Hell's Kitchen winner-Enrique Velazquez Borinquen-Kevin Villalovos Cure-Nick Wiseman DGS Delicatessen

http://www.2012sips.eventbrite.com.

Sunday Night Sips produced twenty extraordinary dinners at the home of local families who donated quite handsomely. The Sunday Night edition witnessed the presence of Italy with Florentine Chef Benedetta Vitali Restaurant Zibibbo in Florence, both with Italian wines by Arnaldo Caprai and Graziano Pra.

A special thanks to the participating chefs:

Victor Albisu BLT Steak; Mike Anthony Gramercy Tavern; Kojo Nnamdi; Elisabeth Bourgeois Le Mas Tourteron; Amy Brandwien Casa Nonna; Jeff Buben Vidalia; Jan Burhman The Kitchen Porch in Martha's Vineyard; Jennifer\ Carroll Top Chef; Teddy Diggs Home Port in Martha's Vineyard; Luigi Diotaiuti Al Tiramisu; Scott Drewno The Source; Todd Gray Equinox & Watershed; Ruth Gresser Pizza Paradiso; David Guas Bayou Bakery; Siggi Hall Siggi Hall Restaurant; Joel Hough Il Buco New York; Haidar Karoum Proof; Ris La Coste Ris; Francis Layrle Bezu; Jamie Leeds Hanks Oyster Bar; Spike Mendelsohn Good Stuff Eatery & We the Pizza; Kaz Okochi Kaz Sushi Bistro & Masa 14; Joe Palma Ritz-Carlton's Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert; Vickie Reh Buck's Fishing and Camping; Barton Seaver; Alon Shaya Domenica in New Orleans; Doug Singer; Michael Solomonov Zahav in Philadelphia; Gina Stanley Artcliff Diner in Martha's Vineyard; Nick Stefanelli Bibiana; Vikram Sunderam Rasika; Chef Vinod Indique; Benedetta Vitali from Italy; Alice Waters Chez Panisse; Robert Weland Cork Wine Bar; Spike Gjerde of Woodbury Kitchen; Paul Yeck America Eats Tavern.