After planning their trip at the Gargiulo home in Naples, two lucky couples will begin their journey in Bologna and the Emilia-Romagna area, often referred to as the breadbasket of Italy. You’ll have an overview of the region’s delights with a visit to the Mercato di Mezzo, with origins dating back nearly 1,000 years. In the 15th century it served as a grain market, and it became Bologna’s first covered market after Italian unification. Today it’s a major gastronomic hub, spread across three levels. On the ground floor there are stalls selling meat, fish, cheese, pasta, pastries and wine. The first floor is devoted to a pizzeria serving creations featuring high-quality local ingredients, and the basement houses a brewery located in a charming, vaulted space, where you can sample local beers.

Your hosts are eminently qualified to guide you through the culinary wingspan of Northern Italy. A lifelong farmer, Jeff Gargiulo has always been passionate about the land and the produce it yields. Along with his wife, Valerie, they have focused on creating a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon estate at their winery in Oakville since their first vintage in 2000; the Gargiulos are also Trustees of the Naples Children Foundation and founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Angelo Auriana is an acclaimed chef and a native of Bergamo. He serves as executive chef of the Factory Place Hospitality Group, which includes The Factory Kitchen in Los Angeles and Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano and BRERA Osteria in Las Vegas.

Emilia-Romagna is home to some of Italy’s most familiar and famous food products. Your group will visit a producer of Prosciutto di Parma and learn about all facets of the process, from the natural raising of pigs to the salting, curing and maturation of the prosciutto. You’ll tour a facility devoted to the aging of Parmigiano Reggiano, one of Italy’s most distinctive cheeses. During a stop at a balsamic vinegar facility, you’ll observe the evolution of the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, made from local wine and aged a minimum of 12 years in wooden barrels. You will make a special stop at Antica Corte Pallavacina, famous for their Culatello-style aged ham and a Two Michelin-starred restaurant.

From Bologna you’ll travel to Bergamo in the Lombardy region, which has a rich and diverse cuisine based on its agricultural heritage and regional ingredients. Some of the area’s best-known dishes include osso buco, polenta and risotto alla Milanese, gorgonzola and Grana Padano cheese, and desserts such as panettone and torta sbrisolona (a crumbly almond cake). Wines of the region include Lambrusco, a lively, slightly sparkling red known for its bright berry flavors and refreshing acidity, the high-quality sparkling Franciacorta and Valtellina, a red often paired with local ingredients. Chef Auriana will personally guide you through the city’s food highlights, sharing his deep knowledge of the purveyors, cooks and restaurants of his home city.

Each couple will receive a trio of Three Liters from the 2022 vintage of Gargiulo Vineyards, presented in gorgeous etched bottles. Money Road Ranch is a single estate vineyard known for producing a rich and complex wine, with seamlessly integrated layers of brooding dark fruit and refined tannins. 575 OVX is a limited release wine (less than 300 cases each year), displaying elegance and balance despite its concentration and power. G Major 7 is a nod to Jeff’s musical interests, composed of four of the five classic Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot.

This lot blends the cuisine, history and culture of Northern Italy into one unforgettable week—bid generously and experience it all!

Insider’s Info

This trip is for two (2) couples. Visit to be scheduled for mutually agreeable dates, based on availability and travel dates to be confirmed within 30 days of the auction. Airfare, accommodations, airport transfers and ground transportation are not included in Naples, Florida. The trip to Italy is hosted by Valerie Boyd & Jeff Gargiulo and joined by Angelo Auriana. Airport transfers are not included in Italy. Accommodations will be confirmed closer to the dates of travel. Meals are only included as stated above and include select alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, wines and gratuities.