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Colavita Welcomes Bicycle Vacation Company for Olive Harvest Cycling Adventure in its Italian Homeland

Arlington, MA and Linden, NJ – Award-winning bicycle vacation company Ciclismo Classico has partnered with Colavita USA , marketers of the #1 brand of Italian extra virgin olive oil, to create an unforgettable bicycle tour to coincide with Italy’s celebrated olive harvest .

“All of our trips include a local cultural twist,” says Ciclismo Classico founder Lauren Hefferon.  “But we are truly fortunate to have Colavita serve as ambassadors to Molise, where the family has been producing extra virgin olive oil for decades.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Ciclismo Classico and its guests to Colavita’s homeland, Italy’s rich but undiscovered Molise,” said John A. Profaci, Vice President of Colavita USA.  “This trip combines two of Italy’s signature passions:  olive oil and cycling.”  He continued, “In addition to marketing the #1 brand of Italian extra virgin olive oil, Colavita also supports the largest competitive cycling organization in the world, with men’s and women’s pro teams, a junior cycling team, and more than 350 recreational cyclists riding in 12 elite Team Colavita clubs throughout the US.”

Home to the Colavita family for four generations, Molise is situated southeast of Rome and stretches from the Adriatic Sea to the central Apennine Mountains.  Guests will have the opportunity savor local customs and fare throughout the eight-day trip, scheduled for October 17-24, 2009. 

The journey starts with a warm-up ride to the tiny village of Pastena by way of Guasto and Paduli.  Afterwards, guests will have the opportunity to stroll through the charming center of Isernia. On day two, early risers can search for Molise’s famed truffles with a local guide before pedaling to Pietrabbondante to explore ancient theater ruins and the Marinelli family’s renowned bell foundry, which has been producing church bells for over a thousand years.

Then, it’s pasta day.  The group will ride to the Colavita pasta factory in Trivento for a tour – complete with samples and tastings of freshly-made pasta.  From there, it’s on to the medieval city of Campobasso to enjoy a traditional meal in a Molisana tavern surrounded by gorgeous views and centuries-old buildings.

Days four and five are all about olive oil – from harvest to production to tasting.  Guests will experience Italy’s “green gold” as the tour makes its way through vast groves of olive trees, carefully cultivated for hundreds of years to yield the finest olives.  On day five, Enrico Colavita, the company’s president, will welcome the group to his family’s stone frantoio (olive crushing mill) where Colavita continues to produce extra virgin olive oil using traditional methods that date back thousands of years.  After experiencing the production process, guests will have the opportunity to taste the prized novello oil, freshly-pressed from the new harvest.

Then it’s on to the rolling landscape known as Italy’s “bread basket” for the start of day six. The group will pedal along fields blanketed filled with wheat, sunflowers, and olive trees before arriving at Cantine Cipressi, one of Molise’s most acclaimed wineries in the town of San Felice Del Molise.

The group will return to Termoli by way of the Adriatic coast. After a relaxing evening that features a variety of traditional brick oven pizzas, guests can take a short morning ride before heading to Rome.  Upon arrival, guests can explore the city or relax before departing the following day. 

This eight-day excursion starts at $3,295/per person based on double occupancy (if booked before April 30th; $3,495 if booked after that).  The tour includes expert tour leaders, use of a fully-outfitted bicycle, accommodations, most meals, cultural encounters, language lessons, visits to the facilities and lands of Colavita, and many surprises along the way in true Ciclismo Classico fashion.  Colavita gift baskets will be provided to all travelers who reserve by April 30.  For more information and reservations, visit www.Ciclismoclassico.com.

Ciclismo Classico has been recognized by several publications for its outstanding cycling vacations.  The company was recently named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies [on Earth]” by National Geographic Adventure. In 2004 and 2007, Outside Magazine awarded Ciclismo the “Trip of the Year” for Western Europe, and Men’s Journal named the Southern Italy: Sea to Sea trip as one of the “Top 100 Trips on the Planet.” 

About Ciclismo Classico

As a specialized boutique bicycle tour operator since 1988, Ciclismo Classico provides the most authentic, unique and exciting vacations in the adventure travel industry. Their well-crafted, award-winning educational trips in Europe, South America, New Zealand, Asia and New England are active immersions into local art, language, music, folklore and, delicious cuisine. By combining legendary service and rare cultural experiences, the Ciclismo travel experience continues to energize and transform each and every guest. For more information about Ciclismo Classico, visit www.ciclismoclassico.com.

About Colavita USA

Family-owned Colavita USA LLC, headquartered in Linden, NJ, has been importing and distributing Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil for 30 years.  Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil is recognized as the #1 Italian brand in the US and has earned awards from renowned cooking publications such as Fine Cooking and Cook’s Illustrated and general-interest magazines like Men’s Health.

Colavita’s authentic Italian specialty products, including durum wheat semolina pasta, a full selection of balsamic and wine vinegars, and traditional and organic pasta sauces, are the ingredients of choice for chefs in home, restaurant and professional kitchens.   Recognizing the company’s contribution to developing the North American market for genuine Italian extra virgin olive oil, Colavita Founder and Chairman Emeritus John J. Profaci was inducted into the Culinary Institute of America’s Hall of Fame in 2009.  Colavita also supports The Colavita Center for Italian Food and Wine at the Culinary Institute of America’s Hyde Park Campus, committed to improving the quality and authenticity of Italian food in the US; The Colavita Foundation for Children, dedicated to creating joyous moments for children in need through its bicycle gifting program, and the Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Teams presented by Cooking Light.  For more information about Colavita USA, please visit www.Colavita.com. 





Media Contact:  Joe Luchison, Ciclismo Classico; 781-646-3377 x14 joe@ciclismoclassico.com
Photo Credit: Jonathan Devich