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Cooking & Brunello Wine Lovers’ Adventure Tour in a Villa in Southern Tuscany
Fall in love with the cooking and beauty of Tuscany, drink some of Italy’s top reds like Brunello, stroll on magnificent country paths, explore ancient hill towns. Experience the sweet life as you cook, eat and laugh with a wonderful variety of fun loving, local Tuscans, like a chef, farm family, olive oil producer and winery owners, who soon feel like your new friends. Outside Montepulciano, relax at a beautiful 15th century, four star villa hotel with pretty gardens, olive trees, swimming pool and splendid views over hills of vineyards and farms.
Experience cooking Tuscan specialties with a charming restaurant owner/chef in a small mountain hamlet and an artisan olive oil producer who shows you his exotic, organic gardens and how he makes olive oil with his traditional granite wheel. Learn about Brunello in a private tasting at a wine estate. Discover Vino Nobile di Montepulciano with a winery owner in his 14th century wine cellars. A Tuscan buffet for your senses and soul!
Includes:
- 6 nights at the villa or hotel, with private bath and breakfast
- 4 cooking classes with full menu meals
- all meals except 3 dinners
- excursions in the itinerary
- private transport with a guide
- pick up and drop off at Chiusi train station
Not included:
- 3 dinners
- wine with meals
6 Night Itinerary
Monday
Via private transfer from Chiusi railway station, (about halfway between Florence and Rome ) you’ll arrive at your elegant four-star villa near Montepulciano. Once you’re settled, if you wish, walk through the pristine countryside of rolling vineyards and olive groves. That evening, sit down to a jovial dinner with your group in a renowned local restaurant.
Tuesday
Drive to medieval walled Pienza. Take a two hour walk along the beautiful and winding country roads on a lovely ridge with valley views all around you from Pienza to the walled hill town of Monticchiello. Your guide will follow you in your van, so you can walk or ride in the van.
Enjoy a light lunch in pristine little Monticchiello.
Visit a winery in a 14th century palazzo in little Montefollonico. The hospitable winery owner will take you on a tour of the cellars and lead you through a wine tasting. Enjoy tasting his Rosso di Montepulciano, Vino Nobile and Vin Santo and chatting about life on his garden terrace with fabulous views across the valley to Montepulciano.
Drive to a family’s farm on a panoramic ridge with magnificent views of Val d’Orcia and Pienza. The outgoing owners will welcome you to cook a full menu dinner with them in their big farmhouse kitchen. Make chestnut pasta with creamy sheep ricotta made on the farm and Tuscan arista—a pork roll stuffed with herbs. They’ll tour you around the farm, totheir pecorino cheese making rooms, herb gardens and animals, so you’ll get a taste of Tuscan farm life.
Enjoy a country style four-course dinner in their warm and dining room.
Wednesday
Take a guided walk through walled hill town, Montepulciano, passing the beautiful Renaissance San Biagio church and admiring the splendid views over the vast countryside.
Cook with the chef in an excellent restaurant in Montepulciano where their Tuscan dishes have a creative flair. Lunch of your creations at the restaurant.
Some free time in Montepulciano to browse the amazing array of stores selling tablecloths and ceramics, leather goods and art. Lots of wine shops offer you free wine tastings of the famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a top red wine.
Mid afternoon, drive to visit the famous, beautifully designed La Foce gardens, former home and estate of Iris Origo, author of “War in Val D’Orcia”.
Dinner on your own. (not included) After your abundant lunch, you’ll want to eat light!
Thursday
Drive to Siena. Morning walking tour with your guide in the historic centre. See the beautiful, striped cathedral and imposing town hall, both with lovely fresoces and towers you can climb for top views.
Light lunch together in Siena. Afternoon free to shop, explore or just hang out.
Return home. Dinner on your own. (not included)
Friday
With your guide, visit the medieval hill town of Montalcino, famous for its Brunello wine. Visit the lively weekly market where locals shop for everything from cheese to underwear. Stroll through its narrow streets to browse the clothing, leather and ceramic shops or stop at a bakery to sample Sienese panforte.
Enjoy a tasting of Brunello and other wines at the Medici fortress, now a wine shop, with a light lunch of local pecorino cheeses and salami with Tuscan bread.
Visit the 1000 year old Romanesque Sant’Antimo church. Set in an idyllic valley, you’ll stand in awe, admiring a quintessential Tuscan view of cypresses zigzagging up hills, olive trees, vineyards and fields.
Outside Montalcino, visit a winery to discover and drink the famous Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino right where it’s made.
Arrive at an organic farm, full of exotic trees and plants where the owner, Alberto still makes olive oil using the traditional granite wheel.
He’s a fabulous cook too! In your cooking class in his cozy farmhouse kitchen, you’ll work with him to cook some traditional Tuscan dishes. Dine on your delicious creations around a wood table in his cozy olive oil production room, where he explains how he makes olive oil and answers all your questions about olives and olive oil.
Saturday
Take a scenic drive for about an hour up into the hills of Monte Amiata to a tiny hamlet with lots of chestnut trees to a restaurant well known for its outstanding cuisine, especially its mushroom dishes, praised in many guidebooks.
You’ll cook beside chef and owner Roberto, our most popular chef. He is the epitome of warm hospitality, an excellent cooking teacher and a charming man passionate about food and wine.
Dine on your creations with wines specially chosen by Roberto.
If you wish, visit a nearby park of intriguing, fun modern sculpture, managed by Roberto.
Drive back to your villa to relax in the garden with a book or enjoy a leisurely walk.
Light dinner on your own. (not included) After your bountiful lunch at Roberto’s, you’ll want to eat light!
Sunday
Checkout after breakfast and return to the Chiusi train station, marking the end of this unforgettable food, wine and cultural immersion, sparkling with tales of good times you shared with wonderful local people.
Note: Itinerary is subject to minor changes. We will do our best to keep them to a minimum.
If you’d like to start this tour on another day, not Monday, just let us know and we’ll change the order of events.
