Cooking & Wine Lovers' Little Indulgence Tour in Southern Tuscany's Brunello Wine Country
Cooking Tour Itinerary
Long time friends enjoying a wonderful dinner
and wine in Tuscan restaurant
Day 1
Private transfer from Chiusi railway station (about half way between Florence and Rome) to
your hotel
in Montalcino or Pienza, Italy. Arrive by 2:00 pm.
4:00/4:30 p.m. Italian cooking lesson at a cosy, picturesque restaurant in a pretty hilltown in the
wine country
south of Montalcino. Stroll in town. 8:00 Multi course dinner.
Day 2
Guided walk through medieval Pienza. Stroll along scenic ramparts of city walls,
into the Italian Renaissance
piazza and along quaint side streets. Lots of pecorino cheese for sale.
Italian cooking lesson in the country at a farming family's home where they make
pecorino cheese the artisan way.
The family with five children produces much of what they eat and
export their pasta. Lunch of your creations at the farm.
Walk in Montepulciano, Italy. Great shopping for housewares at good prices.
Wine tasting at Crociani family’s wine cellar. With a member of the gregarious Crociani family,
you descend
into the 13th century grotto, where wines sit aging in big wood barrels and that lovely
Italian wine perfume permeates everywhere. Upstairs in their shop, you enjoy an great tasting of their
Rosso di Montepulciano, Vino Nobile and Vin Santo wines.
Light dinner in Pienza or Montalcino (not included).
Day 3
10:00 a.m. Cooking lesson with exuberant Alberto on his organic farm with lots of gardens, fruit,
vegetables, olive trees and exotic plants. Beautiful countryside 10 minutes south of Montalcino.
He also makes olive oil artisan style, using a traditional granite wheel.
Lunch of your creations in his olive oil production room. Discussion on everything you want to
know how to make olive oil and olives.
Visit a Brunello winery near Alberto's owned by a very hospitable family for tour and tasting.
Visit lovely, 1000 year old Romanesque Sant'Antimo church in an absolutely idyllic Tuscan valley
with cypresses zigzagging up hills, olive trees, vineyards and fields.
Guided walk in Montalcino. Introduction tasting and discussion on Brunello wines at the wine shop
in medieval fortress in Montalcino.
Dinner on your own (not included). You won't want much after your cooking lesson lunch.
Day 4
Morning cooking lesson up in a mountain hamlet with charming, very hospitable Chef Roberto in his restaurant
famous for mushroom dishes. Lunch of your creations.
Drive to lovely, little medieval Pienza to stroll and explore.
Optional walk on gravel country roads along a crest with magnificent views all around you.
Dinner on your own in Pienza. (not included)
Day 5
Breakfast and departure for Chiusi railway station.
Note: Itinerary is subject to minor changes. We will do our best to keep changes to a minimum.
2007 & 2008 Cooking Tour Dates:
Any time on request for two people or more--ask us for dates you like or join a group already booked.
March 11-15, 2008 in a pleasant pensione in Pienza
2007 & 2008 Cooking Tour Prices:
Prices are in Euros and are subject to currency exchange fluctuation.
For 2-7 people, per person based on double occupancy, with a guide:
1410 Euros (approx $2016 US or $1960 CAD) at pensione in Pienza
1560 Euros (approx $2230 US or $2169 CAD) at 3 star hotel in Pienza
Included:
- 4 nights accommodation, all with private bath
- 4 cooking lessons (2 with chefs in 2 restaurants, 2 great home cooks) with full menu meals and our selected wines after
- all excursions in itinerary
- attentive bilingual guide/driver throughout
- private transfers from/to Chiusi.
Not included:
- Breakfast in pleasant pensione
- 3 dinners
- wine with meals
Tour at a Glance: Brief Tour Description, Dates, Prices
Cooking
Tour Members' Comments
Sample
Tour Recipe
Why
Travel in Italy With Us
To Reserve: Contact Margaret Cowan at margaret@italycookingschools.com or call 1-800-557-0370 or 604-681-4074 or fax 604-681-4909 (Pacific time).
