A Taste of Cooking & Brunello Wines in Tuscany
Highlight
Enjoy a taste of Tuscan life as you cook with a restaurant chef and a farm cook. Learn about olive oil and drink some of Italy’s top reds like Brunello in private tastings. Discover hill towns of Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza.
Minimum Duration
4 days
Maximum Duration
4 days
Price Range
$1055 - $1505 (EUR)
Season
January - December
Starting Point / Finishing Point
Chiusi / Chiusi
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival is about noon, so our driver can pick you up at Chiusi train station and drive you to the cooking lesson today.
On the way to our cooking lesson in the country, a highlight is visiting the 1000 year old Romanesque Sant'Antimo church. Set in an absolutely idyllic valley, you'll stand in awe, admiring a quintessential Tuscan view of cypresses zigzagging up hills, olive trees, vineyards and fields.
We arrive at an organic farm, abundant with exotic trees and plants where the smiling and proud owner, Alberto still makes olive oil like others before him using the granite wheel. You'll be enraptured as he tells how they made olive oil in the old days and why he sustains those practices today.
He's a fabulous cook too! In your cooking lesson in his cozy farmhouse kitchen, he'll share how he has resurrected the art of cooking traditional Tuscan dishes—with the farm's olive oil—that were vanishing from the local cuisine. You'll dine on your delicious creations around a wood table in his cozy olive oil production room.
Day 2
This morning enjoy a stroll in Montepulciano with your guide to marvel at the splendid panoramas, taste Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in wine shops that welcome you, and browse in the many shops for tablecloths, housewares, leather, art and more. You may also experience the weekly market in Montepulciano, where local people shop for everything from cheese, to tablecloths, to underwear.
For your light lunch on your own, why not be like a Tuscan and at a market stall get a freshly made sandwich bulging with the local porchetta, pork with savory rosemary and other herbs.
In the afternoon, drive to Pienza, a medieval jewel walled town, famous for its many kinds of pecorino cheese. Taste cheeses, browse in shops, walk along the top of the medieval walls to admire lovely views of the Val d'Orcia. If you wish, you can take a magnificent walk along a country road along a ridge with 360 degree views of farms and hills.
On your way home, stop in the little town of Montefollonico for a wine tasting in the 14th century cellars of a welcoming winery owner to taste his great Vino Nobile, Rosso di Montepulciano and Vin Santo. If fine weather, enjoy your tasting out on his terrace garden with incredible views of the valley and Montepulciano.
Back at the villa, stretch out for a bit and then relax at the villa's fine restaurant for a sumptuous dinner of dishes like a sformato (heavy flan) with carrots with a tasty pecorino cheese sauce, hand-made ravioli with tomatoes and fresh basil, country style chicken with herbs, vegetables, red wine and a semifreddo with contucci, the local almond biscuits.
Day 3
Today we 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.
On your way back, stop at a winery in the country owned by a friendly local family to learn about Brunello wine, tour the cellars and taste their Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino as you discuss the wines with them.
Nearby visit Sant'Antimo, an amazing 1000 year old Romanesque church set in an idyllic Tuscan valley with vineyards, olive groves and cypresses zigzagging up the hill.
Drive 9 km to Montalcino, famous for its Brunello wine and enjoy a stroll with your guide to taste more wines in the Medici fortress, visit the shops or simply hang out and watch local life go by.
Your “arrivederci Tuscany ” dinner will be at home at the villa. After your multi course lunch, you'll want to eat light!
Day 4
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.
Arrival is about noon, so our driver can pick you up at Chiusi train station and drive you to the cooking lesson today.
On the way to our cooking lesson in the country, a highlight is visiting the 1000 year old Romanesque Sant'Antimo church. Set in an absolutely idyllic valley, you'll stand in awe, admiring a quintessential Tuscan view of cypresses zigzagging up hills, olive trees, vineyards and fields.
We arrive at an organic farm, abundant with exotic trees and plants where the smiling and proud owner, Alberto still makes olive oil like others before him using the granite wheel. You'll be enraptured as he tells how they made olive oil in the old days and why he sustains those practices today.
He's a fabulous cook too! In your cooking lesson in his cozy farmhouse kitchen, he'll share how he has resurrected the art of cooking traditional Tuscan dishes—with the farm's olive oil—that were vanishing from the local cuisine. You'll dine on your delicious creations around a wood table in his cozy olive oil production room.
Day 2
This morning enjoy a stroll in Montepulciano with your guide to marvel at the splendid panoramas, taste Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in wine shops that welcome you, and browse in the many shops for tablecloths, housewares, leather, art and more. You may also experience the weekly market in Montepulciano, where local people shop for everything from cheese, to tablecloths, to underwear.
For your light lunch on your own, why not be like a Tuscan and at a market stall get a freshly made sandwich bulging with the local porchetta, pork with savory rosemary and other herbs.
In the afternoon, drive to Pienza, a medieval jewel walled town, famous for its many kinds of pecorino cheese. Taste cheeses, browse in shops, walk along the top of the medieval walls to admire lovely views of the Val d'Orcia. If you wish, you can take a magnificent walk along a country road along a ridge with 360 degree views of farms and hills.
On your way home, stop in the little town of Montefollonico for a wine tasting in the 14th century cellars of a welcoming winery owner to taste his great Vino Nobile, Rosso di Montepulciano and Vin Santo. If fine weather, enjoy your tasting out on his terrace garden with incredible views of the valley and Montepulciano.
Back at the villa, stretch out for a bit and then relax at the villa's fine restaurant for a sumptuous dinner of dishes like a sformato (heavy flan) with carrots with a tasty pecorino cheese sauce, hand-made ravioli with tomatoes and fresh basil, country style chicken with herbs, vegetables, red wine and a semifreddo with contucci, the local almond biscuits.
Day 3
Today we 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.
On your way back, stop at a winery in the country owned by a friendly local family to learn about Brunello wine, tour the cellars and taste their Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino as you discuss the wines with them.
Nearby visit Sant'Antimo, an amazing 1000 year old Romanesque church set in an idyllic Tuscan valley with vineyards, olive groves and cypresses zigzagging up the hill.
Drive 9 km to Montalcino, famous for its Brunello wine and enjoy a stroll with your guide to taste more wines in the Medici fortress, visit the shops or simply hang out and watch local life go by.
Your “arrivederci Tuscany ” dinner will be at home at the villa. After your multi course lunch, you'll want to eat light!
Day 4
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.
Inclusions
3 nights villa or hotel accommodation with private bath, breakfast buffet.rn2 cooking lessons with full menu meals rnall meals except 2 lunches rnall excursions in itineraryrnattentive bilingual guide/driver throughout rnprivate transfers from/to Chiusi.
Exclusions
2 lunches rnwines with meals
Contact Phone
1-800-557-0370, 604-681-4074
Visit Website: www.italycookingschools.com
