Cooking, Wine, Walks in Piedmont, Riviera & Tuscany
Highlight
Explore three beautiful and very different regions of Italy with a cast of local people. Discover three distinct cuisines in five cooking lessons with five different chefs, enjoy private winery visits, drink Italy’s top red wine.
Minimum Duration
8 days
Maximum Duration
8 days
Price Range
$2805 - $3765 (EUR)
Season
January - December
Starting Point / Finishing Point
Turin / Chiusi
Itinerary
Sunday
Meet at Turin airport or railway station. Transfer to our hotel in Verduno and get settled.
Welcome dinner.
Monday
Drive to La Morra with spectacular views of the Barolo valley. Walk down the vineyards (about one hr.) to visit Renato Ratti Wine Museum housed in the Abbey of the Annunziata where wine production began in 1162. Personal tour and wine tasting with one of the Ratti family.
Lunch at a restaurant in Santa Vittoria d'Alba with lovely panoramas from a hilltop.
Early evening cooking lesson at Real Castello.
Visit Real Castello wine cellars with Gabriella Burlotto.
Dinner at Real Castello accompanied by their wines
Tuesday
Drive to town of Barolo for visit and wine tasting at historic Marchesi di Barolo winery.
Drive to hilltown of Serralunga to visit a unique medieval castle, expanded in 1320.
Drive to a hamlet in the Barolo wine area to a farm to visit Giovanni, Francesca and their 6 children. See how Giovanni makes cheeses and visit all the animals. Country lunch with the large and very hospitable family.
Italian cooking lesson with warm, hospitable Chef Ester at her well-known restaurant.
Wednesday
After breakfast, depart for Portovenere on the Italian Riviera south of Cinque Terre.
Stop along the way in pretty seaside Riviera town of Camogli. Lunch of fresh focaccia and tortes weather permitting, on the beach or in outdoor cafes. Time to stroll and explore the old centre, port and beach in Camogli.
Continue to Portovenere, about one more hour driving. Check in to pretty, three star Hotel Paradiso facing the sea.
Free time to explore Portovenere--walks along the sea, up to the castle, along narrow streets filled with shops and ice cream and coffee bars. Or hang out at an outdoor cafe and watch life go by.
Wonderful seafood dinner at the hotel on the terrace with a stunning view of the port and bay.
Thursday
Day long excursion walking the pathways or by boat to Cinque Terre villages. Lunch at a trattoria in the colourful piazza in Vernazza. You can walk all the way, part of the way or go by boat the whole time, as you wish. Return about 7:00 p.m.
Rest at our hotel. Dinner on the magnificent hotel terrace. More excellent seafood!!
Friday
After breakfast leave for Southern Tuscany.
After a three or four hour drive, you’ll arrive in the walled hill town of Montalcino, famous for Brunello, one of Italy’s top red wines. In the medieval fortress, now a wine bar, a knowledgeable staff member will tell you what makes Brunello such a fine wine during your tasting of Brunello wines and Rosso di Montalcino. Along with Brunello wines, savor fresh pecorino cheeses, salamis, and freshly baked bread.
Your guide will take you on a stroll through the town where you can browse the many small shops that line the street and stock up on gifts, souvenirs and handcrafted items.
From Montalcino we drive past vineyards and olive groves and up into higher hills in the mountains. In a small hamlet, the charming, hospitable, fun loving Chef Roberto welcomes you to his pretty, little three star hotel and restaurant, praised in many guidebooks.
At his restaurant, renowned for its mushroom dishes, you’ll learn to prepare divine Tuscan cuisine with a creative flair before enjoying dinner with wines Roberto has selected specially for you. After dinner amble up the stairs to your quiet room.
Saturday
After breakfast with Roberto, we drive down towards Pienza to check in to a three star, modern hotel with 16 attractively decorated rooms, half with amazing panoramas of the Val D’Orcia with its vast rolling hills. On the way we stop at a winery to tour its cellars and taste its Brunello wine, Rosso di Montalcino and Vin Santo right with the producer.
After settling in to your hotel, you’ll enjoy a light lunch in pristine medieval Pienza, a little medieval jewel with its walkways along its walls with incredible vast views over the Orcia valley and its exquisite Renaissance main piazza. It’s also famous for pecorino cheese offered many shops.
After lunch, the picturesque hill town of Montepulciano beckons. Besides boasting spectacular panoramas, it is home to the famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, one of the best-known red wines in Italy. Your knowledgeable local guide will take you on a tour of the town and its distinguished palaces, cheese and wine shops and amazing array of unique stores selling homewares such as tablecloths and ceramics, leather goods and art.
You’ll savor a light Tuscan lunch in Montepulciano with free time after to walk on country pathways, shop or hang out in the main piazza watching local life.
We drive across the valley to a lovely little hill town, Montefollonico. In a winery housed in a 14th century palazzo the hospitable winery owner will take you on a personal 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, glass in hand.
Dinner tonight is in a little restaurant in Montefollonico whose pici pasta with tomato and garlic sauce and roast lamb with rosemary and garlic, all washed down with good Tuscan red, are to die for.
Sunday
From Pienza we drive for about 40 minutes visit an artisan olive oil maker, the charming Alberto on his organic farm property filled with exotic trees and plants. Alberto will show you his age old techniques for making olive oil with the traditional granite wheel. Then we’re off to his cozy farmhouse kitchen for lessons in old world Tuscan dishes. Discover how to cook traditional Tuscan dishes—that might have vanished if not for its dedicated devotees. Alberto is a fabulous cook! You’ll dine well around a long wooden table in his olive oil production room.
On the way home, we stop at the church of Sant’Antimo, one of Tuscany’s most beautiful Romanesque churches, dating back over 1000 years set in an idyllic valley of cypresses, olive groves, vineyards and fields.
Before dinner, your local guide will accompany you on a walk around Pienza.
That evening, you’ll enjoy a light farewell dinner at a local trattoria in town. Good food, wine and conversation are the perfect way to round off your last evening of this magical wine and cooking adventure.
Monday
After a final breakfast, you’ll depart for Chiusi station.
Meet at Turin airport or railway station. Transfer to our hotel in Verduno and get settled.
Welcome dinner.
Monday
Drive to La Morra with spectacular views of the Barolo valley. Walk down the vineyards (about one hr.) to visit Renato Ratti Wine Museum housed in the Abbey of the Annunziata where wine production began in 1162. Personal tour and wine tasting with one of the Ratti family.
Lunch at a restaurant in Santa Vittoria d'Alba with lovely panoramas from a hilltop.
Early evening cooking lesson at Real Castello.
Visit Real Castello wine cellars with Gabriella Burlotto.
Dinner at Real Castello accompanied by their wines
Tuesday
Drive to town of Barolo for visit and wine tasting at historic Marchesi di Barolo winery.
Drive to hilltown of Serralunga to visit a unique medieval castle, expanded in 1320.
Drive to a hamlet in the Barolo wine area to a farm to visit Giovanni, Francesca and their 6 children. See how Giovanni makes cheeses and visit all the animals. Country lunch with the large and very hospitable family.
Italian cooking lesson with warm, hospitable Chef Ester at her well-known restaurant.
Wednesday
After breakfast, depart for Portovenere on the Italian Riviera south of Cinque Terre.
Stop along the way in pretty seaside Riviera town of Camogli. Lunch of fresh focaccia and tortes weather permitting, on the beach or in outdoor cafes. Time to stroll and explore the old centre, port and beach in Camogli.
Continue to Portovenere, about one more hour driving. Check in to pretty, three star Hotel Paradiso facing the sea.
Free time to explore Portovenere--walks along the sea, up to the castle, along narrow streets filled with shops and ice cream and coffee bars. Or hang out at an outdoor cafe and watch life go by.
Wonderful seafood dinner at the hotel on the terrace with a stunning view of the port and bay.
Thursday
Day long excursion walking the pathways or by boat to Cinque Terre villages. Lunch at a trattoria in the colourful piazza in Vernazza. You can walk all the way, part of the way or go by boat the whole time, as you wish. Return about 7:00 p.m.
Rest at our hotel. Dinner on the magnificent hotel terrace. More excellent seafood!!
Friday
After breakfast leave for Southern Tuscany.
After a three or four hour drive, you’ll arrive in the walled hill town of Montalcino, famous for Brunello, one of Italy’s top red wines. In the medieval fortress, now a wine bar, a knowledgeable staff member will tell you what makes Brunello such a fine wine during your tasting of Brunello wines and Rosso di Montalcino. Along with Brunello wines, savor fresh pecorino cheeses, salamis, and freshly baked bread.
Your guide will take you on a stroll through the town where you can browse the many small shops that line the street and stock up on gifts, souvenirs and handcrafted items.
From Montalcino we drive past vineyards and olive groves and up into higher hills in the mountains. In a small hamlet, the charming, hospitable, fun loving Chef Roberto welcomes you to his pretty, little three star hotel and restaurant, praised in many guidebooks.
At his restaurant, renowned for its mushroom dishes, you’ll learn to prepare divine Tuscan cuisine with a creative flair before enjoying dinner with wines Roberto has selected specially for you. After dinner amble up the stairs to your quiet room.
Saturday
After breakfast with Roberto, we drive down towards Pienza to check in to a three star, modern hotel with 16 attractively decorated rooms, half with amazing panoramas of the Val D’Orcia with its vast rolling hills. On the way we stop at a winery to tour its cellars and taste its Brunello wine, Rosso di Montalcino and Vin Santo right with the producer.
After settling in to your hotel, you’ll enjoy a light lunch in pristine medieval Pienza, a little medieval jewel with its walkways along its walls with incredible vast views over the Orcia valley and its exquisite Renaissance main piazza. It’s also famous for pecorino cheese offered many shops.
After lunch, the picturesque hill town of Montepulciano beckons. Besides boasting spectacular panoramas, it is home to the famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, one of the best-known red wines in Italy. Your knowledgeable local guide will take you on a tour of the town and its distinguished palaces, cheese and wine shops and amazing array of unique stores selling homewares such as tablecloths and ceramics, leather goods and art.
You’ll savor a light Tuscan lunch in Montepulciano with free time after to walk on country pathways, shop or hang out in the main piazza watching local life.
We drive across the valley to a lovely little hill town, Montefollonico. In a winery housed in a 14th century palazzo the hospitable winery owner will take you on a personal 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, glass in hand.
Dinner tonight is in a little restaurant in Montefollonico whose pici pasta with tomato and garlic sauce and roast lamb with rosemary and garlic, all washed down with good Tuscan red, are to die for.
Sunday
From Pienza we drive for about 40 minutes visit an artisan olive oil maker, the charming Alberto on his organic farm property filled with exotic trees and plants. Alberto will show you his age old techniques for making olive oil with the traditional granite wheel. Then we’re off to his cozy farmhouse kitchen for lessons in old world Tuscan dishes. Discover how to cook traditional Tuscan dishes—that might have vanished if not for its dedicated devotees. Alberto is a fabulous cook! You’ll dine well around a long wooden table in his olive oil production room.
On the way home, we stop at the church of Sant’Antimo, one of Tuscany’s most beautiful Romanesque churches, dating back over 1000 years set in an idyllic valley of cypresses, olive groves, vineyards and fields.
Before dinner, your local guide will accompany you on a walk around Pienza.
That evening, you’ll enjoy a light farewell dinner at a local trattoria in town. Good food, wine and conversation are the perfect way to round off your last evening of this magical wine and cooking adventure.
Monday
After a final breakfast, you’ll depart for Chiusi station.
Inclusions
8 nights hotel with breakfast
all meals
cooking lessons
all excursions in itinerary
transport in private minivan
transfers from Turin, to Chiusi
attentive guide throughout.
all meals
cooking lessons
all excursions in itinerary
transport in private minivan
transfers from Turin, to Chiusi
attentive guide throughout.
Exclusions
wine with meals
Contact Phone
1-800-557-0370, 604-681-4074
Visit Website: www.italycookingschools.com
