Overview
For those interested in hands-on cooking, getting into the olive orchards, hunting truffles, and learning about the traditions of Tuscan cuisine, this is truly a great opportunity to stay with a local Tuscan family, pick local vegetables directly from the garden, which will be used in a variety of dishes, and experience a stay-in-luxury-villa in Tuscany.
Our package includes the following unbeatable features:
- Seven nights stay ( with exclusive use of the villa - min. four pax) with arrival on Saturdays or Sundays
- Each room has en-suite bathroom
- Daily Cleaning at the villa
- Exciting half-a-day harvest on the Estate (special rake and gloves provided)
- Picnic Lunch among the olive trees with a breathtaking view of the valley (beverage included)
- Visit of the Olive mill
- Truffle Hunting
- Various Wine Tastings
- Truffle hunt and local festival
- Bruschetta with new olive oil and garlic mousse
- Octopus salad with olives
- Stuffed Ravioli with Olive oil and black cabbage with a Burrata soup
- Breast-lacquered duck with green olives
- Tartelet with olive oil and custard
Itinerary
1
In the afternoon, we will be waiting to welcome you at the reception, where you will meet our team, who will show you around the property, let you know what to expect over the week, and introduce you to the other participants.
Once you have settled in, we will gather at the former olive mill for a warm Tuscan welcome dinner. The dinner will include a variety of local delicacies like wild boar, ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, lardo di colonnata, and, of course, the local wine made right here on the estate.
Overnight at the estate.
2
Next, we will walk through the estate's organic vegetable garden, picking fresh, seasonal vegetables that will form the basis of today's lesson.
After carefully choosing your vegetables for the dishes ahead, step into the kitchen with your master chef to begin preparing our dishes of the day, accompanied by local wines! These are hands-on lessons where everyone has their cooking station, not cooking demonstrations where you watch the chef having fun!
You will have the rest of the day at leisure. You can either go into Castiglion Fiorentino for dinner, take some more veggies back to the villa, or prepare dinner in the kitchen as night falls in the peace and seclusion of the beautiful Tuscan hills.
3
This morning will be spent out in the fields with the olive growers, where you will be helping harvest the fruit. Fun, but hard work, you'll be ready to relax and enjoy a hearty lunch in the shade of the olive trees (weather permitting).
In the afternoon, you'll look at the finished product and learn about the characteristics of the olive oil produced here and those produced in other parts of the country. Olives are grown the length and breadth of Italy, in all its diverse terrains and climates, in fact, Italy has over 350 varieties of olives, amounting to 25% of the olives grown worldwide and every Italian will tell you their regional oil is the best! By the end of the afternoon, you will be able to judge for yourself whether you prefer the fruity Tuscan or the milder Ligurian oil.
4
Afterwards, we'll be heading into the kitchen to learn how to make some local truffle-based dishes using the larger black truffles, including some homemade pasta. After the class, all the chefs will sit down for lunch with a few glasses of local wine.
In the afternoon we head into the beautful Orcia valley where we will visit a number of different local wine producers and incredible towns like Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montichiello and others.
Here, you will have the opportunity to sample the wines of many local wine producers.
Return in the evening to the estate for light dinner and overnight.
5
Throughout Italy, the city of Perugia is famous for its Perugina chocolate and the annual chocolate festival held here each autumn. This afternoon, we will take a visit to the Perugina Chocolate Factory for a tour of the museum and a chance to taste the chocolates produced here.
6
At the end of the lesson, all the chefs will sit down together to enjoy lunch and a few glasses of the wine from the Baracchi's vineyards.
The afternoon will be have a more relaxing pace, as we try out the wine therapy offered here. Once the wine has been made, plenty still remains from the vines and the grapes which have both been found to have wonderful antioxidant, rejuvenating properties and are used to create moisturizing creams and relaxing baths. Lie back in a 'wine bath' and let your cares drift away.
Return to the villa for an evening at leisure.
7
Map
Inclusions/Exclusions
Tour Highlights and What's Included
- Cooking class
- Pic-Nic in the Olive Groves
- Specialized and Personal Service
- Stay in Luxury Villa in Tuscany
- Tasting Menu
- Tastings of local products
- Wine and Olive Oil Tastings
What's Not Included
- Gratuities of any type
- International fights
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Optional excursions during your tour
- Travel Insurance
Pricing & Availability
Please contact us today by either phone or email for assistance with this booking.
Email : team@italyvacationspecialists.com
Toll Free : 1-866-779-2565