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Cooking Gourmand
Tuscany, Italy
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Tour
Description |
 About
the location: Maremma includes 160 km of shoreline, with
stretches of sandy and rocky coastline. The vast pine tree
forests which border the beaches of the Maremma are a true
naturalistic treasure, as are the lagoon and swamp ecosystems
that have survived urbanization. This is a region undisturbed by
mass tourism, beautiful and green. On the gracious hills of this
southern area of Tuscany you will find the Hotel Villa IL Tesoro.
And, of course, the Supertuscans, your reason to be here!
Your second stop will be the heart of the Chianto Classico
region, in Castellina-in-Chianti at the Hotel San Leonino.
Surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees, the
hotel boasts a 360 degree panorama from Siena to Monteriggioni,
San Gimignano and Volterra of the Elsa valley.
About your guide: Filippo Magnani has studied international
tourism, speaks four languages, and has traveled worldwide.
After achieving his Master of Wine degree, Filippo began his
company of wine gourmet tours in 1999. He has also studied olive
oil tasting, is a member of Slow Food and a frequently published
writer about all things wine. He is passionate about his land
and his work. For him, the great pleasure is in sharing his
knowledge and expertise for food and wine in Tuscany. This is
truly a very special experience.
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Included
in the Program: |
- Four nights accommodation
at Villa il Tesoro
- Two nights accommodation
at Hotel San Leonino
- Arrival transfer from Pisa
or Florence
- Departure trasnfer to
Florence
- Filippo and/or his
assistant as specialized guide for all wine tours
- Transportation throughout
program
- Meals (including wine),
wine tastings and excursions as listed in itinerary
- One hands-on cooking class
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Tour
Itinerary |
 Day
One - Saturday, May 3 (Maremma on the west coast of Tuscany)
Transfer from Pisa or Florence airport. Dinner at the restaurant
of Villa Il Tesoro.
Overnight.
Day Two - Sunday, May 4 - Elba Island
After breakfast, you will ferry over to Elba Island at 9:30 a.m.
Spend an incredible day sightseeing and experiencing the island
that Napoleon called his home (and not by choice!). A short
visit of San Martino, Napoleon’s residence.
Following, visit a unique and beautiful bay, free of tourists!
You will have the chance to swim and/or relax on the beach.
Today's lunch is at a family style restaurant, specializing in
seafood. Visit a nice boutique winery on the island. The wine
production on Elba is famous for the sweet wine Aleatico (a
black grape which grows only in this area). At 5:00 p.m. return
to Villa Il Tesoro for dinner. Overnight.
Day Three - Monday, May 5 - Cooking class with Mamma Grazia
After breakfast, a visit of Suvereto, a medieval village of only
1,000 inhabitants, and home to Filippo. Here you will have your
cooking class in Filippo’s Tuscan villa with Mamma Grazia, his
mother! The class will be assisted by Chef Timothy, a young
American who owns a top seafood restaurant in Suvereto, Le
Nuvole.
Lunch to follow based on your efforts, accompanied by delicious
wine.
An afternoon visit to Populona, a beautiful Etruscan town with
terrific panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Return to
Villa il Tesoro with time to relax.
Aperitif at Massa Marittima, in the beautiful Garibaldi Square,
before dinner at a Slow Food restaurant. Return to the villa and
overnight.
Day Four - Tuesday, May 6 – Suvereto and Bolgheri
(Homeland of Supertuscans)
Morning and early afternoon at leisure. At 1:00 p.m., depart for
Moris Farms for a light lunch. On to Petra in San Lorenzo for an
in-depth tour of the winery followed by a tasting. Your next
winery visit will be in Bolgheri, land of the "Supertuscans."
You will visit one of the following wineries of Bolgheri:
Ornellaia, Sassicaia, Grattamacco, Michele Satta, Guado al Melo
or Campo alla Sughera.
Time permitting, visit an olive oil press for a tasting. Enjoy
an aperitif on the beautiful beach of Marina di Bibbona,
followed by dinner at La Pineta (1 Michelin star). Return to the
villa and overnight.
Day Five - Wednesday, May 7 - Brunello di Montalcino to
Chianti Classico
After breakfast, depart for the Brunello region to visit two of
the most prestigious wine cellars. Lunch in the winery, serving
locally produced specialties.
Next, a visit of the medieval village of Montalcino and the
Abbey of Sant’Antimo, which was founded by Charles the Great in
the year 781. Visit the Church of Sant'Antimo, and if lucky,
hear the Gregorian chants of the Monks that live in the Abbey.
Lunch with wine tasting at Corte Pavone Loacker Winery or
Fattoria dei Barbi. Depart for Siena, enjoy a walk in the
historical center, and following a visit to the Chianti Classico
region. Your accommodation now is at the Hotel Belvedere di San
Leonino, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, cypress trees
and woods. Located in the heart of the Chianti region, the land
of the famous Black Rooster wine, it has a splendid 360-degree
panorama stretching from Siena to Monteriggioni, San Gimignano
and Volterra, over the Elsa valley.
Enjoy dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day Six - Thursday, May 8 - Chianti Classico
Morning at leisure.
Depart at 11:00 a.m. for the village of Radda in Chianti or
Castellina in Chianti.
Lunch in a family-style winery such as Podere Terreno
accompanied by top wines. Following, enjoy a wine tasting at one
of the following top wine producers: Castellare di Castellina
Winery, Castello di Fonterutoli or Capannelle.
Return to the hotel with time to relax before your farewell
dinner at at L’Albergaccio Restaurant in Castellina-in-Chianti
(one Michelin star), serving top Tuscan cuisine. Return to the
hotel and overnight.
Day Seven - Friday, May 9
Breakfast followed by departure transfer to Florence.
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Dates and Rates |
2008 Price Per Person
US$3900 per person based on double occupancy
US$450 single supplement
2008 Tour Dates
May 3-9, 2008
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