Culinary Quests

(Full Day) -- Montalcino owes its name to the Holm-oaks (ilex in Latin), which surround this hilly area. The stronghold of Montalcino has always been of capital importance due to the town’s strategic position on top of a hill. Wine characterized Montalcino’s culture and history, which actually is the country of Brunello. The country exclusively produces this wine from Sangiovese Grosso vines (100%). The average production, depending on the season, reaches almost 8.000.000 bottles yearly. A ruby color, a typical scent, a dry, lightly tannic taste stand as its major, successful features. With an average strength of 12.5% minimum, Brielle is put on the market after January 1st of the sixth year following the vintage as it spends at least two years in wooden casks and it gets refined in bottles for 4/6 months.

The departure is at 9.30 a.m. from your hotel or villa in Siena and Province. We can also organize a day from Florence. We will take the south direction driving between clay rolling hills and vineyards; we will pass the Monte Amite, to stop then in Montenero. We will visit a very small extra virgin olive oil producer, where we will enjoy seeing how to make and to learn how to taste extra virgin olive oil, grasping every single perfume and aroma, sitting on a terrace overlooking one of the widest views of the Val d’Orcia area. We will drive on among vineyards of those wineries where produce the most famous wines.... the next stop is the medieval hilltop fortified town of Montalcino, here you can wander the streets and you will dine at a typical trattoria.

After lunch a short drive to one of the oldest and well known estates of the area, a vineyard and noble family that have been producing the Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino since a long time with passion. At the vineyard you will be given a tour of the cellars and of course we will taste the wines produced, picking the difference and discovering why. During the harvest, end of September, you can see the harvest and the farmers who pick the grapes by hand.  The return to your hotel or villa is at around 5 p.m.  Minimum of 2 participants required.

*The tour can be inverted and also customized if you prefer to visit a specific place or vineyard.

Bolgheri is a small village, lined by a splendid avenue of cypresses, as described by the famous Italian poet Carducci. It is the home of SuperTuscans.  These Wines are produced with international grapes, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah and are aged in barriques.  We have the opportunity to visit famous wineries and taste their exclusive wines.  Minimum of 2 participants required.

(Full Day) -- San Gimignano is veritable museum town with its beautiful medieval towers: there were 72 in the 1300s, 14 are left to give to the town its fantastic, unique skyline. Taking advantage of its position on the Via Francigena, in the Middle Ages San Gimignano became a trading point for wool, leather, textiles, saffron, oil and wine. Produced in San Gimignano from the homonymous vines (90% min.) and other authorized vines (10% max), the Vernaccia reaches an average production of about 6.000.000 bottles yearly. Of a straw yellow tint, which fades towards a golden hue with ageing, it has a prominent, fine taste, peculiarly sourish with a lightly bitter aftertaste.

Vernaccia has an alcoholic strength of 11%, although strength of 11.5%, and a one-year ageing give it the Reserve quality.
The departure is at 9.30 a.m. from your hotel or villa in Siena and province. We take the north direction and stop to visit Monteriggioni, a very small medieval village contained in its defensive walls and towers. We will drive on to the village of San Gimignano, famous for its towers that symbolized its wealth in the past. It was one of the first villages built along the French Pilgrimage Road (Via Francigena) that connected northern Europe to Rome. The first stop is a very small vinery where Vernaccia wine is produced. Here we can enjoy a visit of the cellar including a private wine tasting.

After that, we reach the old centre. Located in the heart of the town is a refined restaurant, also mentioned in one of the most famous wine magazines. We will enjoy an exceptional lunch with a great wine. After lunch we walk through the little medieval streets; we will have ample time to stop and shop, as there are many shops of handcrafts and typical Tuscan products such as pottery and alabaster items. The second wine tasting is at a small winery nearby. We will visit the cellar and have a private tasting of Vernaccia and Supertuscan.  You can return to your hotel or villa at around 5.30 p.m.  Minimum of 2 particpants required.

(Full Day) -- Montepulciano is an interesting hilltop town, built along a narrow Limestone ridge. An ancient legend has it that Montepulciano was founded at the orders of the Etruscan king Porsenna.  Inside the walls, the streets are crammed with the Renaissance-style Palazzi and churches. It is known for its good local Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine. The term Nobile seems to derive from its extremely delicate taste, produced mostly by the noble families. This wine is obtained from grapes of Sangiovese wine (Prugnolo Gentile, Canaiolo Nero) with the addition of grapes from other wine varieties of the area.

The departure is at 9.30 a.m. from your hotel or villa in Siena and province. We will take the south direction and we will stop in Pienza, a hilltop town founded by the Pope Pius II. We will admire the gorgeous view of the Orcia valley from the medieval path, and we will enjoy a nice walk through the little streets full of shops of typical products, first of all Pecorino cheese.

Lunch is served in a typical Tuscan restaurant, we will taste nice Tuscan dishes made with extra virgin olive oil, of course. The second wine tasting is in a small winery where the great Nobile di Montepulciano wine and Supertuscan are produced. We will enjoy a nice tour of the cellar.

The next stop is Montefollonico, a little fortified village with small houses, to visit an ancient winery where the owner makes a very good Nobile di Montepulciano wine with passion and devotion. We will enjoy visiting the cellar, which dates back to the XIII century and at a private wine tasting, we learn about the old method of making this interesting wine. From the terrace of the winery we can admire the lovely view of the surrounding landscape.  The return to your hotel or villa is at around 5.30 pm.  Minimum of 2 participants required.

(Full Day) -- Chianti is the fourth most recognized Italian word in the world. It is a vast geographic area from the hilly landscape placed at the center of the Tuscan region, between Siena and Firenze. Chianti is synonym for wine all over the world. It is an incredibly beautiful landscape where rows of cypress trees give way to vineyards like precious embroidery on fabric. In this area full of fable-like charm, small villages rise like forgotten castles where ancient traditions are respected in perfect harmony with the surrounding land.

The Chianti Classico DOCG is being produced in the counties of Greve in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti mainly using vines of Sangiovese (75%- 100%), vines such as Canaiolo (10% max), Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia del Chianti (6% max) and other vines for a maximum of 15%.  On average, thirty-one million bottles are produced every year. The winy scent and ruby color acquires a violet-like flavor and a tempered refinement with ageing. It has a minimum alcoholic content of 12%.

The departure is at 9.30 a.m. from your hotel or villa in Siena and province. We drive to the Brolio castle, one of the oldest of the area, owned by the Ricasoli family for a long time. The count Bettino Ricasoli was the person who printed the formula of the Chianti Classico wine. Our next stop is a small winery that produces Chianti Classico wine. Here, we can see the old cellar and learn how they make their wine, and also enjoy extra virgin olive oil and wine tasting. Driving on unpaved streets, between vineyards and olive groves, we reach Radda in Chianti, a charming medieval town, for a nice walk; from the top we can admire one of the most beautiful views of the Chianti area. Lunch is served in the medieval town of Gaiole in Chianti, in a restaurant where we taste the typical Tuscan dishes, all handmade, with genuine ingredients, like homemade pasta with fresh tomatoes, bruschette with garlic and extra virgin olive oil, vegetable soups, excellent grilled meat. After lunch we visit Vertine, a little medieval village, then we stop at a small winery that produces Riserva, SuperTuscan and Chardonnay. We will then enjoy a private extra virgin olive oil and wine tasting.  The return to your hotel or villa is at around 5 p.m.  Minimum of 2 particpants required.

(Half Day) -- Chianti is the fourth most recognized Italian word in the world. It is a vast geographic area from the hilly landscape placed at the center of the Tuscan region, between Siena and Firenze. Chianti is synonym for wine all over the world. It is an incredibly beautiful landscape where rows of cypress trees give way to vineyards like precious embroidery on fabric. In this area full of fable-like charm, small villages rise like forgotten castles where ancient traditions are respected in perfect harmony with the surrounding land.

The Chianti Classico DOCG is being produced in the counties of Greve in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti mainly using vines of Sangiovese (75%- 100%), vines such as Canaiolo (10% max), Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia del Chianti (6% max) and other vines for a maximum of 15%.  On average, thirty-one million bottles are produced every year. The winy scent and ruby color acquires a violet-like flavor and a tempered refinement with ageing. It has a minimum alcoholic content of 12%.

We drive to the Brolio castle, one of the oldest of the area, owned by the Ricasoli family for a long time. The count Bettino Ricasoli was the person who printed the formula of the Chianti Classico wine. Our next stop is a small winery that produces Chianti Classico wine. Here, we can see the old cellar and learn how they make their wine, and also enjoy extra virgin olive oil and wine tasting. Driving on unpaved streets, between vineyards and olive groves, we reach Radda in Chianti, a charming medieval town, for a nice walk; from the top we can admire one of the most beautiful views of the Chianti area. Lunch is served in the medieval town of Gaiole in Chianti, in a restaurant where we taste the typical Tuscan dishes, all handmade, with genuine ingredients, like homemade pasta with fresh tomatoes, bruschette with garlic and extra virgin olive oil, vegetable soups, excellent grilled meat. After lunch we visit Vertine, a little medieval village, then we stop at a small winery that produces Riserva, SuperTuscan and Chardonnay. We will then enjoy a private extra virgin olive oil and wine tasting.  Minimum of 2 participants required.

(Full Day) -- On this tour you will during the day you will visit a castle that has a lovely old cellar, tour the cellar and taste the Chianti Classico and Riserva that they produce and visit another more modern but smaller vineyard to experience the differences between the old and the new. 

Depart at 9:30 AM.  We will drive on between vineyards and olive groves admiring the towns of Greve in Chianti, a pretty market town that lives around its attractive square where are many outdoor shops of typical Tuscan products and Radda in Chianti, hilltop medieval town, from where we can admire the gorgeous view of the Chianti hills. Driving through the famed hillside vineyards and thick forests of the Sienese Chianti.  Passing through the area of Panzano, another little village, to stop into the newer little winery that produces Chianti Classico and Riserva, we will enjoy visiting the cellar and learning how their wine is made, including wine tasting and their olive oil.  You will dine in a little restaurant that produces typical Tuscan cuisine.  You would return to your hotel or villa at around 5.30 p.m. Minimum of  2 participants required.

(Full Day) -- In the nineteenth century, Maremma was nothing but a marsh that was best to be stayed away from.  Today, the breathtaking coastline, sprawling hills, the pinewoods and the protected areas are drawing travelers from across the globe to Maremma.  Not only nature’s beauty but also the irresistible wine and extra virgin olive oil produced here are now the highlights of this place.

The tour will start at around 8.30 am. Moving towards the southwest through Montenero´s hills you can see Jacopo Biondi Santi ´s estate with its vineyards and the striking Castle of Montepo, where a distinctive wine from this area, “Morellino di Scansano” and a wonderful SuperTuscan called "Schidione" are produced. The visit of the old castle, its cellars and the tasting of their wines will be a trip to be cherished. Enjoy a relaxing drive through the Tuscan coast taking in the views of the Mediterranean Sea up to Castiglione della Pescaia, a little port that used to be a popular summer get away for the Tuscan people. A nice lunch comprising fresh seafood and nice local wine will be served in a typical restaurant in the town. Enjoy a relaxing walk along the beach after lunch!  You can return to your villa or hotel by late afternoon.  Minimum of 2 participants required.