Join Marcello and his family in Bassano del Grappa for a Cooking, Wine and Grappa experience that is simply delicious! Prepare exceptional cuisine, sip fine wine and grappa and learn about farm-to-table ingredients in the region of Veneto.
You’ll also discover the Medieval town of Bassano del Grappa in this beautiful part of the world. From the Grappa Museum, dedicated to its world-famous pomace brandy to one of the most interesting bookshops where Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway frequented during World War II.
During your time in the kitchen, you’ll prepare antipasto, fresh pasta and sauce, main courses and desserts in hands-on cooking classes. Chef Erica will lead you through the finest menus of the season featuring the produce and products of Veneto. Following each cooking class, everyone enjoys the food that was made in the cooking class together. Local wine is included.
During your stay, you will visit local food artisans and sample regional specialties such as Asiago & Morlacco cheese, local Torello salami, distilled grappa and Prosecco from the hills of Conegliano.
The shorter cooking programs are ideal as a multi-city Italy itinerary, a pre or post cruise stay, or a weekend getaway. Venice and Verona Airports are nearby and well connected to all international cities making it an easy destination to travel to. This cooking program is the perfect combination of food and wine in a region off of the tourist track.
Veneto Cooking Classes
Chef Erica leads your hands on cooking lessons showing you how to antipasto such as sformatino di carciofi e patate su fonduta di Morlacco, baked artichoke and potato with Morlacco cheese fondue. She will show how to make home-made pasta, polenta con sugo di Salamella speziata, polenta with slow-cooked spiced sausage, gnocchi, and risotto. On the menu are seasonal slow-cooked soups and stews, stuffed and braised vegetables and delicious main courses. Learn how to prepare t bocconcini di torello Rendeno al Vespaiolo, are Rendeno beef medallions with Vespaiolo wine sauce, the speciality of the house. There’s agnello al cartoccio con cus-cusù, a lamb and couscous delicacy. Menus vary during the year based on the seasonal produce available. You’ll also prepare panna cotta, a cooked cream with fruit, frollini, Venetian butter cookies, and semi-freddo, Italian ice cream. Everyone enjoys the foods that were prepared in the cooking following the class with each course paired with the Marcello’s wine.
Winery, Tours & Tastings
The vineyard grows organic white – Vespaiola and Garganega and red – Garganega, Marzemino Nero and Pinot Nero grape varieties, produced and aged into organic wine. During your stay, you’ll stroll through this precious vineyard with over 50,000 grapevines and 1000 olive trees and learn about the Old World technique of wine making. The winery lays on a hilly surface at the feet of the Asiago plateau, in San Michele of Bassano del Grappa, a site dedicated to vineyards and olive trees growing since the times of Ezzelino da Romano between the X and the XI century. The property, set on a slope of rich volcanic soil that’s blessed with the perfect amount of sun exposure and great northern winds make for perfect growing conditions. The perfect micro climate for producing wine and grappa.
Bassano del Grappa
The town’s two main squares, the Piazza Libertà and the Piazza Garibaldi, are charming, quaint and spilling with shops and restaurants. The most important landmarks including the Piazza Libertà – home to the San Giovanni Church and the City Hall with a large clock and the statue of the Lion of Saint Mark, a symbol of Venetian power still stand here. There is also the Piazza Garibaldi, home to San Francesco Church and the Civic Tower where you can climb to the top of the tower for a breathtaking view of the land.
Set about an hour north of Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa is a Medieval town that dates back to the 2nd century B.C. Basano del Grappa is famous for its wooden bridge, the Ponte Vecchio, designed by architect Andrea Palladio. It is also home to where grappa was invented. Grappa, known around the world, is made by distilling the pomace – a blend of grape seeds, stalks, and stems leftover from the wine-making process. When in Bassano del Grappa, make sure to visit the well-known Nardini shop set on the bridge where you’ll be able to shop for a variety of grappa including almond, juniper and citron.
Bassan del Grappa Accommodations
Check in and relax with a welcome Prosecco and enjoy the views. Set in the heart of Bassano del Grappa, each room has been elegantly furnished for your comforts with modern beds and soft linens, and including an en-suite bathroom. Additional amenities include: direct telephone line, hairdryer, TV, air conditioning and free internet. Daily breakfast, served daily, includes: artisan bread, breakfast cakes, biscotti, fresh fruit, cappuccino, tea and coffee.
Click for Property Photo Gallery
Itinerary: 2, 3 or 4 Night
Day 1: Welcome & Chef’s Tasting Dinner
- Check in, enjoy our welcome Prosecco and relax.
- Later in the evening, your welcome dinner is served.
- Welcome dinner including a Chef’s tasting menu: antipasto, fresh pasta, main course and dessert. Wine is not included.
Day 2:
Cooking Class 1 & Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting
- Breakfast is served.
- After breakfast, meet your driver for your cooking class and wine tour. Your host Marcello welcomes you to the kitchen and vineyard!
- Tie on your apron and let’s get cooking as you will prepare an antipasto, first course, second course and dessert. Everyone enjoys the foods that were made in class for lunch with wine pairing included for each course.
- After lunch, tour the vineyard and the cellar, including discussion on the wine making.
- Later in the day, return to the property.
- Afternoon is free to explore the Medieval town of Bassano del Grappa with its famous bridge, designed by Andrea Palladio, Duomo and churches.
- Dinner is on your own. Suggestions provided.
Day 3: Cooking Class 2
- Breakfast is served.
- Check-out & Departure
- After breakfast, meet your driver for your cooking class and wine tour. Your host Marcello welcomes you to the kitchen and vineyard!
- Tie on your apron and let’s get cooking as you will prepare an antipasto, first course, second course and dessert. Everyone enjoys the foods that were made in class for lunch with wine pairing included for each course.
- Visit the Grappa Museum in Bassano del Grappa, on your own. Shop, tour the oldest bookshop and soak up the culture.
- Return to hotel – dinner is on your own. Suggestions provided.
Day 4: Check Out & Departure
- Breakfast is served.
- Check-out & Arrivederci!
Program Includes
- 3 nights accommodations, based on 2 guests. Click to view!
- Daily breakfast and maid service.
- 2 hands-on cooking classes, with lunch or dinner following, including accompanying wines from the vineyard.
- 1 Wine Tour to the vineyard & wine cellar with informal discussion including a selection of antipasto and cold cuts.
- Transfers to and from the property to the vineyard and cooking school with private driver.
- Transfers to & from vineyard from the train station to the property.
- Cooking Vacations Welcome Bag with chef’s apron, Prosecco toast and recipe booklet.
- A copy of Lauren’s cookbook, “It’s a Dream Place – Stories & Recipes of Food, Love and the Amalfi Coast”
Program Prices
$2,395 per person based on 2 guests.
For Single Guests: If you are traveling on your own, please call us for the best group price. We are happy to welcome you into an already scheduled group.
2024 Dates: This program is available throughout the year. Check in and start your program on any day of the week. Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange. Call for updated rates. Itinerary can change due to weather conditions. Call for updated rates. Airfare not included. Group transfers for any cooking tour or tours that include transfers, are for the group and are not private. Transfers before, after or to another destination outside of your cooking tour are not included in the program price. If you would like to add on a private transfer or transfers, let us know and we will send you pricing.
