Villa On A Tuscan Hill™

Join us on a culinary adventure in our Romance In The Vineyard cooking tour designed for guests who are eager to discover the traditional Tuscan cooking and Brunello Wine in Montalcino.  Join Signora Stefania for an entertaining week of hands-on cooking classes, visits to artisans, excursions through Tuscan towns, and onto Montalcino for a one-of-a-kind wine tour, tasting and lunch at a world-famous wine maker. Signora Stefania is your charming host and owner of the Villa who welcomes you into local life.  Tie on your aprons for a delicious week of Tuscan food & wine in romantic Montepulciano!

As featured in October 2016 – Click here to read more!

During your stay, discover Tuscan Romance in the vineyard of Montalcino while sipping and swirling Brunello Wine and Super Tuscan wine. Signora Stefania welcomes guests to her Villa, while our Montepulciano Chef leads you in the kitchen where you will discover cooking techniques in this one-of-a-kind authentic tour.  Learn how to prepare authentic Tuscan classics, and cook, tour and make new friends in the dreamy rolling hills of Tuscany.  Step into this magical Tuscany villa and let your cooking tour begin!  This Tuscany food and wine tour is a delicious way to experience Montepulciano and Montalcino while cooking, touring and relaxing.

Tuscany Cooking Classes

In the beautiful city of Montepulciano, you will meet your Chef Mimo for your hands-on cooking classes! These Tuscany cooking classes with your Chef focus on all ingredients being local – with vegetables and fruits from the Chef’s garden and Tuscan products from the finest purveyors – including artisan cheese makers, butchers, bakers and wine makers.  In each cooking class you will learn how to prepare antipasti, fresh pasta and sauce, a main course and dessert.

Tuscan antipasti include: torta salata, a savoury flan; traditional crostini toscani, bruschetta toasted breads made with fresh tomatoes and herbs, olives; and fegatini, Tuscan chicken liver, along with regional capocollo, and artisan cheese.

Chef Mimo will guide you in the kitchen preparing fresh pasta and sauce such as pici all’aglione – Tuscan pasta and a special sweet garlic sauce.  Pasta recipes include ravioli nudi amd tagliolini alla frantoiana, pasta with olive oil and herbs, to name a few.

In your cooking classes, you will learn the authentic Tuscan recipe for ribollita Toscana, a slow-stewed soup made with a variety of fresh vegetables and toasted bread.  Ribollita translates to re-boiled, and Tuscan cooks and chefs traditionally add vegetables and meat to the soup day after day.  Pappa al pomodoro, bread and tomato soup is another classic recipe that everyone loves to make.  Tuscany cooking classes are informative, delicious and a great way to discover Italy’s culture.

Tuscan main courses include, bistecca fiorentina, a unique Tuscan cut of meat from the white cow called a chianina.  This breed of cows live in Val di Chiana, Tuscany. Another famous recipe includes cinghiale, wild boar, piccione, pigeon, and anatra, duck. There is also scottiglia, a traditional main course featuring an assortment of rabbit, chicken, veal, pork, pigeon, lamb and turkey.  Wild chicken served with local olives of Grosetto (olives that are cured in brine and marinated with grated orange zest, fennel and a little garlic) prepared with herbs is another typical Tuscan recipe.  Beans such as cici, all’uccelletoand pizelli novelli, and faro, are also a staple in the Tuscan diet and make delicious Vegetarian meals.

You’ll learn how to make lovely desserts including bongo, Tuscan chocolate profiteroles, making this the perfect couples cooking class. Tuscan desserts are endless: Bomboloni, a Tuscan doughnut and cantucci, twice baked cookies, traditionally dipped in Vin Santo, stracciata alla fiorentina, a sweet pizza, and pannello con l’uva, a brioche bread made with grapes and usually served during the time of the harvest, totra di mele, an apple flan and pinocchiati, pine nut crepes to name a few. These are a small sample of Tuscan recipes that you will prepare – each recipe can easily be recreated in your home kitchen.

The Luxury Tuscan Villa

Set on a crest above gentle rolling Tuscan hills, the Villa is a property of splendour.  Signora Stefania and her family renovated the 18th century property, taking much care to keep every element of its Old World charm.  Spacious gardens spanning 15 acres, cypress trees peppering the property and green gardens filled with antique vases and marble fountains make the Villa a magical place.  An elegant breakfast room offers fresh cakes, biscotti, tarts and flans each morning.  Pecorino cheeses, Tuscan cured meats, eggs, farm bread, caffe, tea and fruit juices are also served.

The Villa’s rooms, ensuite with complete private baths, are bright, oversized and spilling with natural sunlight.  Rich tapestries, drapes, bed comforters – each made by hand for each room – will have you slipping back and relaxing.  Modern comforts including satellite TV, a safety strongbox, mini-bar, internet and telephone, are included in each room suite. Guests are invited to stroll the gardens and swim in the magnificent marble swimming pool decorated with Florentine statues and water fountains (weather permitting).

Conveniently located in the heart of Montepulciano, the Villa is a short distance to Siena, Florence, Perugia and Assisi, as well as Pienza, Monticchiello, Montalcino and Cortona making it the perfect location.  Guests who visit in autumn can try their hand at truffle hunting on the 15 acres of the Villa.

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The Garden Tuscan Villa

Check into the luxurious Garden Villa in Montepulciano and set in a beautiful Tuscan garden.  Signor  Niccolo and his family welcome you to the private Villa property – just a short 10 minutes walk from Montepulciano’s historic centre.  Beautifully decorated large rooms offer comfy beds dressed in Italian linens and ensuite baths.  Beautiful decor, art and attention to details make the Garden Villa a dreamy place to stay.  Windows open up onto the beautiful Italian gardens filled with flowers and cypress trees in a peaceful setting.  An outdoor sitting area makes the garden a perfect place for sipping a Tuscan wine, reading a book and writing post cards to home.  The breakfast room is bright and clean and serves a full daily breakfast with Tuscan bread, cakes, biscotti, cakes and crostata, open fruit pie along with fresh fruit from the garden, farm-fresh eggs, yogurt with cappuccino, tea and homemade jam.  The 18th-century property offers elegance and charm  while offering modern amenities and complimentary wi-fi.

Click for Property Photo Gallery

Tuscany

Tuscany has been the cradle of the arts and banking throughout time from the Etruscans to  the Medici Family.  Discover the landscapes and history of this region as you visit and tour the nearby town of Montepulciano, called “Jewel of the Renaissance.”

Visit Pienza, a small town known for its artisan cheese, quaint caffès and small shops with handmade crafts. There’s also Chiusi, which offers its history, open-air museum with tombs.  Montalcino, also an interesting town to visit, is known for its great Fortress.  A must see town is Montalcino, known for its famous Brunello di Montalcino.  During your stay, we encourage you to visit the nearby towns of Arezzo, Cortona, Siena and San Gimignano.

Tuscan Romance In The Vineyard ~ Itinerary: 5 nights and 6 days

Day 1: Arrival & Chef’s Romantic Tuscan Welcome Dinner 

• Pick up at the Chiusi-Chianciano train station.
• Enjoy a Prosecco on the terrace overlooking the rolling hills of Val d’Orcia.
• A Chef’s Romantic Welcome Dinner in Montepulciano featuring a full course menu with local fare with red or white wine, included. Transportation included if you are staying at the Villa.

Day 2:  Cooking Class 1 & Discover Montepulciano 

• Breakfast is served.
• Transfer to Montepulciano with a driver.
• Tie on your aprons for our hands-on Tuscan cooking class where you will prepare an authentic full course menu.  Lunch follows and includes the foods that were prepared in the cooking class along with local red or white wine included. Enjoy your food and sip wine as you overlook Tuscan green rolling hills from your prized villa.
• In the afternoon, explore Montepulciano and visits artisan shops, wine bars and galleries while you soak up the Italian culture.
• Return to Villa with your driver.
• Relax at the villa.  Later in the evening, enjoy a light Tuscan dinner bite with artisan cheese, salumi, and bottle of Tuscan wine, included.

Day 3:  Food Lovers’ Tour with Tastings in Montepulciano

• Breakfast is served.
• Following your breakfast, meet our English-speaking driver and guide for a Food Lovers’ Tasting tour of Montepulciano.  Learn about Tuscan cheese, wine, salumi and desserts while immersing into the history and food culture with tastings included along the way.
• Following the Food Lover’s Tour, return to the villa with your driver.
• Dinner is free and on your own.  Suggestions are provided.

Day 4: Visit Montalcino!  Brunello Vineyard & Cantina Tour with Wine Tasting Lunch 

• Breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, meet your driver for a full day tour though the rolling Tuscan hills and to Montalcino.
• Brunello Winery tour in Montalcino with driver. In Montalcino, wine tour and tasting with light bites included. Following the tour, free time to shop, explore Montalcino, then return with your driver through the Tuscan countryside back to the villa.
• Later in the evening, sit back at the Villa and enjoy artisan cheese, salumi, and bottle of Tuscan wine, included.

Day 5: Tuscany Cooking Class 2

• Breakfast is served.
• Transfer to Montepulciano with a driver.
• Tie on your aprons for our hands-on Tuscan cooking class where you will prepare an authentic full course menu.  Lunch follows and includes the foods that were prepared in the cooking class along with local red or white wine included. Sip and enjoy your meal from your dreamy Tuscany villa.
• Following the cooking class, return to Villa with your driver.
• Relax at the Villa.  Later in the evening, enjoy artisan cheese, salumi, and bottle of Tuscan wine, included.

Day 6: Departure

• Breakfast.
• Check-out and transfer to Chiusi train station.
• Arrivedeci!