Villa On A Tuscan Hill™

Learn to cook in Tuscan village cooking classes in an 18th century villa on the hills of Montepulciano! Once home to a noble family of Siena, the villa is nestled between tall cypress trees, green gardens and an endless view overlooking the gentle hills of Val d’Orcia. Our dreamy Tuscan Cookout & Scenic Tours program takes you from Val d’Orcia, to Pienza, Montalcino, San Gimignano, and the ancient village of Montepulciano. With your private chef and our Tuscan Cookout Cooking Classes, discover how to prepare gourmet Tuscan recipes in hands-on classes while sipping and swirling Brunello wine.  Walk through the vineyard and see how wine is made in the cantina.  Our cooking classes in Tuscany immerse you into the food, music, culture of cooking classes of Montepulicano.

Your personal chef, Signora Stefania and Signor Nicolo, welcomes each guest to her villa and kitchen where she shares cooking techniques and conversation in this one-of-a-kind authentic tour.  Cook, tour and make new friends in dreamy Tuscany.  Signora’s philosophy is “The villa is our home that we wish to share with guests, where life is simple, the silence magical, and each day follows the rhythms of nature.”

Immerse yourself into the local lifestyle and learn the traditions of great authentic Tuscan cuisine.  The entire villa and gardens have been fully restored with every modern comfort while keeping its Old World charm.

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

Tuscan Cookout Cooking Classes

These hands-on Tuscan cooking classes focus local farmhouse and local market ingredients with vegetables and fruits from the garden and artisan products from local purveyors – including artisan cheese makers, butchers, bakers and wine makers.  In each cooking class you will learn how to prepare traditional Tuscan fare including an antipasti, fresh pasta and sauce, a main course and dessert.

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

Learn how to make fresh pasta and sauce such as pici all’aglione – Tuscan pasta and a special sweet garlic sauce.  Also on the menu:  ravioli nudi amd tagliolini alla frantoiana, pasta with olive oil and herbs.

Discover the authentic Tuscan recipe for ribollita Toscana, a slow-stewed soup made with a variety of fresh vegetables and toasted bread.  Ribollita, meaning re-boiled.  Tuscans add vegetables and meat to the soup day after day.  Another Tuscan classic is Pappa al pomodoro, which is a bread and tomato soup.

Tuscan main courses include:  bistecca fiorentina, a unique Tuscan cut of meat from the white cow called a chianina from the Val di Chiana, Tuscany. Another class is a combination of 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.  Polo Toscano, is a delicacy of wild chicken served with local olives of Grosetto – olives that are cured in brine and marinated with grated orange zest, fennel and garlic.  Beans such as cici, all’uccelleto and pizelli novelli, and faro, are prepared and served as sides.

In these Tuscany cooking classes, you learn how to make lovely desserts including bongo, chocolate profiteroles;  bomboloni, a Tuscan doughnut and cantucci, twice baked almond cookies dipped in Vin Santo.  Tuscan desserts are endless: 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 crips to name a few. These are a small sample of Tuscan recipes that you will prepare in your villa – each recipe can easily be recreated in your home kitchen.  Our cooking classes in Tuscany villas is a one-of-a-kind culinary experience.

The Luxury Tuscan Villa

Set on a crest above gentle rolling Tuscan hills, the Luxury Villa is a property of splendor.  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 Luxury 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 property.

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The Garden Tuscan Villa

Check into the luxurious Garden Villa In Montepulciano – set in a beautiful Tuscan garden in the heart of Montepulciano.  Signora Niccolo and his family welcome you to the property – just a short 10 minutes walk from Montepulciano’s historic centre.  Beautifully decorated large rooms have every comfort – lots of light, privacy and ensuite baths.  The property boasts 18th-century charm from its historic past, while offering modern amenities and complimentary wi-fi.

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Tuscany

Tuscany is known for many things, but most of all for its Chianti Classico, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the Brunello di Montalcino and the Vernaccia di San Gimignano. During your stay enjoy a wine tasting at the property with some of the finest that the wine cellar has to offer.  Sip and swirl Barolo – Porta Rossa, Chianti Classico – Borgo Pretale, Pinot Grigio – Gaierhof, Prosecco – Banear, Amarone – Corte Vecchia Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi – Bonci and Vernaccia di San Gimignano – Signano to name a few.

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.”

Pienza on the other hand, was a dream of Pope Pio II Piccolomini. Chiusi with open-air museum and the tombs and museums.

Montalcino, with its great Fortress and famous Brunello di Montalcino, is  a must see.  Discover the noble wine including Brunello di Montalcino.  During your stay, we encourage you to visit the nearby towns of Arezzo, Cortona, Siena and San Gimignano.

Montepulciano

Montepulciano, a Medieval Renaissance town set on a hill is in the region of Siena. The name of Montepulciano, according to legend, was founded by the Etruscans. Rolling Tuscan hills dotted with ever growing olive trees and fields of sunflowers is Tuscany. As you stroll through its cobblestone streets stop for a local wine, Vino Nobile, shop for artisan terracotta ceramics, and stop to see the view. Montepulciano sits on a hill protected in an ancient Medieval wall creating some of Italy’s most applauded wine and cuisine.

Tuscan Cookout Cooking Classes & Scenic Tours

Itinerary: 5 days, 4 nights

Day 1: Arrival & Welcome Dinner – Chef’s Tuscan Tasting Dinner in Tuscan Villa

• Arrival Transfer from Chiusi train station.
• Welcome Prosecco on the terrace overlooking the rolling hills of Val d’Orcia.
• Later, enjoy your Welcome Dinner featuring a Chef’s Tasting Menu including four course Tuscan fare.

Day 2: Tuscan Villa Cooking Class 1 & Tuscan Dinner with Wine  

• Breakfast is served.
• Transfer to Montepulciano with your driver.  Take a stroll through the beautiful cobblestone streets before starting your cooking class.
• Tie on your aprons for your first Tuscan Cookout Cooking Classes! Get to gourmet cooking in your villa, preparing your Tuscan menu.
• Lunch follows and includes the foods that were prepared in the cooking class along with local red or white wine.
• After your cooking class, explore Montepulciano’s museums, artisan shops and wine bars.
• Later in the afternoon, return to the Villa and relax.
• Relax at the Villa.  Sit back and enjoy artisan cheese, salumi, and bottle of Tuscan wine, included.

Day 3: Tuscan Villa Cooking Class 2 & Food Lovers’ Tour In Montepuliciano 

• Breakfast is served.
• Transfer to Montepulciano for a walk along cobblestones before heading to your cooking class.
• Tie on your apron for Tuscan Cookout Cooking Classes! Your Cooking Class 2 is located in your villa and featuring a full course Tuscan menu.  Wine included.
• Lunch follows and includes the foods that were prepared in the cooking class along with a local red or white wine included.
• Following your cooking class, meet your English-speaking guide for a Food Lovers’ Tour of Montepulicano.  Discover the Medieval town set high on a ridge ridge dividing the Val D’Orcia from the Val di Chiana, Filled with wine makers, artisans, artists and trattorias, this untouched Tuscan town brims with beauty with tastings along the wya.
• Following Montepulicano, return to the Villa with your driver.
• Dinner is free and on your own.  Suggestions are provided.

Day 4:  Visit Cortona & Tuscan Wine Tour Tasting Lunch

• Breakfast is served.
• Full day excursion to the charming Tuscan town Cortona.  Visit, shop and take in the beauty of this town known for its wine, artisan leather goods, linens and art.
• Following Cortona, your driver continues to our prized Tuscan winery where the wine makers are known for wine, art and nature set on a beautiful Tuscan vineyard.  Lunch and tastings included.
• Following the tour, return to the Villa.
• Dinner is free and on your own.  Suggestions are provided.

Day 5:  Country Farm Visit & Tuscan Cookout Lunch 

• Breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, meet your driver and English-speaking guide for a tour through the Tuscan roads to an organic farm and property in the countryside for a day of farm-to-table food, wine and culture.  Discover the Sienese countryside, the enchanting village of Pienza, the medieval village of Monticchiello, Mount Amiata and the Val d’Orcia until you arrive to the country farmhouse and working farm. In the heart of green pastures, olive orchards and vineyards lie this beauty producing organic olive oil, wine and artisan cheese.  The Signor and Signora who own and manage the farm and property also have beehives.   The farmers hand-milk the cows, grow and pick all of the organic fruits and vegetables and saffron.  Artisan cheese makers churn organic milk into creamy sheep and goat cheeses while the vintners cultivate and produce organic wine.  The farmers also produce stone-ground flours and make their own pasta along with balsamic vinegars and natural honey.  The farm-to-table restaurant serves Tuscan fare including delicious Tuscan meats – think lamb, steak, sausage and sheep at the restaurant.  Lunch is included and includes an antipasto, fresh pasta and sauce, main course and dessert with wine included.
• Following lunch, take time to walk around the farm and property, and shop in their organic shop before returning to the villa.
• Dinner is on your own.  Suggestions are provided.

Day 6: Departure

• Breakfast is served.
• Departure transfer to Chiusi train station.