Lets tour Chianti!

With Italy closed during the pandemic, we were stuck at home like everyone else.  When we finally got back to Tuscany last October after a two-year absence we were amazed.  The feeling was like coming home but at the same time seeing it with fresh eyes.  To drive the same roads, to visit our favorite castles, wineries, and restaurants, to reconnect with old friends and owners, was exciting and affirming.  It gave us a new enthusiasm to share it again with you.  And so we’ve added a weeklong culinary tour in the heart of Chianti Classico!

How it all began

This past fall marked 21 years that I’ve been doing culinary tours in Italy!  When I moved to Tuscany in 2000, I searched out the best food producers and wine makers to expand my knowledge.  I initially concentrated on the Chianti Classico area, but eventually branched out to the whole region.  My desire to share what I discovered led me to begin cooking classes on the estates of Spannocchia and Montestigliano.  What began as hands-on lessons grew to daylong wine tours and finally week-long culinary excursions.  We cooked Tuscan dishes, visited adorable villages, drank delicious wine and dined in excellent trattorias.

An evolution

Over the years, the tours have evolved.  As we grew, my sister, Mary, became more involved in marketing and organization.  She has been my partner for sixteen years now!  Soon we branched out to other regions of Italy. We do less actual cooking now and more in-depth learning about Italy’s amazing wines.

But Tuscany and especially the Chianti Classico area have always remained close to our hearts and this spring we’re going back!

Chianti Classico Immersion

This spring we have a week planned in Tuscany.  We are basing ourselves north of Siena, in the heart of Chianti Classico.  We will stay at a lovely estate surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, a short drive to all our favorite haunts!  This immersion into Chianti Classico gives us an opportunity to better share with you this historic area.   We’ll see the classic villages of Radda, Gaioli and Castellina, deep forests filled with wild game,and rolling hills of vines and olive trees.  If you’ve been with us before, this week will give you new pleasures.  If you’ve not experienced Tuscany, this is a beautiful way to see it.

Tuscany is popular with travelers and tourists for great reasons.  Tuscan wines have long been some of the best Italy has to offer. Its landscapes inspired Michelangelo, DaVinci and Giotto. Its history reflects the perennial fight between two medieval powerhouses, Florence and Siena.  The land is dotted with old castles and new wineries, with olive groves, vineyards and forest as far as the eye can see.

There are still a few spots left in the week, June 11-18.  We hope you’ll join us!