Join us on a moveable feast as we live the life dolce vita along
the fabled wine trails of the "Strade del Vino" of the Langhe,
the Black Rooster in Chianti and the oldest vines of Umbria.
June
7-13, 2008 - Cost: $3,400.00
per
person Double Occupancy,
Exclusive of Airfare and car rental
•
June 7, 2008 - Arrival at Tuscany Villa
•
6 Night Private Ensuite Lodging
•
All Meals & Unlimited Wines at Villa
•
Castle Wine Tours, Tastings, Cooking Lessons
•
June 13, 2008 - Departure
TRAVEL ICONS
Dream Come True
From local trattorias
to gourmet feasts, to the sophisticated wines of this region, this
journey is a food lover's dream come true. You'll relax in our
secluded villa in the Tuscan hills, Indulge yourself and on a wine
odyssey that would even make On this once in a lifetime tour, you'll
get to experience the best of Italian Wines. Pour yourself a glass
of something wonderful and read all about this food and wine extravaganza.
The Vino
Our
wine experts will open
doors to private cellars
for visits and tastings.
Mark Lasky, wine educator
and Italian wine expert
at Beaunes Wine Bar in
Florida will guide us
the entire way. To add to the merriment, Giulio our Tuscan partner
will join us.
Expect nothing but greatness.
Tuscany is also home to some of the finest wine in the world. The
richness of the sun baked soil produces millions of gallons of
wine and countless wineries. There has never been a better time
for drinking Italian wines than right now. Italy has enjoyed several
years of great harvests and people are realizing how fantastic
the wines are from all over the country. Italian wines are being
produced at the highest quality levels in years so having an insider's
knowledge to lead us the way is priceless.
Special day trips to visit Umbrian vineyards, considered to be the most picturesque in all of Italy and home to the area known as the "classic" zone, the oldest and most well known wine-producing land in the Orvieto province is a highlight. As is meeting new legends like the small producer Andrea Franchetti whose making stellar wines and one of the most sought after Super Tuscans the outstanding Tenuta dell'Ornellaia.
Manga
Loosen your belt buckles because eating in Italy means enjoying the complete meal...and the Piemontese adore their complete meal! The table is graced by infinite antipasti, the best beef in Italy, eaten raw, fine cheeses, anchovies, pickled fish, "crostini" and seasonal vegetables with Bagna Cadna. After agnolotti or polenta with rich truffle sauce we move to meat courses. The region is a meat eater’s delight with beef, lamb, hare, venison, pheasant, partridge, chicken, duck, and river fish.
Eating well along our journey is guaranteed whether in our castle or one of the local gastronomic food shrines. A lunch at the Osteria de la Rosa Rossa features famous snail dishes made with wild mushrooms, homemade gnocchi with a velvety sauce of cream and Castelmagno, or a beautiful plate of cured leg of lamb with arugula, sweet cherry tomatoes, drizzled with fruity extra-virgin oil.
Tuscany as we know is a revered food lover’s paradise and our villa on the outskirts of San Gimignano is perfect for lavish feasting. Grilled meats are a beloved treat, especially the revered Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a two-pound T-bone quickly charred over a wood-burning flame.
In our Tuscan villa kitchen you may join our chef in the kitchen for pasta lessons and preparing some Tuscan favorites like Duck Breast in Ragu with Baked Mascarpone Polenta or the Torta Pasta Pie, layered with homemade sausages, ham, mushrooms, tortellini, cheese, pine nuts and spices. Try your hand at rolling pasta for tagliatelle with roast chanterelles and cream or the decadent zucotto soaked with hazelnuts, chocolate and liqueurs.
Several tasty, authentic food items to pick up or sample while in Orvieto include lumachelle (snail- shaped rolls with ham and cheese), tortucce (fried bread dough), anise seed or almond biscotti, chickpea-chestnut soup, rigatoni prepared with nuts and chocolate, and mazzafegate (sweet or salty sausages). At Vinosus, the local Trattoria is a fine example of Umbrian cuisine and Lucca, the owner, will proudly tell you the secret to life- three bottles of Orvieto Classico wine.
More Fun on the Menu
Of course, no Vagabond Gourmet tour is complete without a serving of fun, so we’re being joined in our Tuscany kitchen by our friends and local chefs.
Donatella has been cooking her entire life. In fact, making everything from scratch the old-fashioned way is her specialty. Roll up your sleeves and see if you can roll the pasta as thin as Donatella can? No pasta machines here! The lunch we’ll prepare together of Tagliatelle with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Tortelli with Spinach Ricotta and Sage Butter, Gnocchi Nudi and Cantuccini is delicious classic Tuscan fare that will have you looking for a rolling pin in San Gimignano later.
Viola will show you how to make bread from scratch, using the products on her land. There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh bread pulled right out of the oven, is there? In one form or another, bread has been one of the principal forms of food for man from the earliest of times. Here in Italy, there is no exception. Like ages ago, the making of fresh bread is a tradition that has passed from generation to generation, and Viola secrets will be passing on to you.
Delicious rustic breads with rosemary and olives and pizza with fresh mozzarella, squash blossoms, and vegetables are on today's menu. She’ll also share some tips on using old bread so it doesn't go to waste. Lunch with Viola is next with; you guessed it, bread and pizza.
Another great option
is Pienza considered the "Jewel of the Renaissance" is like an ancient fairytale village whose streets are heavy with the fragrance of Pecorino. A true gourmet's dream is wandering the shops filled with mushrooms, pastas, honeys, jams, cheeses and oils!
The towered city of San Gimignano is most of Tuscany's most charming villages and another treasure trove of gourmet shops and delicious discoveries. The frescos at the Museo della Collegiato are nearly worth the trip. And if you haven't already bought enough goodies to take home try the balsamic or hot chili chocolates from the candy shop.
Sleep in Style
The Tuscan estate consists of a large elegant villa with several formal sitting areas, two huge wood fire places in the dining room and living rooms. The separate dependence also has a sitting area, fireplace and has recently been restored in its original style. The bedrooms are furnished with classic Tuscan furniture, armoires, queen sized beds and the bathrooms are new with showers, bidets and dressing mirrors. The villa has been carefully restored to its original style of elegance and grace. The accommodations are a classic yet rustic style is pure Tuscan. There are oriental rugs throughout, with marble accents, travertine and high quality fixtures. However, special care has been given to modern comforts. Satellite television, telephone a laundry room and swimming pool are among these.
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From local trattorias
to gourmet feasts, to the sophisticated wines of this region, this
journey is a food lover's dream come true. You'll relax in our
secluded villa in the Tuscan hills, Indulge yourself and on a wine
odyssey that would even make On this once in a lifetime tour, you'll
get to experience the best of Italian Wines. Pour yourself a glass
of something wonderful and read all about this food and wine extravaganza. 
Loosen your belt buckles because eating in Italy means enjoying the complete meal...and the Piemontese adore their complete meal! The table is graced by infinite antipasti, the best beef in Italy, eaten raw, fine cheeses, anchovies, pickled fish, "crostini" and seasonal vegetables with Bagna Cadna. After agnolotti or polenta with rich truffle sauce we move to meat courses. The region is a meat eater’s delight with beef, lamb, hare, venison, pheasant, partridge, chicken, duck, and river fish. 
Tuscany as we know is a revered food lover’s paradise and our villa on the outskirts of San Gimignano is perfect for lavish feasting. Grilled meats are a beloved treat, especially the revered Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a two-pound T-bone quickly charred over a wood-burning flame. 
Viola will show you how to make bread from scratch, using the products on her land. There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh bread pulled right out of the oven, is there? In one form or another, bread has been one of the principal forms of food for man from the earliest of times. Here in Italy, there is no exception. Like ages ago, the making of fresh bread is a tradition that has passed from generation to generation, and Viola secrets will be passing on to you.
The Tuscan estate consists of a large elegant villa with several formal sitting areas, two huge wood fire places in the dining room and living rooms. The separate dependence also has a sitting area, fireplace and has recently been restored in its original style. The bedrooms are furnished with classic Tuscan furniture, armoires, queen sized beds and the bathrooms are new with showers, bidets and dressing mirrors. The villa has been carefully restored to its original style of elegance and grace. The accommodations are a classic yet rustic style is pure Tuscan. There are oriental rugs throughout, with marble accents, travertine and high quality fixtures. However, special care has been given to modern comforts. Satellite television, telephone a laundry room and swimming pool are among these.