Day 1: Arrival in Panzano at Fattoria Valle

Pick up at the airport in Florence (or at a hotel in town) for 1h transfer to Panzano. Check in at your Villa then transfer to Volpaia winery for a visit and a wine-tasting Lunch at a nice restaurant in Volpaia). Back at your villa for your first cooking class. Supper with what you cooked.

Small towns, big wines

Day 2: Transfer to San Gimigano

through winding Chianti roads. Visit this beautiful town and its towers, enjoy a gelato and have some leisure time for shopping in its many enticing boutiques. Have a late wine tasting/lunch at a wine producing farm facing San Gimignano towers. Return to the villa along a different route. Supper at the villa

Day 3: Siena

Transfer to Siena for tour of the town that will make you discover the food specialties of the area while admiring the most important sights of this famous town. (no need for lunch after the tour) Free time in town. Check in at your hotel a charming place just outside Siena walls. Supper and night (villailcastanowineresort)

Day 4: Monteriggioni

After a leisurely breakfast we will start towards Monteriggioni. Along the way we will stop at the very old abbey of Abbadia Isola from where it is a small hour walk to Monteriggioni, on the Francigena way. Those who do not wish to hike can go with the van. Monteriggioni is small so the stop will be interesting but short. We then depart for Felsina winery where we will have a visit of the cellar and a wine tasting/Lunch. Return at the villa where supper will be served.

Day 5: Montepulciano

Transfer to a terracotta making factory for a visit of this ancient craft. We will then make it to our new accommodation, just outside Montepulciano. Lunch will be at an historical cellar in town. Have some free time in town (Montepulciano has many enticing boutiques!! and is one of the best places to buy souvenirs and presents). On the way to villa Cicolina we will stop at San Biagio temple, a superb basilica at the foothill of town. Free time to relax at the villa with the wonderful panoramic pool. Supper at the villa.

Day 6: Cheese making farm with a view of Pienza

Transfer to a cheese making farm with a superb view of Pienza; there we will learn how goat cheeses are made and enjoy a tasty lunch. Pienza is a renaissance jewel and deserve stroll along its cheese shops lined streets. On the way back we will stop at Brunello producing farm, on the northern slopes of Montalcino. After a tasting of his wines, we will return at our villa for a supper with pairing wines.

Day 7: Sant'Antimo Abbey - Bagno Vignoni

Drive to Sant Antimo abbey, a magical place which is said to have been founded by the emperor Charles the Main. The abbey is on the way to yet another Brunello secret producer who will greet us in his working clothes. At his place we will be treated to a barrel tasting. Free lunch and time in Montalcino. Transfer to Bagno Vignoni for a cooking class and supper in a private house. Back at your villa for the night

Day 8: Orvieto

After a leisurely breakfast we will head for Orvieto an ancient Etruscan and Medieval town where we will stop for a tour of the town and a wine-tasting/lunch at a cellar carved in the Tufo rock. After lunch, we will make a small detour to visit Civita di Bagnoregio, a ghost town perched on a crumbling cliff. Spend the night in Orvieto at a wine producing resort

Day 9: Etruscan mysteries, the hidden Tuscany

Spend the day discovering this Hidden part of Tuscany. Visit The beautiful Romanic cathedral of Sovana, walk to the nearby archaeological park which feature monumental tombs which go back more than 2000 years. Have lunch at the local Antinori winery then head for Pitigliano that feature the oldest Jewish getto of Italy before heading to Rome (your choice: Airport or downtown; night in Rome is not included).