Ampersand Presents
Enchanting Chianti:
A week of Tuscan Treasures & Culinary Delights
Come fall in love with Tuscany this September and discover culinary delights of the Chianti region of Italy. Join Keely & Ampersand September 6-13, 2024 for a seven day tour in Italy exploring regional cuisines with local residents, chefs, purveyors, farmers, sommeliers, olive growers and so much more!
What is included:
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Lodging in a gorgeous farmhouse in Chianti with pool & outdoor areas
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Daily breakfast
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All lunches and dinners
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Pick up/drop off service from Florence and ground transportation and guide service
during the whole tour
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All visits, tastings, classes, excursions, activities scheduled
ITINERARY:
Day 1
The Experience Begins! Radda in Chianti, Cashmere Goat Farm with Under the Tuscan Sun Lunch + Welcome Dinner!
Benvenuti in Chianti! We will pick you up in Florence in the morning and we will head to the Chianti region. Our adventure will begin with a visit to the lovely village of Radda in Chianti, with free time to enjoy the lovely shops and alleys.
We will then visit a unique Cashmere goat farm in Chianti where we will learn about the adorable cashmere goats, how they are raised, and how their exquisite fibers are harvested and processed into beautifully finished garments and other items. We’ll even learn their names and have the chance to hold and feed one or two of them and even play with them. We will take a guided tour of the farm followed by a perfect lunch at the farm under the Tuscan Sun.
Then we will make our way to our home base for the week, a farmhouse tucked away in the hills of Tuscany. We will check in and you will have free time to get familiar with your new home, with time for relaxation and to enjoy the magical beauty of the land.
A welcome feast will be served at the farmhouse.
Benvenuti!
Day 2
Hands on Cooking Class + Greve in Chianti for the Wine Festival!
Cook it, Eat it!
We will begin our day with a fun and delicious hands-on cooking course in a beautiful country home on a wine and olive oil farm nestled in the Tuscan countryside. All the
Ingredients used are fresh, many of them directly from the farm. If the weather allows, the course is held outdoors overlooking vineyards and olive trees. The farm stands on top of a hill in an oasis of peace and tranquility away from noise, cars and pollution of the city. A perfect Tuscan dream! The class will be completed by a beautiful lunch tasting all the recipes we just prepared.
After lunch we will head to the lovely Chianti village of Greve in Chianti for the unique event of the Chianti Classico wine festival. Such a wonderful experience not to be missed!
In the late afternoon we will head back to the farmhouse for relaxation and dinner.
Day 3
Vinsanto and Super Tuscan Winery + Siena
We will begin our day to a family owned winery specialized in the prestigious Vin Santo (Holy Wine) dessert wine, with guided visit of the Vinsantaia and the historical cellar followed by a delicious homemade lunch
with tasting of wines in front of an incredible view. After lunch, we will head to the stunning town of Siena, enjoying a real espresso in the stunning Piazza del Campo and tasting the “Senesi” delicious traditional sweets of this town. We will also have the possibility to admire the majestic beauty of the Duomo and to learn interesting stories about the famous Palio, a charming tradition from Siena that goes back to the Middle Ages.
Dinner at the farmhouse.
Day 4
Artisanal Pasta Workshop + Olive Oil Experience with Olive Oil-Themed Lunch + Chianti Villages + Sunset Apericena.
We will begin our day visiting an artisanal pasta workshop in Chianti, learning everything you always wanted to know about one of the most important icon of Italian cuisine!
We will then visit a family owned extra virgin olive oil producer in Chianti, enjoying a guided your of the mill and learning everything you wanted to learn about high quality extra virgin olive oil. The guided tour will be followed by a perfect lunch experience, sampling delicious specialties all paired with olive oil, enjoying time with this lovely family.
After lunch, we will visit the lovely village of Panzano in Chianti, getting lost in the dreamy views of the Golden Valley. In the evening, we will enjoy a visit to the stunning Badia a Passignano abbey, a Middle age monastery still belonging to the monks, enjoying a sunset aperitivo in a lovely wine bar with stunning views over the green rolling hills.
Day 5
Grape Harvest and Grape Stomping Experience with Harvest Lunch + Explore Castellina in Chianti and Monteriggioni
Our journey will begin with an incredible experience, especially created for you to capture the real essence of the harvest season in Tuscany.
Harvest has always been seen as a time of celebration in the countryside; the hard work, the cultivating sacrifices, all those efforts are finally paid off with the growth of grapes and the festive time of wine making.The experience will begin in the vineyards, learning how to pick the juicy and colorful Sangiovese grapes. We will then move in the cellar, stomping the grapes like in the old times. Such a unique and fun experience!The experience will end with a wonderful "pranzo della vendemmia" (harvest lunch) celebrating together this special time of the year.After lunch, we will visit the beautiful village of Castellina in Chianti, with free time to explore the shops and alleys. We will also visit the gorgeous Medieval town of Monteriggioni, learning fascinating stories of our land.
Late afternoon at the farmhouse, dinner at the farmhouse.
Day 6
Cheese Making Class "The Art of Pecorino" + Discover Cortona
We will begin our day with a visit to a wonderful family owned cheese farm in the Tuscan countryside overlooking the gorgeous town of Cortona.
We will first visit the stable watching the babies play hide and seek with one another. Will follow a
delicious and fun hands on cheese making class, learning how to make the freshest ricotta,
raviggiolo and pecorino cheese with the cheesemakers Lapo and Ilaria. Their Ricotta is even mentioned in the Under the Tuscan Sun Cookbook by Frances Mayes! Will follow a delicious cheese-themed lunch with homemade pasta and other specialties paired of course with locally made wine. As a special
memory of the experience, you will receive a Certificate as "Cheese Master" and a beautiful
booklet with plenty of interesting information about cheese.
After lunch, we will head towards the stunning town of Cortona, where the famous movie "Under The Tuscan Sun" was filmed. You will enjoy free time there to explore the shops and alleys.
Late afternoon of relaxation at the farmhouse, dinner at the farmhouse.
Day 7
Truffle Experience + Discover Certaldo and San Gimignano
Our journey will begin with a unique truffle hunt in the
forest with trained dogs and with an experienced local
truffle hunter, who will tell you interesting legends and curiosities about this precious gift of the nature.
After lunch we will enjoy a relaxing walk in the medieval castle of Certaldo, stopping a beautiful pottery worshop where you could find unique gifts for family and friends. We will enjoy a relaxing walk in the medieval village of San Gimignano which is famous for its multiple medieval towers. After we arrive, you can drift off with plenty of free time to enjoy the traditional shops and taste the “best gelato in the world”.
Late afternoon, Time for relaxation at home, dinner out out at our favorite trattoria in Chianti!
Day 8
Time to Say Good Bye!
We will transfer you to Florence, a presto and
cheers to a wonderful time together!
Until the next time!
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