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From the contadini picking olives in the rolling fields, to the frantoio where great round stones crush the fruit, Tuscany is a whirlwind of activity during the olive harvest. It is during the late fall when you can see this process first hand--from tree, to basket, to mill, to bottle and finally to table. We invite you to take part in the harvest on a five-night gastronomic tour. You'll visit ancient and modern olive mills, learning how the oil is processed. You'll enjoy hands-on cooking lessons, using fresh olive oil to make traditional Tuscan recipes. And of course, you'll taste a variety of artisan-made oils, finding out what makes each one unique.
Accommodations are at the Villa San Paolo, a newly renovated, four-star hotel outside San Gimignano. With just 18 air-conditioned rooms, you'll feel like you are staying in your own country villa. Tennis courts and a swimming pool set in cultivated gardens offer diversion after a day of sightseeing or cooking.
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Independent afternoon arrival at Villa San Paolo.
This evening enjoy a welcome drink while you learn more about the program. Then, you're treated to a gourmet dinner in a local restaurant with selected wines.
Today you will tour the countryside to see (and assist if
possible) olive harvesting and visit a local oil-mill. Lunch will
be on a farm, where you'll have the opportunity to taste the new olive,
accompanied by local wines such as Vernaccia and Chianti dei Colli
Senesi.
In the afternoon, enjoy your first cooking lesson at a local restaurant
focusing on the use of olive oil in traditional Tuscan recipes. A
dinner based on your efforts follows the lesson.
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Today will be spent touring the Chianti area; you'll visit a farm
that produces Chianti Classico wine and olive oil. Lunch in a traditional
trattoria. Afterwards you'll visit some of the beautiful hill towns
that dot this area. Dinner on your own tonight. (If you'd like, a
transfer will be provided to a nearby restaurant.)
Your day begins with a visit to a unique farm near Lucca; it's considered to be one of the best producers of the olive oil known as "Lucchesia." A park with mature camellia plants surrounds the main villa. You'll tour the gardens and greenhouse, then the olive groves, where you'll learn about harvesting methods. The tour ends with a visit of the farm's two oil-mills, both working (one with a traditional method, the second with the help of modern equipment). At lunch time, the owners will serve a meal, basically vegetarian, to taste the products which come from their organic garden.
Then it's back to the hotel for a light dinner.
This morning you will shop for ingredients then go to a private home in Barberino val d'Elsa for a cooking lesson. Enjoy an olive oil tasting before lunch with the family.
The remainder of the afternoon and evening are free for individual
activities.
Breakfast and morning check out.
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PRICE PER PERSON
$2380 (with transportation included)
$1675 (without transportation)
INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM
Six nights accommodation
Cooking classes
Breakfast daily
Lunch and dinner as indicated in itinerary
Excursions
Guide and tour director for all excursions
Taxes and service
Not Included: wine and drinks, entrances. Note: if not purchasing tour with transportation, transportation and transfers are not included.
October 24-30
November 7-13
November 14-20
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