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Cooking Vacation


Join us for a delicious and relaxing weeklong cooking vacation in the Bolgheri wine region in Tuscany!
You’ll learn the secrets of Italian home cooking through hands-on cooking classes with me in my farmhouse at La Casa Toscana.  We’ll master authentic Italian recipes passed down in my family like hand-made pasta, gnocchi, antipasti, desserts and more, using seasonal local products.

Your home for the week will be a charming villa overlooking the Mediterranean in the Bolgheri wine country, where sloping coastal vineyards stretch to the sea and the famous Super Tuscan wines are produced.

When we’re not cooking, we’ll explore the charming and unique medieval villages in the surrounding area, learning about their history and food traditions. We’ll tour world-class vineyards and cellars, meet the producers, learn about the prestigious Bolgheri DOC region and enjoy superb wines. You’ll taste some of the best locally-pressed extra-virgin olive oil and many other local products. We’ll introduce you to our favorite restaurants, featuring seasonal menus that boast the flavors of authentic Italian and Tuscan cuisine.

On your cooking vacation in Tuscany, you’ll learn great recipes to bring back home while discovering the culture and culinary excellence of our Bolgheri wine region.
Together, we’ll celebrate the best of Tuscany! Chicca & Arnaud.

2020 – UPCOMING DATES

2020 Spring

May 3 – 9

June 27 – July 3 SOLD OUT

2020 Fall

October 4 – 10

October 17 – 23

Join us for this 7 day all-inclusive experience!
Do you prefer a weekend getaway or a shorter stay than our full itinerary?
Alternative dates upon request. Contact us to customize your vacation.

Rated 5 stars on TripAdvisor, Google & Facebook

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Our Cooking Vacation is designed to provide you with an authentic experience of life in Tuscany.

You’ll learn to master traditional recipes passed down in my family for generations. We’ll use fresh, local ingredients and learn the secrets of Italian cooking while sipping wines produced by local vineyards. We’ll walk the cobble stone streets of medieval villages and meet local producers and farmers in the heart of the Tuscan countryside.

Highlights :

• Cook with an Italian chef in her home.
• Learn to make fresh pasta from scratch, homemade gnocchi, meatballs and more.
• Taste world-class wines from some of the top producing vineyards in Italy.
• Explore beautiful medieval villages, meet local shop owners and learn about the history of this area.
• Dine at local restaurants and wine bars tasting the best of Tuscany’s world-class cuisine.

Our cooking vacation is a 7 day, 6 night all-inclusive experience.

Your experience includes:
• 6 nights in a beautiful villa overlooking the Mediterranean
• All meals: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners (one dinner on your own), including dinner in a fine-dining restaurant
• 3 hands on cooking classes
• 2 wine tastings at local vineyards
• 1 extra virgin olive oil tastings at local olive farm
• Daily excursions to the stunning medieval towns of Volterra, Bolgheri, Populonia, and Castagneto.
• All transfers including to and from the local train station upon arrival and departure. Easily accessible by train from Pisa Airport (1 hour) or Rome Airports (2.5 hours). Private transfers directly from the Pisa airport available upon request with additional fee.

During our three hands-on cooking classes, we will prepare a complete menu from antipasti to dessert using traditional recipes passed down in my family for generations.

We’ll pair fresh, seasonal ingredients with world-class Tuscan wines.

Classes are fun and informative. You will learn great tips and tricks to take home. All classes are taught in my Tuscan farmhouse and perfect for beginners all the way up to advanced cooks.

Sample Menu:

Bruschetta with Burrata and Tuscan Prosciutto
Homemade Ravioli with Butter and Sage
Italian Meatballs Glazed in Balsamic Vinegar
Marinated Mozzarella with Tomatoes and Fresh Herbs
Baked Bell Peppers with Olives and Capers
Arugula Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts and Pecorino Romano
Almond Chocolate Cake & Tiramisù

Day 1 – Welcome to Tuscany!
Pick up at the local train station and transfer to your hotel. You will have time to settle in and rest. Private transfer also available to Pisa airport for additional cost.
6:00 pm Welcome cocktail in the hotel’s beautiful garden overlooking the Mediterranean, introductions and overview of the week.
7:00 pm Dinner at a fine restaurant settled inside a beautiful wine estate.

Day 2 – Exploring Medieval Castagneto Carducci.
8:30 am Breakfast in the hotel garden.
10:30 am We’ll enjoy a walking food tour of Castagneto Carducci learning the history of the village and the
famous poet for which it was named. You’ll discover its ancient architecture and culture.
1:00 pm Lunch at a local pizzeria.
3:00 pm Free time to relax at the villa.
5:30 pm Hands-on cooking class at the farmhouse followed by dinner.

Day 3 – The Magic of Bolgheri.
8:30 am Breakfast in the hotel garden.
10:30 am Hands-on cooking class at the farmhouse followed by lunch.
2:30 pm Free time to relax at the villa.
4:00 pm Visit the charming town of Bolgheri, home of some of the best wines in the world. Tour the castle’s old wine cellar from the year 1700 and taste their world-class wines.
6:00 pm Free time to explore the town’s center and visit local shops.
7:30 pm Dinner at a wine shop and restaurant to try local specialties and handmade pastas. We’ll end the day with gelato.

Day 4 – Visiting Mysterious Volterra, a step back into the past.
8:30 am Breakfast at the hotel.
9:00 am Visit Volterra, where 3,000 years of history gives this mysterious city a unique atmosphere. A local English-speaking guide will lead a walking tour of the ancient city highlighting the beautiful and historic entry gates. You’ll visit an alabaster shop to see how these local products are made by hand.
1:00 am Lunch in a local restaurant.
5:00 pm Return to the villa.
7:00 pm Dinner on your own.

Day 5 – Populonia and Baratti, the perfect view on the Mediterranean.
8:30 am Breakfast in the hotel garden.
10:30 am Visit the magnificent Gulf of Baratti with crystal clear water and beaches surrounded by pine woods. This area is home to the Etruscan necropolis built 3,000 years ago. We’ll explore the village of Populonia on top of the hill, a jewel in the middle of the Mediterranean. We’ll climb the castle’s tower with a 360° views of the sea and surrounding islands.
12:30 pm Lunch at a local restaurant in town. 
3:00 pm Free time to relax at the villa, explore Castagneto Carducci.
5:30 pm Hands-on cooking class at the farmhouse followed by dinner.

Day 6 – La Strada del Vino, The Wine Road.
8:30 am Breakfast in the hotel garden.
10:30 am Visit an amazing winery on ‘La strada del vino,’ Wine Road. We will tour the vineyard, meet the producer, and taste four of their top wines.
1:00 pm Visit to an award winning olive oil mill. Meet the producers and learn how to make extra virgin olive oil. Taste their different extra virgin olive oil. Lunch at the olive farm.
3:00 pm Free time to relax at the villa.
7:00 pm We’ll enjoy a final farewell dinner at a fine dining restaurant famous for steaks sourced from a local butcher as well as fresh pastas and charcuterie.

Day 7 – Goodbye Tuscany!
8:30 am Breakfast in the hotel garden.
Transfer to local train station for departure.

**The itinerary is subject to change depending on the season and the availability.

Guests will stay at Villa le Luci, a bed and breakfast once privately owned by an established family in the medieval town of Castagneto Carducci. The villa sits atop the hillside providing stunning views of the valley below and the mediterranean sea. Each room at this bed and breakfast is unique and charming.

Included at the hotel:
– Breakfast
– Air Conditioning
– Wifi
– Safes in each room
– Garden with sea views
– Self-service bar area
– Balconies in some rooms
– Fireplace and sitting room
– Laundry and luggage service (additional fees apply)

UPCOMING DATES

Spring 2020

  • May 3 – 9
  • June 27 – July 3 SOLD OUT

Fall 2020

  • October 4-10
  • October 13-19

PRICE

$3,400 per person

Price is based on double occupancy. Single occupancy available upon request with additional fee.

Alternative dates are available upon request. Please contact us if you would like to join us at a different time.