Cooking Classes
Classes are held a professional kitchen with Chef Maria at Villa Ortaglia. The villa is a beautiful farmhouse that was built in the 17th century and has recently been restored into a five-star luxury accommodation. Each suite is decorated with exquisite antiques, maintaining the traditional feel of old-world charm in the heart of Tuscany.

Ortaglia Relais is privately owned by Terenzio, and cared for by his his son Nicola and the family. After several years in the hospitality industry, the Biscardo family decided to offer cooking classes that explore the regional cuisine of Tuscany. The property is surrounded with the family’s vineyards, vegetable gardens, Tuscan sunflowers and a private swimming pool. The ancient town of Montepulciano can be seen in the distance.

Each suite has been named after the eight districts of Montepulciano, created by the City Stature in 1337. They are San Donato, Voltaia, Poggiolo, Talosa and Gracciamo. All of the bedrooms have been furnished with great attention to functionality and elegance. Interior decorators have carefully selected the colors, paired the cloths and blended the various antique pieces with simple Tuscan handicrafts. The rooms are magical! In the three suites guests can enjoy a tonic jacuzzi sipping a glass of the best Spumante Classico. All the rooms are equipped with TV, refrigerator and telephone.

The Ortaglia estate boasts a well-furnished wine cellar where you will discover the thousands of flavors in the Italian oenology. The underground wine cellar in the farmhouse, which keeps it well protected from light, vibrations and changes of temperature, guarantees that the selection of wines are kept in perfect condition.

The cooking classes and dinners are available exclusively to the guests of the country house in order to maintain the prestige and unique atmosphere of the Relais. Cooking classes are in small groups with a minimum of four people and a maximum of eight. The cooking classes start at 5 pm and last approximately three hours. During the class, Chef Maria will teach a full menu from appetizer to dessert, starting each course from scratch and using only local seasonal products.

Chef Maria’s Tuscan Cooking Classes Tuscan Cooking Menus
One regional appetizer such as crostini toscani, assorted bruschetta appetizers; one first course: homemade fresh pasta with different types of seasonings such as pici all'aglione. Pici is a type of pasta similar to spaghetti. Aglione is the typical roasted garlic and fresh tomato seasoning used on pici; and one second course: typically meat, rabbit, chicken, veal, pork, pigeon, lamb and turkey.

Last, and most sweet is dessert. She will show you how to make traditional cakes and biscotti like the world famous tiramisu and cantucci (hard biscotti, traditionally dipped in Vin Santo, a unique dessert made in Tuscany). The entire menu changes daily according to Maria’s inspiration and seasonal local ingredients. At the end of each class, participants eat the fruits of their labor at dinner. Local table wine is included.

Day 1

• Pick up at Chiusi train station.
• Check-in, relax, aperitivo and introduction to the cooking program.
• Dinner at La Grotta in Montepulciano, wine is included.

Day 2

• Drive to Montepulciano for a visit at their leisure and lunch on their own.
• Pick up and drive to Ortaglia to relax.
• Cooking class followed by dinner with their creations, wine included.

Day 3

• Tour of Valdorcia with lunch in the wine cellar.
• Round trip transfers to dinner at the Trattoria Diva & Maceo.

Day 4

• Drive for Wellbeing program for both at the Terme di Montepulciano.
• Pick up and light lunch at Ortaglia.
• Cooking class followed by dinner with their creations.

Day 5

• Tour of Le Crete and San Gimignano with lunch and Visit with tasting of Signano estate.
• Dinner at Le Logge del Vignola, transfers included.

Day 6

• Return to Chiusi train station.