The Chianti Masterpiece Siena™

Join Signor Francesco, chef, wine maker and sommelier in his Tuscan kitchen for our deliciously tempting Tuscan cooking & wine weekend program in Chianti, Tuscany. Gently sweeping hills adorned with pristine vineyards and grey-green olive groves, pretty country churches and imposing stone castles provide the backdrop for your cooking school vacation. Take a tour of the property’s winery, visiting the vineyard, tasting wines and learning about the Chianti Classico; enjoy accompanying your dinners with a delicious selection of house reds and whites; and discover the wonderful healing properties of wine and grapes and reserve a wine therapy massage at the Estate’s spa. Signor Francesco also produces extra virgin first-cold pressed Tuscan olive oil at the property.

Chianti Cooking Classes

Chef Francesco’s philosophy is “see, smell and eat it” and each day.  He chooses the best fresh ingredients from the garden and the market for your hands-on cooking classes. The atmosphere in the kitchen is informal, encouraging you to ask questions, roll up your sleeves and get involved. Signor Francesco is a true Tuscan food lover – preparing homemade antipasto, pasta, risotto – main courses – and desserts!

Tuscan cuisine is unique and based on the simplicity of raw materials, cooked with skillful craftsmanship. Tuscan history speaks of agriculture and simple living, therefore dishes are based around the use of the ingredients of common people who could not afford luxuries in the kitchen – olive oil replacing lard, vegetables as a base for the soups instead of meat, chestnut flour, and so on.  Everyone will prepare genuine ingredients using ancient culinary traditions and methods, creating delicious Tuscan everything frompanzanella, pappa al pomodoro, pici, lasagna, risotto, roast pork loin, duck, tripe, to cantuccini and tiramisù.

Each class is 2 to 3 hours long.  Following each cooking class, everyone dines together enjoying the foods that were prepared in the class with Signor Francesco’s Tuscan wine included.

Gaiole in Chianti

The village of Gaiole is located approximately 40 km southeast of Florence and 15 km northeast of Siena in the Chianti hills, the most famous region of Tuscany. Gaiole in Chianti, like the whole Chianti region, is famous for its wine, artisan food products, and the unique romantic beauty of its landscapes: beautifully tended vineyards and olive groves, gently rolling hills, restored Medieval villages and farmhouses and characteristic avenues of stately poplar trees. Once a market town on the road from Chianti to Valdarno, Gaiole is still a wonderful place to visit for its wine shops, osterias, and local artisan shops, and perhaps more than any other village, represents the divine Tuscan landscape visitors dream of.

Chianti Accommodations

Imagine a beautifully restored Tuscan villa nestled cozily in the Chianti hillside: this will be your home for the duration of your cooking program. Rooms and suites are marked by distinctive and charming elements; for example, one suite has a bed made completely from antique oak barrels. Floors are made of the traditional terracotta tiles, exposed stones and beams give character to the apartments and furnishings are carefully chosen to reflect the traditional Tuscan style and comfort. Each bedroom has a private bathroom (some equipped with hydromassage), mini bar, TV, air conditioning, some of which boast private living rooms, and others private terraces.

Suites and apartments available for groups and families of different sizes. Please call for more information on accommodation options.

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Itinerary: 4 Days, 3 Nights

Day 1: Arrival & Check In

• Transfer from Florence airport to the estate.
• Check in, then take time to relax and settle in.
• Exclusive Welcome Dinner with wine pairings included and is served at the property.

Day 2: Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast is served.
• Meet in the kitchen for Cooking Class 1.  Tie on your aprons for your hands-on cooking class.  You will prepare a three course traditional Tuscan menu.  The course is 2 or 3 hours long, after which everyone dines together, enjoying the food made in class. Toast with a glass of wine, included.
• Relax in the afternoon or explore Chianti on your own. There are a lot of activities available like tennis, pool, archery, badminton, darts, etc. and at extra cost, you can also benefit from the small wellness center with its spa treatments where you can indulge in a variety of massages and a host of unique services including vinotherapy and chocotherapy.
• Dinner included at the property.

Day 3: Cooking Class 2

• Breakfast is served.
• Head into the kitchen for Cooking Class 2.  Tie on your aprons for your hands-on cooking class.  You will prepare a three course traditional Tuscan menu. The course is 2 or 3 hours long, after which everyone dines together, enjoying the food made in class. Toast with a glass of wine, included.
• In the afternoon, ask about reserving a Wine Therapy Treatment, including imperial bath with wine or explore the area on your own.
• Dinner included at the property.

Day 4: Departure ~ Or Stay An Extra Day

• Breakfast is served.
• Check out and transfer to the Florence airport or stay an extra day for a Chianti Wine Roads Tour and lunch with the famous Tuscan butcher, Lorenzo Chini!
• uscan Wine Road Excursion with a half day tour to Lorenzo Chini Butcher shop.  The tour includes a  private driver who will take you through the Chianti Wine Road experiencing the beauty and famous wineries along the way.  Next, visit the famous Tuscan butcher, learn and discover the cuts of famous Chianina steak with a traditional Tuscan lunch with wine included.  
• Dinner included at the property.

Day 5: Departure

• Breakfast is served.
• Check out and transfer to the Florence Airport or Train Station.

*Note: This schedule may vary due to inclement weather, saint days or festivals. All activities, in the event of rescheduling, are always included during the week.