NEW
Toscana Classica. Due Sangiovesi di mare e di terra.
Vini, storie e paesaggi della costa e delle colline.
Costa degli Etruschi, Volterra, San Gimignano, Chianti.
Bolgheri, Montescudaio, Vernaccia, Chianti e Chianti Classic, IGT.
Un programmino classico, ma speciale se fatto da noi, ideale per un lungo weekend  -quattro giorni pieni, magari tre soli - che propone una breve sezione della Toscana, attraverso due dei paesaggi più celebri, le loro differenti  atmosfere, e naturalmente i loro vini.

La "Costa degli Etruschi": si parte dalla speciale atmosfera della costa d’inverno, da luoghi di arcaica suggestione, come Baratti, per esempio, e dalla cucina di pesce. Primi vini Vermentino ed Ansonaca, e poi i rossi mediterranei di Bolgheri e Montescudaio.

Si sale, poi, alla splendida Volterra, ventosa, etrusca e medievale.  Terra di boschi e di pascoli, a tavola si distingue per la selvaggina, i tartufi, e i formaggi.
Gustiamo antiche ricette, e proviamo grandi e grandissimi pecorini, "sardo-toscani" per così dire, freschi, stagionati, invecchiati, eccellenti con i non molti, ma robusti sangiovesi di Volterra e di Montecatini.

Passaggio per San Gimignano, con la sua Vernaccia, poi via San Donato, si arriva a Radda ed a Castellina. Siamo nel cuore del "Chianti storico, e Classico".  Mentre si incrocia nel paesaggio più celebre, - più commovente ha scritto qualcuno - si nota la perfetta, e gelosamente protetta, armonia di  campi, boschi e vigneti, di case, chiese e castelli.


Chianti, ma quale?

Non c'é che da scegliere. Con 600 produttori, e più di 450 etichette, il problema é, anzi, quali scegliere.
Noi ci si ferma, a bere in diverse cantine, per degustare e  - quando possibile - conoscere chi il vino lo fa, e come:
la cantina ormai rarissima, piccola  e familiare, quella più grande, ma tradizionale, dove il Chianti conserva la sua prima (vera?) natura, rustica e fresca. Senza mancare il Vin Santo, vero, secco, asprino e sottilmente aromatico.

Poi le nuove maniere. Cantine sia medie che grandi, alcune antichissime, altre di nuova intrapresa, ma di stile moderno. Vini bilanciati, ovvero “educati”, meno aspri, ma tannici e concentrati, anche troppo per alcuni, ma nell’insieme più eleganti, seducenti talvolta. Lo sono sia i classici sangiovesi, che gli IGT  dagli uvaggi con più o meno merlot e cabernet, i sempre alla moda “supertuscans”, per capirsi. Ed i più abbordabili, magari più piacevoli e bilanciati, “normal” tuscans. 


Offerta per piccoli gruppi, minimo 4.
Quattro giorni, tre notti in B&B o agriturismo, a € 650 a persona.
Tre giorni, due notti in B&B o agriturismo, a € 500 a persona.

Inclusi.
Alloggio in camera doppia, con colazione.
Guida a disposizione tutto il giorno.  
Due degustazioni di 4-6 vini ciascuna, ed un pasto completo al giorno.

Contatatteci per dettagli e modifiche.


Incontro:
Colle Val d'Elsa, presso Arnolfo Viaggi, o a richiesta (extra) Pisa, o Pisa aeroporto.
Partenza: Colle Val d'Elsa.

Spring in Tuscany
Etruscan, Medieval, and Renaissance places. Truffles and fresh olive oil
The Crete, the Chianti Hills, Valdelsa and Florence.
Bolgheri, Brunello, Ansonaca, Nobile, Chianti Classico
This traverse from the coastal wine zones, to the famous hills, and to Florence,  offers a complete experience of Tuscany. It takes you in three different landscapes, each one with its celebrated wines:
Maremma, the Montalcino-Montepulciano Valdorcia and Crete area, the Chianti hills, and Florence.
Lenght: we propose 9 days, or 7 days. If you wish a shorter tour, please pick two of the areas that we describe below.

MEDITERRANEAN TUSCANY
Etruscan Coast, and High Maremma. 3 days, 2 nights.
Pisa welcomes you with the leaning tower - you are certainly in Tuscany! - its lively historical center, and with the first wine tasting in a stately villa’s ancient cellars.
Volterra, high on a wind swept hill, preserves amazing Etruscan remains, and a Roman theatre, and impressive Medieval buildings and walls.
Following ancient techniques, its craftworkers produce alabaster and gold masterpieces. In its surroundings we taste traditional Sangiovese wines, and the best “pecorino” cheeses made by sheperds of Sardinian tradition.

The Wines.
Along the Etruscan coast we discovere three fine appellation zones, which become increasingly famous: Montescudaio, and the fashionable Bolgheri. By the Baratti beach, further south, we visit a monumental Etruscan necropolis, witnessing an ancient time of whealth and trade with the whole Mediterranean. On the way, we get a tasting of Val di Cornia wines, before heading on to the Crete, our base for the next three nights. The wines.Our first tastings are the classic, fresh Sangiovese, from the Pisa hills and Montescudaio, what the Tuscans really like to drink. Then the whites: Vermentino fresh and mild, and the unusual Ansonaca, gently salty, and ideal with seafood. And last, the leading-edge, new Tuscan from Bolgheri, ripe, smooth and elegant, with an unmistakable, cabby French touch.


VALDORCIA, the CRETE, SIENA.
Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano, Siena.


The Crete, or “clays”, are a small valley with rolling hills, celebrated as the “ultimate picturesque” landscape, for its cypress trees, and sheep flocks grazing the fields. Close, and only slightly higher, the Valdorcia with almost mountain style views, is surprisingly the zone where the celebrated Brunello comes from, jointly with its younger brothers, the Orcia and Montecucco wines. We visit the walled San Quirico village, Bagno Vignoni, if you feel like enjoying dipping in a warm thermal pool, and of course, Montalcino, a cosmopolitan, wine lover’s pilgrimage spot, appropriately fashionable ond snob. Nearby we can visit the St. Antimo Abbey, a 1000 years old Romanesque masterpiece, a French cathedral in Italy, where few French monks continue the tradition of the ancient Gregorian chants. Or we can reach Pienza, a miniature jewel of Renaissance city planning, equally famous for its refined, “pecorino” cheeses. Montepulciano is a must, for the velveted, robust Vino Nobile, for its charming old town, up on a steep hill, with amazing views on the Crete and Chiana Valley, and for its ancient undergroud cellars. The old landlords dug them in the tufa rock, the safest place in the whole area, and they aged the wines in huge barrels, which we will see during our unmissable wine tasting in town.On the way north, before reaching Siena, we pause at the Monte Oliveto Maggiore abbey......., is a large red brick monastery, it nestled among steep gullies, in a centenary cypresses park, it conceals the most beautiful Renaissance frescoes cycle, S. Benedict life, painted by Luca Signorelli and Sodoma.

The Wines.
Three wines are made here in particular, full bodied, more perfumed and longer ageing than the Sangiovese made in the rest of the region: the Nobile di Montepulciano wine, since 1500, is celebrated as a rich, oaky, aged wine, it takes its name from the Florentine noble to whom it was sent. In the old cellar, built under a “palazzo”, or a fort, we can possibly find niches, or caves which are older Etruscan tombs. The highlight is, however, Montalcino, the prestigious, dark, full bodied Brunello sanctuary: Sangiovese grosso 100%, 4-5 years aging, low yields, great terroirs and micro climate, big investment and top techniques. Last but not least, - a new appellation - the Montecucco, produced immediately to the south of the Brunello, and recalling its style, with a rich extract, powerful, though with a definitely younger style and affordable prices.


THE CHIANTI HILLS, and VALDELSA.
The Chianti Hills begin few miles to the south of the city, and extend all the way to the  edge of Siena.   Our hotel is strategicall located between the Chianti Classico hills and the Valdelsa.  The Chianti hills boast the most famous, and more idealized Tuscan landscape, scattered with castles, country churches, Renaissance Villas and of the more beautiful stone farmhouses. They also name a celebrated wine, because here is where the rough medieval Sangiovese wine evolved into “Chianti”, and where now dedicated winemakers produce the only, real “Classico”. Travelling among steep valleys, where the vineyards are hidden between the woods, we discover a magic area, inhabited since medieval times. Located between Florence and Siena, the area has long been contended for, which is recorded by the number of dungeons, fortified villages and castles, many of the latter now used as winery or hotels. All these historical buildings records how the earlier feudal lords, while fighting each other, fortified their land, how the rich merchants invested their money, or the Church invested the donations received. In one way, or the other, agricolture and wine-making boast here the oldest traditions here, since this area was naturallly providing food, wine and oil to the rich Florence and Siena markets. We will visit Greve, and Badia a Passignano, between the nicest views and the best wine terroirs.
The next day we’ll visit Volterra and, or San Gimignano. Both nestled on commanding hilltops, the first is well-known for its Etruscan heritage, as well as for the fine alabaster production, while the second for its 14, unique 13th-14th centuries towers.

The wines.
Our first tastings give you and experience of the : Chianti Classico, Riserva, IGT and Vin Santo, the fine, dry dessert wine aged for years. Vernaccia di San Gimignano, likely the best white wine of the region.

RATES.
See our Service - Rates page. Contatc us with your group size, travel dates, and preferences.
We will send you custom pricing.

NEW
Veneto. The Greatest Opera at the Arena di Verona. Late July to Early august.
Veneto Wines, Verdi Classic Opera, Sightseeing.
Verona, Valpolicella, Garda Lake, Euganei Hills. Venice OR Dolomites
Valpolicella & Amarone, Bardolino,Lugana, Prosecco Berici, Euganei Wines.
A summertime only program, this tour focuses on Verona, on the Opera performances held in the Roman amphitheatre, and combines them with our classic wine explorations.Wine tours: Garda Lake, Valpolicella, Euganei hills, and Prosecco-Valdobbiadene valleys, where the top whites, and celebrated, exceptional reds are tasted. Note: the Opera tickets are not included, please find your seats and book them at www.arena.it.Extensions we suggest, at your choice, either 2 days in the cool air and the quiet of the Dolomites, OR a two days full immersion in the art, magic, and crowd of Venice, exploring the little streets, and discovering the best wine bars, before going back home.Highlights.Verona, Valpolicella, Amarone, Garda Lake, Bardolino, and Euganei Wines.Opera: Aida, Barbiere, Nabucco, Traviata, Bohème.Padova, St. Antony Basilica, Prosecco Vineyards, Venetian Villas.Opera: see Program and Prices, and book seats in www.arena.itExtensions.Dolomites: sightseeing, lift to the top, relax or walk as you like.or Venezia: San Marco, Accademia, Guggenheim,.The trip in Brief.In preparationRates.

For minimum 4 members, from € 1600 to € 2,200 per person, depending on the accommodation required, 3 stars hotels, or 4 stars hotels.Inclusions.Lodging, breakfst, one meal, and two wine tastings per day.Private guide all day, transportation. Please ask for more details.Not included: airfare, insurance, opera tickets.

NEW
TUSCANY WINE and YOGA VACATION from July to October
Relax and yoga in the morning, wine tours in the afternoon.
Chianti, Valdelsa, Bolgheri and the Etruscan Coast
Chianti, Vernaccia, Brunello, Bolgheri.
This Villa Le Ginepraie, as you see it in a ultimate scenic countryside, located in the very center of Tuscany, just suggests a classy holiday, in which relax, quiet - and meditation maybe- naturally combine with the classic sightseeing, shopping or cultural trips.Yoga combined with wine tasting is a bit unusual, yet Tuscany is particular and all can be harmonized when you are hereFor yoga and walking lovers, hence, our proposal is simple: let us take care of you for a week, take a deep breath, concentrate on being here, and enjoy Valerio’s yoga class, the finest cuisine of Paola and her friends. And the walks with Nello, aiming to experience the finest landscapes, and to discover their deep character and beauty.Highlights.- Lodge in a picture-perfect Tuscan Villa of 1700, with your private pool.- Start the day with meditation and yoga, enjoy a healthy sattwik breakfsts.- Take off to explore the surroundings on foot, if you wish. - Take half-daytrip to Siena, Volterra or Florence.- Walk in Chianti, Montalcino and the Etruscan coast, and end the day tasting the finest Chianti, Brunello and Bolgheri wines. - Savour our gourmet dinners, or explore the best traditional trattorie with us.The week in brief.Online next week.Inclusions and Rate.7 Days B&B, in a fine stone Tuscan Villa.4 lunches, 4 dinners, 4 winetastings included.Yoga classes in teh morning and, on request, in teh afternoon.Customized itinerary in teh surroundings. Private Guide service, 09:00 am to 06:30 pm, or dinner.€ 250 /person/dayArrival and departure.Suggested arrival airports: Pisa or Florence, or Rome as an aòternative.Contact us for more details.