Villages of Tuscany
5 nights & 4 Days
From Montepulciano to the celebrated Chianti territory, Tuscany's gorgeous hilltop towns are the perfect backdrop for this wonderful gastronomic tour to discover the region’s unique flavours and excellent wines. Cultural sightseeing is matched with superb wine tastings, visits to artisanal food producers, and the precious culinary tips of a local chef.
Roberto Da Frassini
Oenololgist
Roberto is a professional oenologist with extensive experience working in prestigious wineries. He has always believed in the production of wines with an identity, which is possible by leveraging what makes each blend a unique product: the character of its terroir, the unique characteristics of the grape and vineyard management practices defined by soil and climate.
Day 1 - Arrival
Welcome to Montepulciano! You will be welcomed at Villa Svetoni, a magnificent wine resort in the enchanting Tuscan countryside, where you’ll enjoy a welcome aperitif followed by a delightful dinner paired with local wines.
Overnight at Villa Svetoni
Day 2 - Cheese, wine & postcard perfect villages
After a leisurely breakfast, your Tuscan adventure begins with a visit to the enchanting little town of Pienza, where you’ll have time to soak up the unique atmosphere and taste some pecorino cheese, the local speciality. Lunch will be a delightful tasting session of Tuscan wines and regional delicacies at Casanova di Neri winery, followed by a stroll through the scenic streets of Montalcino. The next stop is Montepulciano, the pearl of the Renaissance and the birthplace of the famous Vino Nobile blend. Other great wines will await you for tasting at the Vecchia Cantina cooperative before travelling back to the hotel.
Overnight at Villa Svetoni
Day 3 - Siena and more wine
This morning you’ll spend time in Siena, one of the region’s most beautiful towns. Here you’ll embark on a privately guided exploration of its many artistic and architectural treasures, including the stunning shell-shaped piazza. You’ll also learn about the famous Palio horse race and what it means for the town’s 17 contrade (districts). Before returning to the hotel for some downtime, you’ll take a leisurely drive over the splendid hills of Chianti and stop at Felsina winery to taste their highly-regarded blends.
Overnight at Villa Svetoni
Day 4 - Cooking class and relax
After breakfast, you’ll take part in a hands-on cooking class to learn all the tricks behind some Tuscan classics, which you’ll then be able to recreate back home. When the clock strikes lunch time, you can sit back and enjoy your culinary creations paired with local wines. The rest of the day is free for leisure and relaxation at the hotel’s wellness center and beautiful outdoor pool.
Overnight at Villa Svetoni
Day 5 - Departure
Time to say goodbye and see you soon for your next trip!
Postcards
Discover some of the most remarkable wineries, farms, villages and restaurants you will touch during this journey.
Villa Svetoni
Villa Svetoni is a beautiful wine resort skirting 26 hectares of vineyards and olive groves amid the enchanting Tuscan countryside, between the Valdichiana and the Val d’Orcia. With a history that goes back to the early 19th century, when it was first built for the Grand Duke of Tuscany, today the Villa is the ideal location for a relaxing stay that combines comfort, beautiful sceneries and great food accompanied by the excellent wines produced on site. Available to guests are a wellness center and a swimming pool immersed in the olive grove.
Casanova di Neri Winery
Founded by Giovanni Neri family in 1971, Casanova di Neri is a family-run winery renowned for its excellent Brunello di Montalcino, made with Sangiovese grapes that are carefully selected from the estate’s seven vineyards. The cellar is particularly atmospheric, as it’s built almost entirely into the hillside, thus ensuring naturally regulated temperatures and humidity levels.
Montalcino
Famous for being the birthplace of the prized Brunello di Montalcino wine, Montalcino is a medieval walled village sitting atop a hill in the scenic Val d’Orcia. Its idyllic historic centre is a joy to explore, brimming with scenic alleys, fantastic wine-tasting opportunities, and splendid centuries-old buildings, including a grandiose 14th-century fortress with panoramic towers.
Montepulciano
The splendid medieval town of Montepulciano is home to the prestigious red wine Vino Nobile. Its charming cobblestone streets, which lead to enchanting squares and hidden corners full of beauty and history, are lined with elegant palaces, ancient churches, and picturesque wineries, while its position high atop a hill offers uninterrupted views over the beautiful Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana valleys.
Vecchia Cantina
Founded in 1937 by a group of pioneering winemakers, Vecchia Cantina is a cooperative located in Montepulciano and produces a wide variety of wines, with the most important blend being the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG. It boasts two splendid barrel cellars, one of which is the biggest in Tuscany, covering an area of 2800 square meters where wine is aged in 250 Slovakian oak barrels.
Pienza
Pienza is a beautiful little town that represents a splendid example of Renaissance architecture, since it was built in the 15th century according to humanist urban planning principles. The town's historic centre, with its honey coloured stone buildings and picturesque streets dotted with cheese shops, is a Unesco World Heritage site.
Pecorino di Pienza Cheese
Pecorino di Pienza is a dairy delicacy typical of this area of Tuscany. It’s a tasty sheep cheese with a distinctive Sardinian imprint. In fact, its unique flavour results from the unique combination of the milk produced by a Sardinian breed of sheep (in the past, many Sadinian farmers migrated to Tuscany with their sheep) and the clayey soils of Val d'Orcia where they graze.
Chianti
Stretching between Florence and Siena, Chianti is one of Italy’s most prestigious wine districts. Wine has been produced here since the Etruscans and today its red blends are enogastronomic treasures. What’s more, driving along Chianti’s gorgeous country roads is a visual treat, with miles of splendid vineyards, olive groves, sunflower fields, and fairytale hilltop villages.
Felsina
Felsina is a family-run winery located in Castelnuovo Berardenga, right on the southeast edge of the Chianti Classico district. Comprising about 500 hectares of land cultivated organically with vineyards and olive trees, the estate produces highly-regarded Chianti Classico wine made with 100% Sangiovese grapes.
Siena
Siena is one of the prettiest towns in Tuscany, famous for its historic Palio horse race. It’s home to one of Italy’s most beautiful squares, Piazza del Campo, a large shell-shaped square overlooked by the 102-meter Torre del Mangia. And from impressive Gothic architecture and extraordinary artworks to elegant palazzi and historic contrade, there’s a lot to explore along it.