Enogastronomy and tastes of Tuscany : culinary vacation, cooking classes, wine & oil tours, special tastings

Chianti classico

The most important areas which we suggest for a stay with daily biking trips are the Chianti, famous in the world over for its excellent CHIANTI CLASSICO wine. The territory of Chianti is situated in the centre of Tuscany, between Florence and Siena. The Chianti landscape is characterised by a continues alternation of valleys and gentle hills cloaked in vines and olives, but also of harsh peaks covered in woods of oaks, cypresses and pines. The entire area is scattered with ancient hamlets, churches and abbeys, castles and fortresses, farmhouses and villas.

Chianti has extraordinary natural beauty, its air and streams are unpolluted. Oak and chestnut woods, cypress and pine trees are interspersed with carefully tended vineyards and olive groves which produce some of the world's finest wines and extra-virgin olive oil. Immersed in this enchanting landscape one feels an incredible sense of well-being: together with the tasting of the local gastronomy, biking and hiking are certainly the best way to relax in these places.

Chianti is mostly hilly, with altitudes not exceeding 500-600 metres, with the exception of Monte S. Michele which is 892m. We will study the itineraries according if you like half day of full day riding and riding difficulty/bikers level.

Best Time to travel there is May, June, September, early October. During September/early October the landscape colours and light are extraordinary. During this wonderful harvest time guests would enjoy seeing this particular atmosphere and temperatures in these months range between 25 - 30°C.

We suggest to add some entertainments such as:

• visit at a typical winery for wine cellars visit, picnic with the local specialties: cheese, olives, ham, salami, bread etc.,

• typical lunch and cooking lessons,

• visit at local gastronomy makers (famous butcher, producer of the Tuscan Salami, Ham etc, famous baker producer of Tuscan cakes, fine chocolates producer..)

• active partecipation to a grape or olive harvest

• visit at typical handicrafts workshops (es. Ceramics or Terracotta)

• historical visit of typical villages (Greve in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Radda ..) and to parish churches

• private violine concert in charming little churches, music entertainmentcreative painting competition (as a surprise en route) or other local handicraft related activities.