Wine Tour in Chianti Rufina

"Tuscany today makes some of the world's most original and resounding red wines, and serves them with deeply satisfying vernacular food..."
Hugh Johnson "Tuscany and its wines"

Rising above the Arno and Sieve valleys, we are in the Mugello, which includes the wine zones of Chianti Rufina and Pomino. The Mugello was one of the main summer retreats for wealthy Florentines for many centuries who came to enjoy the relatively cool climate, which also results in wines that are austere and structured. The wines can be very intense and vibrant and some are wonderfully perfumed; they are, above all, elegant and remarkably long-lived.

Pomino is one of the smallest DOC zones located in its own hill valley high above Rufina. Yet, it deserves its special status, not simply because it was singled out in Cosimo III de Medici¹s grand-ducal decree of 1716, but because it has for many years produced wines with their own distinct character.

The proposed Wine Tour is arranged by a local resident, Martyn Lewis who is English and living here in the heart of Chianti Rufina. His programme is based on a personally conducted full or half days guided tour including transportation. The tour takes in the lovely countryside and visits and wine tastings at three of the very best wineries. Lunch is usually at the magnificant Villa Poggio Reale which was built to a design done by Michelangelo. It now houses the Chianti Rufina wine museum and an Enoteca (wine bar) where lunch is enjoyed, with further sampling of the many other wines produced in our region. Martyn is happy to take parties from 2 to 20 people around our special wine corner of Tuscany. Please ask for further details.

Cookery Lessons

The cooking lesson and lunch takes place in a beautiful Tuscan countryside just 15km from Florence and a short drive from La Doccia, this characteristic farmhouse has all the charms of a medieval kitchen, wooden beams, terracotta floors and open fireplace - an ideal setting to enjoy an authentic Tuscan cooking experience.

Maria, your host and cook, will introduce you to traditional country recipes using fresh ingredients and herbs from her vegetable garden and her own olive oil from the surrounding olive groves. You can join in the preparation of a four course lunch or dinner learning the secrets of local dishes and then dine al fresco in the garden accompanied by a few glasses of Chianti wine and stimulating conversation. Tuscan bread, wine and fruit are also included in the lunch. There are a number of different menus you can choose from to cook.

Price per person: €85.00 Special gift of an apron and recipe notebook for each participant.

Language spoken: English

Duration: Cooking time 2 ½ hours, dining together 1 hour.

Dinner guests not participating in the lesson €30.00.

Please email for further details.

Vineyard tour and Cooking Lesson at Selvapiana

Starting at 10.30, every weekday morning from March to December, Selvapiana conduct a wine tour of their vineyards and cellar followed by a cooking class, lunch and wine tasting.

Firstly you will be taken around some of the historic estates 135 acres of vineyards, where wine has been made for centuries. This will be followed by a tour around the wine cellars in the tower which dates back to the fourteenth century. The cooking lesson focuses on a choice of three types of cuisine, Tuscan cooking, traditional Italian and vegetarian. After preparing the meal you will be able to enjoy your cooking, in the large hall, with a selection of wines from the estate.

The day is for a maximum of 6-8 people and the Selvapiana estate are very flexible, please email us for details.

Fashion Shopping at the Mall and lunch or dinner at the Dot.com Restaurant

About twenty five minutes away is The Mall at Leccio

Retailers include: Agnona, Bottega Veneta, Emanuel Ungaro, Ermenegildo Zegna, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hogan, La Perla, Loro Piana, Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Yves Saint Laurent, Tod's, Valentino. Close by is the outlet for Fendi.

Located at The Mall is the Dot.Com restaurant, caffè and wine bar. The cafè-wine bar offers an excellent range of light refreshments whilst the restaurant has a mouth watering menu of modern Tuscan and Italian dishes prepared to the highest standards. The restaurant (0558657876) is open until 10pm.

We suggest either a morning drive plus a light lunch in the cafè or a late afternoon visit with dinner in the restaurant.

From La Doccia, drive down to Paterno, then cross over the road following sign for Carbonile. This is a pretty drive through extensive olive groves down to the S69. Turn left onto the S69 and proceed south until you get to The Mall which is on your right at the first roundabout you come to. Fendi is a little further along the S69 also on your right

The Mall
Information: Tel. 055 8657775
Open from Monday to Saturday 9.30-13.00 / 13.30-18.30
Sunday 14.30-18.30

Fendi
Information: Tel. 055 834981
Open: from Monday to Saturday 9.30-18.30
Sunday 14.30-18.30

Mountain Biking in Tuscany

We are surrounded by both tarmac roads and white roads that are ideal for mountain biking, we can advise on short trips up to Vallombrosa Monastery and the Consuma pass or longer trips around the Pratomagno mountains or into the Casentino valley.

Tariffs:

Up to 3 days: €16 per day

3 to 7 days: €13 per day

7 days or more: €9 per day

Please let us know in advance and in particular we need to knowhow tall each person is, email Rupert for more details and to book.

Coming Soon - Cricket in Tuscany!

The Mall
Information: Tel. 055 8657775
Open from Monday to Saturday 9.30-13.00 / 13.30-18.30
Sunday 14.30-18.30

FENDI
Information: Tel. 055 834981
Open: from Monday to Saturday 9.30-18.30
Sunday 14.30-18.30