Recommendations for Private Wine Tour Chianti; Cooking Class Tuscany; Guide in Rome
Mar 29th, 2008, 04:59 PM
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Recommendations for Private Wine Tour Chianti; Cooking Class Tuscany; Guide in Rome
Hello,
Leaving for 1st trip to Italy in early May with group of 7 (family-all adults). We would like to arrange a private tour for wine tasting ( including a driver) in Chianti; a 1 day cooking class in Tuscany; and a private tour for main sites in Rome. Any recommendations? With the recent news of the dollar losing it's value; we would be open to more economical options as well. Many thanks!
Leaving for 1st trip to Italy in early May with group of 7 (family-all adults). We would like to arrange a private tour for wine tasting ( including a driver) in Chianti; a 1 day cooking class in Tuscany; and a private tour for main sites in Rome. Any recommendations? With the recent news of the dollar losing it's value; we would be open to more economical options as well. Many thanks!
Mar 29th, 2008, 05:21 PM
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I often recommend www.accidentaltourist.com simply because their full day Cooking Class and winery/olive oil tour was the highlight of our time in Florence. Very reasonable cost. It is not an intensive cooking class though, if that is what you are looking for.
Mar 29th, 2008, 08:54 PM
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I can highly recommend Luca Garrapa for your private tour in Chianti. Put his name in the "search" function on this board and see how many recommendations he gets.
He is easy going, pleasant, a good driver and excellent guide. He lives in the Siena area and knows his country well. He drives a 9-seater van so you will all be comfortable in it.
His web site is www.hillsandroads.com. But he is quite popular so may already be booked for your dates. Let me know if you have any other specific questions I can help you with.
He is easy going, pleasant, a good driver and excellent guide. He lives in the Siena area and knows his country well. He drives a 9-seater van so you will all be comfortable in it.
His web site is www.hillsandroads.com. But he is quite popular so may already be booked for your dates. Let me know if you have any other specific questions I can help you with.
Mar 30th, 2008, 08:23 AM
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Thank you both for your responses. We are looking for some special experiences that are a little off the beaten path.
Some more details: We are staying in an agriturismo near San Gimignano for our base during the majority of the trip. We have rented a van though we all enjoy good food and wine and so that is why we are interested in the cooking class and wine tour with a designated driver. Having traveled in the area what are your don't miss cities in Tuscany? Any favorite restaurants?
Several of us are seniors not used to walking great distances, thus the guide in Rome. We have reserved a hotel near the Spanish Steps. Any other advice? Grazie!
Some more details: We are staying in an agriturismo near San Gimignano for our base during the majority of the trip. We have rented a van though we all enjoy good food and wine and so that is why we are interested in the cooking class and wine tour with a designated driver. Having traveled in the area what are your don't miss cities in Tuscany? Any favorite restaurants?
Several of us are seniors not used to walking great distances, thus the guide in Rome. We have reserved a hotel near the Spanish Steps. Any other advice? Grazie!
Mar 30th, 2008, 10:22 AM
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I can highly recommend Giulia Bernardini, who has also been referred to on previous Fodors posts for custom touring in Italy. She is an Italian-American roman native now living in US, but spends her summers in Italy. She is an art history professor and actress, so she combines many talents to give lively fantastic tours. She can be contacted at [email protected] or [email protected]. Best of luck!
Mar 30th, 2008, 11:22 AM
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Private wine tours tend to be fairly expensive, but my recommendation is Angela, a qualified Sommelier, who does several excellent Tuscany wine tours for groups of up to 7-8: http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/angela.htm For cooking lessons, we found it economical and enjoyable to have the chef/teacher come to our agritourism so that we could eat the products of our labours and not have to think about driving afterwards: http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/elisa.htm
Mar 30th, 2008, 11:01 PM
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I have travelled extensively in Tuscany and it is gorgeous at every corner. There are no "not-to-be-missed" villages in my opinion because everywhere you turn, even by accident if you miss an exit or something, you will be WOW-ed. That is what we feel at least.
Having said that, I believe the more gorgeous area is the Southern Tuscany area, or the Val d'Orcia (as opposed to, for instance, the Chianti region, which is beautiful as well). This includes many beautiful, quaint, atmospheric and serene villages. We spent an entire week in Montalcino and from there took day trips by car to other villages.
Favorite restaurants include :
Grappolo Blu in Montalcino
La Latte Luna (I think that is what it is called) in Pienza
However, we have also found that asking the locals, including your hosts at the agriturismo, for a real family-type traditional place where the Italians eat, has never been disappointing.
Also, since you will have a car, you can go to the COOP and pick up some cheese, wine, great breads and make a better picnic than anything available anywhere!!
Enjoy !!
P.S. I think others will agree that the Spanish Steps is not the best area for touring Rome. Not that it is a bad area in terms of neighborhood (quite the contrary as all the high-end fashion shops are congregated there). But the Pantheon/Piazza Navona area is more suited for being close to areas and sites you would visit and it is more lively and fun.
Having said that, I believe the more gorgeous area is the Southern Tuscany area, or the Val d'Orcia (as opposed to, for instance, the Chianti region, which is beautiful as well). This includes many beautiful, quaint, atmospheric and serene villages. We spent an entire week in Montalcino and from there took day trips by car to other villages.
Favorite restaurants include :
Grappolo Blu in Montalcino
La Latte Luna (I think that is what it is called) in Pienza
However, we have also found that asking the locals, including your hosts at the agriturismo, for a real family-type traditional place where the Italians eat, has never been disappointing.
Also, since you will have a car, you can go to the COOP and pick up some cheese, wine, great breads and make a better picnic than anything available anywhere!!
Enjoy !!
P.S. I think others will agree that the Spanish Steps is not the best area for touring Rome. Not that it is a bad area in terms of neighborhood (quite the contrary as all the high-end fashion shops are congregated there). But the Pantheon/Piazza Navona area is more suited for being close to areas and sites you would visit and it is more lively and fun.
Apr 2nd, 2008, 02:40 AM
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I recommend you Toscana Mia www.welcometuscany.com. They have cooking classes and wine tour in Chianti
Apr 2nd, 2008, 09:05 AM
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I cannot begin to thank you all enough for the wonderful advice. So far, I have been in touch with Giulia & Luca. It makes the anticipation of the trip that much more exciting. I am sure other questions will follow. Now off to plan a loose itinerary! 
Apr 2nd, 2008, 11:48 AM
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I just did a week-long cooking school outside of Florence. I had done a one day class there a couple of years ago and loved it, so I went back! I just made the risotta at home yesterday...yum!!
During the week, they arranged all sorts of tours, including a great winery visit in Chianti.
I highly recommend them. They have several apartments available for rent, and are just a short walk from the train station in Signa, which is a 10 minute ride to Florence.
Villa Pandalfini is beautiful, and the owners are wonderful hosts!
www.tuscany-cooking-class.com
Anne
During the week, they arranged all sorts of tours, including a great winery visit in Chianti.
I highly recommend them. They have several apartments available for rent, and are just a short walk from the train station in Signa, which is a 10 minute ride to Florence.
Villa Pandalfini is beautiful, and the owners are wonderful hosts!
www.tuscany-cooking-class.com
Anne
Apr 12th, 2008, 03:14 AM
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I wanted to share our experiences from our recent trip to Tuscany.
In Florence we had a wonderful wine tour with Rebecca of Tuscan Wine Tours who also has a delicious video blog: http://tuscan-wine-tours.blogspot.com
In Rome we did an amazing cooking class with Diane http://www.italiangourmet.com/
I can recommend both Rebecca and Diane warmly - they made our trip extra special.
In Florence we had a wonderful wine tour with Rebecca of Tuscan Wine Tours who also has a delicious video blog: http://tuscan-wine-tours.blogspot.com
In Rome we did an amazing cooking class with Diane http://www.italiangourmet.com/
I can recommend both Rebecca and Diane warmly - they made our trip extra special.
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