Have you ever wanted to learn to cook in Italy? To tour the beautiful Tuscan countryside? And return home with recipes handed down over generations and collected by us since 2000? Then join one of our Tuscan cooking vacations in the medieval town of Montefollonico.

Our guests cook together and eat like the locals one day and at Michelin-starred restaurants on another. Tuscan Women Cook is the original total-immersion cooking school in Montefollonico since 2000.

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This one-week, all-inclusive, total immersional cooking school in Tuscany where you will learn to cook with the noone, see the sights of Tuscany through a private tour and taste the Tuscan wine during wine pairings. 

This program is for One (1) person, includes 6 nights accommodation (private room) at l Castagni in Montefollonico, all meals including wine, cooking classes, sightseeing, winery visits and tastings, and visits to local markets and historical towns. We do provide transportation during the week for all activities. Airfare and ground transportation to and from Montefollonico is not included. Offered in mid-May through the end of June, mid-September through the end of October.  ** MUST BE USED BY FALL 2023.**

Indulge yourself in the Tuscan lifestyle and discover the region’s passion for food and wine. The best cooks in all of Tuscany, the local women, teach our classes. They’ll share regional techniques, ingredients, and family recipes that have been passed down over the centuries.

The daily schedule is as follows, super fun:

Sunday (Domenica)—Welcome to Your New Tuscan Home

Arrive. Check-in at the historic l Castagni in the medieval walled village of Montefollonico. We will share antipasti and a glass of Prosecco together before our first dinner tonight at a charming local restaurant. Make a toast to new friends and new flavors. The chef will prepare a delicious Tuscan meal for us to begin our week together. Let the delicious journey begin.

Monday (Lunedi)—Ready, Set, Mangiamo!

Let’s get cooking! Your adventure begins with an interactive travelogue hosted by one of Montefollonico’s esteemed long-time residents. Next, don your apron and get ready to cook with one of our beloved local nonnas who will lead you through the prep of a delicious multi-course luncheon where you’ll master many essential foundational Tuscan cooking techniques.

After this extraordinary lunch, you’ll wind through the historic medieval hilltop village of Pienza (named for the 15th century Pope Pius II) to peruse the galleries of many of the local artisans. You’ll experience firsthand the role pecorino cheese from Pienza plays in the dishes you’ll enjoy at Tuscan Women Cook.

Tonight you’ll dine at the Cantina de La Porta Monticchiello. Our sommelier for the evening will offer carefully curated wine pairings from Montalcino for your sumptuous meal. Mangiamo!

Tuesday (Martedi)—Making Memories with the Bernadinis

Three generations of a Tuscan family will lead our class today at the Bernadini family home and agriturismo called Belaggagio. Grandmother Ada, daughter Antonella and granddaughter Gloria were our very first women cooks in 2000. Additionally, stuffed fried zucchini flowers, the “best ever” pasta al forno (lasagne) and tiramisù will be highlighted today. Squisito! (Yummy!)

This afternoon we visit the medieval hill town of Montepulciano where the famous Vino Nobile wine is produced. One of the most sought-after ceramic shops in southern Tuscany is in our village. We’ll visit artisan Mariella Spinelli at this incredible shop located in our village’s oldest restored and desanctified church.

Dinner will be at the renowned Ristorante La Grotta in Montepulciano, near San Biagio church with the same plan used for the original design by Bramante and Michelangelo for St. Peter’s Basilica.

Wednesday (Mercolodi)—Sensational Siena

Keep your apron in your hotel room. No cooking lessons today. We depart after breakfast for a day of touring Siena. Joining us will be Dottoressa Cristina Amberti (Laurea = Ph.D.), your guide for our day in the beautiful medieval city of Siena, will provide an expert insider’s introduction to Gothic architecture, the famous Piazza del Campo, the history of the contrade, and, of course, the vibrant public markets and culinary traditions.

Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, Siena is a magnificent medieval city that had a huge impact on art, architecture, banking, and urban planning during the Middle Ages in Italy and throughout Europe.

Cristina gives us an exciting insider’s overview before setting us loose at the weekly open air market where shoppers will delight in a dazzling array of booths featuring leather goods, jewelry, clothing, local foods, and artisanal crafts.

After our Siena shopping adventure, Cristina leads us on a memorable tour filled with fascinating information about Siena, past, and present. You’ll enjoy an elegant lunch at Osteria Le Logge, one of Siena’s finest restaurants. After lunch, Cristina leads us on more sightseeing, a welcome opportunity to explore even more of this glorious city.

After a glorious day in Siena, we’ll return to our home base of Montefollonico to dine at Il Botteghino, considered Tuscany’s best pizzeria by the local residents, Chef Danieli creates pizzas from the very best locally grown ingredients and prepares a truly memorable white pizza topped with fresh porcini mushrooms and shaved local truffles that you’ll be craving long after you return home. Mangia!

Thursday (Giovedi)—Pici-licious Pasta and More

Join us for a cappuccino in the village of Montefollonico before this morning’s cooking class at 13 Gobbi. Simonetta and Donatella will teach us today. Cooking class this morning features hand-rolled pici, the delicious eggless pasta that originated in our area of Tuscany. We will also prepare aglione (garlic and tomato) sauce, pollo diavalo, savory grilled fresh vegetables topped with local extra virgin olive oil, and crostata suisina.

Later in the day, we’ll visit the award-winning Cugusi Dairy where sisters Giovanna and Silvana oversee every meticulous step of their handcrafted cheese production. Their sheep graze in carefully tended fields of herbaceous pastures that contribute to the flavor of pecorino cheeses, aged in accordance with local tradition, ensconced in walnut leaves, hay, and ash. You’ll sample slices from many of their most popular wheels and have the opportunity to purchase specially sealed packages to bring home as gifts to your favorite friends. Wedges of Cugusi cheese is one of the most prized purchases amongst our guests!

We’ll sample Cugusi’s award-winning Gran Reserve pecorino in the 750-year-old cantina of local wine master, Vittorio Innocenti, famous for his Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and his award-winning Vin Santo.

Dinner tonight is at another of our wonderful restaurants in Montefollonico, La Botte Piena (“the full barrel”). The Michelin-ranked chefs are affiliated with the Slow Food movement and feature one of the top-ranked Tuscan wine cellars, which they generously share with our guests.

Friday (Venerdi)—The Authentic Classic Dishes and Wines

Today is the final day to learn to prepare authentic classic Tuscan Dishes at Il Covo, with nonna Claudia sharing cherished family recipes, gently guiding you to confidently knead, roll and shape fresh pasta. In the afternoon we head to the gorgeous Andreucci winery with an al fresco cooking class taught by nonna Lorella and Lara. We will pair our final meal together with their award-winning Super Tuscans and outstanding whites, in an evening of generous wine tastings, hosted by owner Flavio Andreucci of Tenimenti Andreucci Winery.

Back to our home base of Montefollonico, the best pizza is featured for our final dinner together. Local favorites, along with a pizza created exclusively for our guests, is baked to perfection by pizza chef Danieli in his hand-built pizza oven. The white pizza topped with fresh porcini mushrooms and shaved truffles is one of our favorites. Mangia!

Saturday (Sabato)—Ciao! Ci vediamo qui presto!

Visit https://www.tuscanwomencook.com/weekly-culinary-programs/ for more information about the wonderful stops each day and about this amazing, fabulous Tuscan trip...avventura vi aspetta!