Join our Family

Discover the true Italy that so few fully experience. Live the passion for Italian country cooking and wine that is at the heart of Tuscan and Umbrian life in Italy.

Our all-inclusive culinary and wine adventures bring you the magical experience of Italian culture like no other. Each vacation is a unique experience with a balance of cooking classes, culinary and wine excursions, and sightseeing. Recharge for a week with us as you make some of the most enduring and fantastic memories your lifetime.

Click here to view a video montage from our 2007 tours.

Click here to see a sample itinerary - (and another) - (and another)

Tuscan and Umbrian Country Cooking

Our classes take place in the country kitchen of our beautifuly restored 18th century ‘Villa Eddarella’, in the gorgeous rolling hills of Soriano nel Cimino. We will learn classic Tuscany and Umbria cooking from local women who teach you recipes that have been passed down through the generations. Our recipes are all true home cooking, and everything is done by hand, from scratch. There are no 'demonstrations' here. You will be involved one hundred percent, so be ready to get that apron on and go wrist-deep in dough as we explore the art of cooking in the Italian countryside.

During our time together, we we have various classes that teach you to make dishes like homemade Fettuccine, Gnocchi and Lasagna… all from scratch, and only with the freshest ingredients from local farms. We learn to make fresh ricotta cheese, amazing desserts like Tiramisu, our own family recipe for Limoncello, traditional Italian Biscotti, and more.

Come with us to the home of local farmers who will show us their private vineyards and olive orchard while we fire up their old stone oven for the amazing country wood-fired pizza class - a night of fun, laughter, home-style wine, and pizza like you have never experienced.

The experience of our cooking classes is as much about fun and friends as they are about the food. They are small and personal in nature with a maximum of 8 guests per week. You will quickly make new lifelong friends as we cook and laugh together in this enchanting country Italian setting.

The Culinary Outings

Soriano is just a few miles from some of Tuscany and Umbria’s most treasured culinary hotspots, yet only an hour from Rome… and we take advantage of it with our new friends.

Wine lovers will fall in love with our vineyard tours of Tuscany's sounthern Chianti region as we visit Montepulciano (famous for its Vino Nobile), Montalciano (famous for Brunello -- Considered among Italy's best reds), just to name a few. You will discover some of Umbria’s best wines with visits to the enchanting hilltowns of Orvieto and Montefalco.

During our outings we often make stops in some of Umbria and Tuscany's best olive mills, where we will sample olive oil while we discover the milling process. We'll visit cheese factories in the hills of Tuscany where we will experience dozens of varieties of fantastic cheese.

Should you visit us in late September, we will be there to not only watch, but take part in the wine harvest, where you will not only learn how wine is made, but take home bottles of of the ine you made with your own hand. Click here to watch a video of us making wine in 2007!

Should you visit us in late November, take part in the Olive harvest with us, and take home your own olive oil.

The Sightseeing

We offer several itineraries, each uniquely designed to fit either the desires of first-time visitors, seasoned Italy regulars, culinary travelers, and even explorers.

The first-timers will appreciate our itineraries that mix in time for places like ancient Rome, The Vatican, Florence and Pisa. The seasoned regulars will discover some of Italy’s most spectacular hidden treasures. For the explorer at heart, we offer day trips to Italy’s most breathtaking Etruscan and Roman archeological finds, and even a full week focused on the Etruscans. For the nature lovers, we offer hikes to medieval ruins, Porcini hunting, beautiful lakes and waterfalls. If you are looking for the most unique of vacations, come take part with us in the wine or olive harvest.

First-Class Accomodations

As our guest, you will have your own private village home nestled in the medieval quarter of Soriano nel Cimino, just below the 11th century castle that was once the Pope's summer home. Or, if you prefer, you can choose a country setting in an absolutely stunning bed and breakfast. Our village homes are absolutely beautiful, comfortable and luxurious. Each offers all modern conveniences, such as air conditioning, dedicated broadband wireless internet, a dedicated computer so you don't have to bring a laptop, satellite television with a large selection of English channels, DVD player, American coffee machine, Cappuccino machine, and much more. Of course, each of the lodging opportunities has complete private facilities.

Shopping

For the shop-till-you-drop crowd, we are in ‘get up and go’ distance from Central Rome’s best shopping, Florence, Deruta, and so much more.

The Cultural Experience

Soriano is right there at the heart of it all, yet is still unspoiled by the ravages of mass tourism. It is a place where the local shopkeepers still sell local produce, and the villagers still smile and greet you as they open their hearts to you.

You won’t find rows of stores selling trinkets and plastic snow globes. Instead, you will live the real Italian village life.

Let yourself go, and before you know it you will be on a first-name basis with the local butcher, and feel truly at home. This is the most common theme with our guests. They tell us that while they venture away from Soriano on excursions, upon their return, they always feel like they are coming home… a sense of belonging.

There is a certain magic about Soriano nel Cimino that can only be experienced. Words cannot describe it.

Truly All-Inclusive

Our full tours are truly all-inclusive in nature. We'll pick you up from the Rome airport, cruise terminal, or train station, and from that point forward, all meals, all transportation, all tours, all expenses... everything is on us. The only thing you will pay for is airfare , personal expenses and any gifts you may wish to bring home. When it is time to say goodbye, we will take you back to the airport, cruise terminal, or train station. There are no surprises, and no hidden costs. Click here for a full breakdown of prices and what's included.