Who doesn’t love traveling? Let alone through one of the most delicious and visually stunning places in Europe? Below is a 5-day sojourn through the Chianti region of Tuscany shot on assignment for a travel company. From cooking classes to private villas, you can’t beat this life. Buon Appetito!
Panzano in Chianti, Tuscany
The view from Castella Brolio.
Simple, flavorful homemade pasta with hand-picked porcini mushrooms in a pepper and basil ragu.
Homebase. Villa Quercento, a 7-bedroom rustic Tuscan villa.
Miniature Olive Trees.
Classic Tuscany, Cypress Tree -lined driveway
Private wine-tasting for 5
Medieval Castles make for fun afternoon tours followed by wine tastings.
Built in 1172, this classic village of Volpaia is the epitome of Florentine meets Sienese medieval architecture
The crown jewel of Volpaia, the church now deconsecrated, was once the home of a crusading Knight.
Breakfast, nocciolo.
More breakfast in the cafe in Volpaia
Chianti Classico is poured freely outside Officine della Bistecca, possibly the best restaurant in Panzano and home to Chef Dario Cecchini, a mentor to the famous American-Italian chef, Mario Batali.
Chef Dario, known as the “Crazy Butcher” for his vibrant table-side cooking, stands for a portrait inside his restaurant’s private meat locker.
Dinner & a show with Chef Dario and his famous grilled Tuscan beef.
One of Chef Dario’s dishes.
Another successful dinner “To Beef or Not to Beef!”
Side trip to historic Siena on the south end of the Chianti region.
Siena, Italy
Another side trip to the famous leaning tower, Pisa.
Cooking classes at Volpaia
Tools of a Tuscan Kitchen
Crafting the perfect pizza dough
The finishing touches with local made mozzarella and tomato sauce
Cooking class with the proprietor of Volpaia
Fine breads to be fried
Salt in Bocca
After cooking, we must eat our labors!
Spaghettiit con Puttanesca
Mini pizzas and focaccia
Italian espresso before a stroll through the gardens
A post lunch stroll to the garden and pool overlooking the Chianti hillsides
Homemade cheese from sheep milk
Room full of cheese
Cheese and wine samples, of course.
Chianti Classico, classically.
Rose wines have become “molto in.”
Rose’s paired perfectly with Italian sheep milk cheeses
A mellow drive back through the meandering dirt roads of Tuscany.
Frame after frame… really nice work, Ian!
I want to go there.
great images! make the rest of us line up to sign up