Travel to Tuscany
If you’re planning to visit Tuscany this year, I’d love to invite you to join one of my tours. My husband Arnaud and I would be delighted to welcome you in the place where we call home, a little corner of Tuscany where the luxury of everyday life lies in simple things. Good food, exceptional wines, ancient culture, rolling hills, a community of friends and local connections. Here, life moves at a slower pace, with sunny days graced by the Mediterranean’s warm influence. You’ll be traveling along with us and have the opportunity to gain insights into the history, culture, and traditions from true insiders. We have four spots left for a special tour from April 8–12, designed to immerse you in the history and passion that define the Bolgheri’s wine culture. Highlights include exclusive visits to: Grattamacco Wine Estate: A pioneer in the Bolgheri appellation, Grattamacco is celebrated for being one of the first winery to experiment with French grapes in Bolgheri, crafting elegant and balanced wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region. Ornellaia Wine Estate: A globally renowned winery known for its meticulous attention to detail and artistry in producing some of the world’s most iconic wines. During these visits, you’ll not only taste their exceptional wines but also: Explore historical vineyards that tell the story of Bolgheri’s winemaking legacy. Visit their barrique cellar, where French oak barrels age and preserve the wines, allowing them to develop complexity and depth. Gain insight into the entire winemaking process—from grape to glass—and discover how individual components are blended to create these extraordinary wines. Clik here and get in touch with me if you want to join. Throughout your stay, we’ll wander the cobblestone streets of medieval villages, meet local producers, visit a cheese farm, and savor the best cuisine of our favorite restaurants. We’ll cook and share two meals…
Most wine lovers know Sassicaia today, but do you know its vineyards have very young roots? Although wine has been part of Italian culture since ancient times, Bolgheri, a small hamlet located between the Mediterranean sea and rolling hills, was just the land of very ordinary wines. To make a long story short, the passion and the intuition of one man changed the destiny of this region in a few short decades: the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, Countess Clarice della Gherardesca’s husband. 1940s: the beginning of the story During the 1920s, while pursuing an agricultural degree in Pisa, the Marquis, born from a Piedmontese family and a passionate admirer of French grape varieties, had a dream to create a great wine from Tuscany. Inspired by the similarity in microclimate between Bolgheri and the Graves area in Bordeaux, France, he found the perfect spot on the Etruscan Coast. In the 1940s, at an altitude of 393 meters on the slopes of Castiglioncello di Bolgheri, a family's remote fortress, he planted the first Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Tenuta dei Duchi Salviati in Migliarino. Castiglioncello di Bolgheri is still a private castle that still belongs to the Della Gherardesca family. Once a year, on the 16th of July, it’s open to the public in the occasion of Festa della Madonna del Carmine. Sassicaia, the land of many stones He christened his wine “Sassicaia”, meaning land of many stones (sasso in Italian is stone), after the rocky soil where the vines are planted on 'la via Bolgherese'. From 1948 to 1967, Sassicaia was only produced for family and private use. The Marquis soon discovered that his wine was greatly enhanced by aging. His friends and family encouraged him to continue his experiments and to perfect his winemaking style for this region....
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I hope you had a peaceful Christmas and are gracefully stepping into the new year. Quick check-in to see if you’d like to join our May 8 – May 12, 2024 Food & Wine Trip to explore the Etruscan Coast of Tuscany, facing the Mediterranean and renowned for its Super Tuscan wines. Yes, Tuscany has a beautiful coast! April is fully booked, but we have spots available in May. Interested? Just to remind you, our Food & Wine Trip is a 5-day all-inclusive experience and we’ll provide you with a full immersion into Tuscan culture, wine and cuisine. You’ll be traveling along with us and have the opportunity to gain insights into the history, culture, and traditions from true insiders. The most exciting part for me is the to cook together in my home kitchen, making handmade pasta, meatballs and other delicious recipes! In case you missed, you can review the itinerary here On the hills of Castagneto, exploring wineries and vineyards. Here are some trip highlights: Cook authentic Italian recipes with me in my home kitchen. Taste world-class wines from some of the top-producing vineyards in the world. Explore beautiful medieval villages, meet local artisans, people, winemakers, with whom we have become friends over the years. Dine at my favorite local restaurants and wine bars, tasting the best of Tuscany’s world-class cuisine. Group size will be a maximum of 8 people. We’re close to Rome, Florence, and Siena, easily accessible by car or train. Our small-group trips fill up fast, so let us know soon. For more info or questions, reply to this email! Love from Tuscany, Chicca & Arnaud
Discover three unique experiences in Tuscany tailored for every traveler! As we bid farewell to our final visitors of the season, we're already setting our sights on next year's adventures. For the upcoming year we've carefully considered three unique ways for you to join us on the stunning Tuscan Coast ensuring there's an option for every traveler. Wondering Where in Tuscany? If you come to visit us, you'll explore the Castagneto Carducci - Bolgheri region, a hidden gem of Tuscany. Nestled along the Mediterranean coast, this area is renowned for its Super Tuscan wines. While Bolgheri is not very well known as a travel destination, its name shines in the constellation of world-famous wines, such as Sassicaia and Ornellaia. The American magazine Wine Spectator awarded the title of "Best Wine in the World" to these two Super Tuscan wines on separate occasions. In 2001, the honor went to 1998 Ornellaia, and in 2018, the 2015 Sassicaia claimed this prestigious accolade. This is the place where we've chosen to make our home, so you'll experience this part Tuscany through the eyes of those who know and love it best. Good food, great wines, rich culture, unexplored hills, sandy beaches, great biking roads, a community of friends and local connections, slow pace living, and sunny days for most of the year thanks to the proximity to the Mediterranean. The luxury of everyday life resides in simple things, the simple pleasures that we're excited to share with you. Discover 3 unique ways to visit Tuscany with us1. Food & Wine Trips, a 5-day all-inclusive experience If you're seeking an in-depth immersion into Tuscan culture, wine and cuisine, this is the trip for you. We're thrilled to announce that the dates for 2024 are now available! We will be offering four exciting all-inclusive trips, with two in the...
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If there is a name to which Bolgheri owes its fame, it is Ornellaia Vinyard, one of the world’s iconic wine estates. Located on Via Bolgherese, 5 km from our property, this pioneer establishment continues to mark the history of great wines. Let’s discover it together! Why we are proud to bring our guests to Ornellaia Winery! We’ve chosen to settle in this little corner of Tuscany, where the luxury of everyday life resides in simple things, the beauty of life is found in the small pleasures of everyday. Good food, great wines, ancient culture, unexplored hills, a community of friends and local connections, a slow pace of living, and sunny days for most of the year thanks to the proximity to the Mediterranean. Although Bolgheri is not very well known as a travel destination, its name shines among the starred wines in the world such as Sassicaia and Ornellaia, the famous Super Tuscan wines. When we moved under the Tuscan sun, over 20 years ago, we found out that Bolgheri is not only a hidden gem on the Tuscan coast but a 5-star paradise for wine lovers. Our home is very close to these famous vineyards, as we live on The Wine Road which leads to Bolgheri. Ornellaia, just a few km from our property, is certainly one of the most renowned and highly acclaimed wineries in Italy, and I am always thrilled and proud to give my guests a tour of Ornellaia, as it’s a confirmation of the great reputation our region has for producing world-class wines. During a visit, our guests have the opportunity to learn about the winery’s history and winemaking process, as well as to taste and purchase some of their finest wines. They will also get to explore the beautiful estate, take in the...
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