Food & Wine
A Unique Culinary Experience
Italy has long been considered one of the healthiest nations on earth. In fact, Italians live on average nearly five years longer than Americans, and Tuscany, in particular, is one of the healthiest regions in Italy. One of the secrets to their well-being? Food. Tuscan food is both simple and sophisticated, using a select few ingredients to produce a wide variety of fresh, nutritious dishes. The primary focus of the Mediterranean diet is the consumption of natural, locally sourced, and unprocessed ingredients: Olive oil, plenty of vegetables and fruits, healthy carbs, and a relatively low intake of non-fish meats and animal fats make the Mediterranean diet among the healthiest in the world.
Italian culture is about balance, and food is no exception. Unlike other wellness and yoga retreats, you won’t find us cutting foods, counting calories, or skipping dessert. Whereas American wellness culture values strict dietary habits, Italians rarely pay attention to these things. Instead, we will learn to eat the Italian way — enjoying our fresh meals and embracing a healthy relationship with food.
Our Tuscany trip offers many opportunities to experience the region’s famous culinary tradition:
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Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine from the comfort of our private villa. Our onsite chef prepares fresh, locally sourced and nutritious meals daily.
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Cooking is an essential part of Italian culture. You’ll receive cooking lessons from a local chef and learn how to cook traditional Tuscan dishes yourself.
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Our culinary experience extends beyond the confines of our villa and into the trattorias of Tuscany’s secluded hilltop towns. With the help of our local guides and connections, you’ll visit some of the best hidden gems in Tuscan food.
World-Famous Wine
Prized in particular for its reds, Tuscany is one of the best-known wine regions in the world. The area is home to the popular Sangiovese grapes, which thrive in the central region’s clay and limestone-rich soil. However, recent years have also seen a rise in wines using a variety of other grapes, including so-called “Super Tuscans”, a blanket term for high-quality Tuscan wines incorporating foreign grapes or unorthodox production methods. As part of the culinary experience, we’ll enjoy a daily selection of local wines. Here’s what you need to know about the Tuscan wines we know and love:
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While “Sangiovese” is not a wine variant in and of itself, Sangiovese grapes are the basis for the vast majority of Tuscan red wines. Originally cultivated in Tuscany, Sangiovese grapes are the most widely produced wine grapes in Italy. Often described as a “chameleon” due to its versatility, wines made from the Sangiovese can vary widely. Sangiovese-based wines are savory and generally have a medium to full body. Due to their high acidity, wines made using Sangiovese grapes have a tart taste and, as naturally high acidity helps preserve wine, age well. Most of Tuscany’s most popular wines are legally required to contain a high proportion of Sangiovese grapes, which are the primary wine grapes used in the region’s DOCG wines (those with the highest quality designation under Italian law). Originating in central Italy during the pre-Roman era, the grape can be found today in wines across the globe, from California to Romania. In the Tuscany region, it is the primary component of popular variations such as Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. However, it is also a component of many Super Tuscans, where it is often blended at lower levels with other grape varieties.
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We won’t have to venture far from our villa to encounter Tuscany’s most famous wine. Brunello di Montalcino originates from the town of Montalcino — a mere 20 minutes from our villa— and is produced widely throughout Siena and the Crete Senesi. Named after the local word for Sangiovese grapes, Brunello is one of the world’s most sought-after wines. On our journey, we’ll have the opportunity to visit the town of Montalcino and learn about the origins and production of the coveted wine firsthand. During this visit, we’ll privately tour and sample the wines of the historic Argiano Vineyard, one of the most esteemed producers of Brunello di Montalcino worldwide. The Rosso Montalcino is another excellent option for those who prefer a lighter wine. Brunello’s younger sibling, the Rosso variant is identical to Brunello but is released earlier, giving it a fruity, less tannic taste.
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First gaining attention in the 1970s, the term “Super Tuscan” refers to a wide variety of high quality, mostly red wines produced in Tuscany and not meeting the strict requirements needed to receive DOC or DOCG regulations. Frustrated with the unnecessary standards of Italian wine classifications, unorthodox winemakers in the 1970s broke traditional Italian winemaking convention—blending Sangiovese grapes with foreign ones such as Cabernet Sauvignon, using different barrels, and subverting rules regarding the composition of grapes in the Tuscan wines. Due to the rigidity of the Italian wine classification, these wines were officially labeled “vino da tavola” (table wine), the lowest classification an Italian wine can receive. Over time, Super Tuscans saw a rise in popularity due to their exceptional quality and the negative perception of traditional Tuscan wines such as Chianti; and their popularity led to a revamping of the Italian wine classification system, including the addition of the much more lenient IGT designation in 1992. Today, these innovations have played a large role in the resurgent popularity of Tuscan wines.
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Although it is predominantly known for its savory red wines, Tuscany is also home to the prized Vin Santo (“holy wine”), a white wine traditionally made from grapes such as Trebbiano and Malvasia. Although there are multiple theories about how it got the name “holy wine”, the term Vin Santo dates back to the Renaissance era and likely emerged from its use in the Catholic mass. Much like Tuscan wines produced from the Sangiovese grape, Vin Santo varieties are incredibly versatile. Depending on the method of production and grapes used, the color, sweetness, and flavors of Vin Santo wines can vary widely.
