Food and wine

Authentic experiences

This is a 4 night holiday with hands-on cookery classes at the Relais Villa Belpoggio in Chianti , as well as a visit to a local market , a local baker or an organic farm and time to visit nearby Arezzo . During your stay there is time to relax and appreciate the local area and you can relax in the Villa ’ s carefully tended grounds at any time , along with its unique swimming pool – formed from a former storage facility for the estate ’ s water . This holiday operates with 2 to 6 people .

About the cookery The group cookery classes are held at Relais Villa Belpoggio and a local bakery . The Villa ’ s lessons are taken by Englishspeaking chef , Andrea Campani , who cooks using local , mainly organic , produce . All classes are hands-on and each participant will be invited to input ideas on menus and techniques . The emphasis is on explaining and instructing you in traditional cooking methods and regional dishes . Each of the lessons lasts between two and three hours and is followed by a meal together .

Where you stay The Relais Villa Belpoggio is a boutique hotel of only 10 rooms and two apartments , in the countryside near the village of Loro Ciuffenna just 35 kms from Florence in the direction of Arezzo . It is set in a secluded part of the valley of the River Arno , upstream from Florence , and its belvedere looks out over the valley and its wooded hills . Hills , woods , fields , olive groves and vineyards are all to be found nearby . The Villa dates back to the 17th Century , having been built for the aristocratic Fiorilli family . Today it is a boutique hotel , run by a husband and wife team and combines charm and cosiness with high standards of service and comfort , thanks to a painstaking restoration first begun in 2003 . Facilities at the hotel include its swimming pool for summer use and a nearby tennis court . They do offer a dinner service at the hotel depending on occupancy but there are numerous restaurants within easy reach by car . The hotel is about 2 hours ’ drive from Pisa airport .

Breakfast at Relais Villa Belpoggio

We include a classic double in our basic price but the apartments are also available at a supplement and ideal if you want to stay longer than the four nights included in the course .

Hands-on pasta making The chef

Relais Villa Belpoggio Relais Villa Belpoggio

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