Culinary and Wine Weekends in Montepulciano & Cortona, Tuscany

Luxury Culinary & Wine Tour Weekends in Montepulciano:

Highlights:

• Wine Tasting Tour and Cellar Visits in Montepulciano, Tuscany
• Tuscan Cooking Class
• Excursions to Medieval and Renaissance Villages
• Accommodation in elegant country estate
• Your own Private tour with personal Chauffeur.

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The gorgeous Tuscan wine region of Montepulciano is known for its "noble wine", and indeed the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has been favored by the aristocracy for centuries. The little hamlet of Montepulciano is a medieval treasure, and the surrounding region a "must see" for the gourmet traveller. These new Cellar Tours Italian Culinary and Gourmet Weekends are a great introduction to the gastronomy and wines of Montepulciano. On this private tour, you will sleep in an elegant, historic country hotel, visit top wineries enjoy vineyard walks, and indulge in Tuscan cooking classes. You'll also do some sightseeing and visit the beautiful towns of Cortona, Pienza and Arezzo. Dining is of utmost importance on these gourmet weekends, and you will enjoy some amazing meals, including Michelin starred locales. And of course, you won't leave without tasting some phenomenal wines, both Vino Nobiles and unforgettable Super Tuscans.

If you love food and wine, and want to spend a weekend n the Tuscan countryside enjoying the good life, then this is the tour for you! We run these cooking and wine tasting weekends from October to April.

- AM: Your personal chauffeur will collect you in Montepulciano town and whisk you away to your country manor, where you will be staying for the next three nights. The countryside in this part of Tuscany is delicious, with rolling hills, medieval churches, castle topped villages and the omnipresent Cypress rows.

- After about a thirty-minute drive through lovely scenery, you'll arrive to your historic hotel (also a Relais & Chateaux) and check in.

- After you are comfortably checked in, your gourmet weekend will begin! First stop is to a top Vino Nobile di Montepulciano producer. You'll taste a variety of other wines, too, including Rosso di Montepulciano and Vin Santo ("Holy wine", a delicious dessert wines traditionally served with "Cantucci", similar to biscotti).

- Enjoy a lunch at the Michelin starred restaurant, right in the lovely small hotel.

- In the afternoon, your chauffeur will take you to visit Cortona, a village made famous by the "Under the Tuscan Sun" series of novels. Visit the antique shops and museums, have a glass of wine in the piazza..

- In the evening, you will participate in a delightful cooking lesson, right at the hotel. This will be dinner, and you will learn Tuscan specialties under expert guidance.

- Dinner - taste the dishes you have prepared, paired with a selection of Super Tuscan Wines

Overnight:

Relais Chateaux Historic Hotel

Meals Included in Price:

Michelin starred Lunch and Cooking class with dinner with Super Tuscan wines

Transfers:

Montepulciano- Hotel- Wine Cellar- Hotel- Cortona- Hotel

- Full breakfast in your lovely hotel

- Today you will enjoy a free day to relax at the estate or go sightseeing as you prefer. Your personal chauffeur is at your service to zip you around Tuscan villages at your whim. We highly recommend the nearby towns of San Sepolcro and Arezzo. You can even visit the neighboring region of Umbria, to the chocolate town of Perugia.

- Lunch on your own, with our gourmet recommendations.

- Enjoy a free evening, and dinner on your own at the hotel or in nearby Cortona.

Overnight:

Relais Chateaux Historic Hotel

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast

Transfers:

Chauffeur at your service to visit Perugia, Arezzo and/or San Sepolcro

- Full breakfast in your lovely hotel.

- Today, you will enjoy two of the finest cellars in Montepulciano, such as Contucci, Poliziano and Valdipiatta.

- You'll take in vineyard walks, delightful visit to the cellars with tours of the wine caves and of course- tastings of the wines and Olive Oils.

- For lunch, you'll enjoy a marvellous Tuscan country lunch in the historic hamlet of Monticchiello, crowned by an ancient fortress.

- After a long lunch, your chauffeur will take you to visit the beautiful Renaissance town of Pienza. Built largely under the orders of Pope Pius II in the 15th century, Pienza is an architectural jewel. You'll enjoy free time and can visit the Palazzo Borgia (actually built by Cardinal Borgia), which houses the interesting Museo Diocesano (with an intriguing collection of tapestries, manuscripts, and art).

- In the early evening, you'll return to your hotel to relax and enjoy your last evening on this sumptuous country estate. Dinner to enjoy at the Michelin starred restaurant on your own.

Overnight:

Relais Chateaux Historic Hotel

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Lunch with wine

Transfers:

Hotel- Wine Cellars in Montepulciano- Monticchiello- Pienza- Hotel

- Full breakfast in your lovely hotel

- This concludes your gourmet weekend in Eastern Tuscany. Your chauffeur will take you to your next port of call in Tuscany- Florence, Pisa, etc.

- End of services

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast

Transfers:

Hotel- Florence or Pisa

What's Included:

What's Not Included:

Prices:

This is a SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY. Please note that our chauffeured luxury tours have the following starting prices:

More Information on Culinary & Wine Tasting Tour Weekends in Montepulciano, Tuscany:

If you are interested in this Luxury Tuscan Culinary Weekend Tour, contact us today for more information. This tour can also be adapted for bigger groups with a substantial discount. All of our tours are available year round upon request for your private group of minimum 2 people. If you would like us to customize a luxury gourmet tour for you, contact us with your requirements, and we can send you a free itinerary and quote with no obligations. We organize cooking packages and wine tours from 1 day, to weekends to longer food and wine discoveries throughout Spain, Portugal & Italy. Contact us at

Email us at: info@cellartours.com