Barolo and Barbaresco Wine Tour
Luxury day tour to Piedmont's Langhe: Boutique wineries, Barolo & Barbaresco tastings, Grinzane Cavour castle visit, and guide. Book Now!
EXPLORE ALL OUR EXPLORE YOUR PRIVATE WINE TOURS IN ITALY
Extra-virgin Olive Oil is one of the essential elements of Mediterranean cuisine. It was a culinary gift from Ancient Greeks who brought olives to the Italian peninsula along with wine and bread. Ancient Romans then brought olives to the numerous countries and empires they conquered and demanded olive oil to pay the taxes. The Romans invented the concept of “olive oil therapy, “using it for beauty treatments for wealthy senators’ wives.
Back in their day, the Romans also had the first classification of the different types of olive oils, depending on if they came from pressed green olives, semi-mature olives, mature olives, fallen olives, or squashed olives. Even two thousand years ago, olive oil was being categorized according to quality. Today there are countless varieties of olives and oils, and it’s easy to get confused about which are better, how they are defined, and the best times to use each type. Extra-virgin olive oil, for example, is derived from the first press of olives with specific machines, through the cold pressing technique, at low temperatures and without the aid of water.
The resulting oil also depends on the olive varietals used by the producer. In Tuscany, the most common olives are Frantoio, Moraiolo, and Leccino. Each of them has different flavors and notes, from fruity to spicy, and are compatible with different dishes used to bring out the flavors of ingredients and preparations.
There is no better way to understand and enjoy the secrets of olive oil than by visiting an oil mill. We have designed this fascinating day tour for those of you interested in a unique day out in the countryside tasting premium olive oils, as well as Tuscany’s best Chocolate producer for a masterclass.
Tuscany
Your driver will collect you this morning from your hotel or cruise ship (this excursion is a viable day trip from Livorno, Pisa, Lucca, and Florence. If you are staying in different areas of Tuscany, we can provide a different Extra Virgin Olive Oil itinerary) by private chauffeured Mercedes. The first stop today is to the fabulous Poggio Cappiano olive oil estate. On this private tour, you will visit the olive groves and the nursery, receive a detailed explanation of the cultivation processes at the oil mill, the characteristics of the different olive varieties, and then finally sit down to an educational and fun olive oil tasting. You will enjoy lunch here and all the dishes featuring their olive oils, each made to enhance the different specific olive varietals.
After lunch, your chauffeur will bring you to Pontedera, where a fantastic tasting experience awaits at Amedei, a premium chocolate company. You will learn about the chocolate-making process from bean to bar on this private tour and tasting. Visiting this chocolate maker will certainly leave a great taste in your mouth. Before returning to your hotel or cruise ship in the late afternoon, if time permits swing by the nearby Leaning Tower of Pisa for a peek.
“Delicious day out in the Tuscan Countryside!”
If you would like us to customize an exclusive luxury tour, contact us and let us know your travel plans. We offer luxury food and wine tours for private groups of a mininium two guests. In addition, all of our private, chauffeured tours are available year-round upon request.