Ferieboliger i Volpaio

Before lunch, we will run a 2 hour workshop from our home in the country near the village of Roccatederighi. We'll meet in the village, then I'll escort you down to the house as it's a little difficult to find! Weather allowing, we'll work under the pergola with beautiful views of the Maremman hills. Guests will use professional equipment including pasta machine, and we'll teach them pasta dough, and then to make three types of fresh pasta - two cut (like tagliatelle and farfalle) and one filled (like ravioli). Once we have made the pasta together and I have given them all the insight they need to make great pasta, I will cook it for them for a lunch. I will also prepare a starter and dessert for them so they will have (starter, 3 pastas and dessert), along with included wine. Other things to note We speak English and I'm an experienced chef, and cookery and pasta workshop teacher. You are in safe hands with us and will get a real taste of Italian gastronomy.

L'esperienza si concentrerà sulla realizzazione del formaggio. Partiremo dalla sala mungitura , dove gli ospiti potranno vedere i macchinari che si utilizzano oggi giorno, ma soprattutto provare loro stessi (e chissà magari imparare!) a mungere a mano come si faceva una volta. Dopo di che si passerà alla creazione vera e propria del formaggio, che verrà realizzato in una cantina in pietra con gli stessi procedimenti che usavano i nostri nonni, con paioli di rame e attrezzature in legno. In questa fase entrerà nel vivo la collaborazione degli ospiti (dai grandi ai piccolini!) , i quali realizzeranno con le proprie mani una piccola forma di formaggio da portare con loro a casa come ricordo di questa bellissima esperienza, ma soprattutto come simbolo del loro "lavoro" impiegato in un'arte nobile ma purtroppo dimenticata come quella della pastorizia. Ovviamente i partecipanti potranno visitare tutta la nostra fattoria con i suoi animali: potranno allattare con le loro mani gli agnellini, vedere le galline e visitare i pascoli dove troveranno anche i nostri fedeli alleati contro le predazioni del lupo: i cani da guardiania! Altre cose da tenere a mente Se qualcuno fosse interessato a venire un giorno diverso da quelli che noi programmiamo (solitamente tutti i sabati), basta che ci contatti per messaggio chiedendoci info su date e orari differenti!

I want to show you the hilltop town of Montalcino via your smartphone and teach you how to take great travel pictures and some street photography. We’ll meet in front of the fortress at the top of the town and go from there exploring and seeking out great shots. Learn about composition and making the most of the available light. Based on the type of photography you like best we have a surprise stop or two as we go. Along the way a stop for coffee and I’ll talk you through some editing tips and tricks to enhance your shots. If you have Instagram or Facebook we can also talk about layouts and posting. We’ll finish our last section of walkabout with a theme/mini project in mind. Experience also available Siena/Pienza/St Quirico/Bagno Vignoni .. just ask! I am also very flexible with times .. please contact me if you'd like a different slot. Other things to note Don’t worry if you have no photographic experience. You just need your iPhone/Smartphone. I’ll teach you about composition, natural light and tons of fantastic phone camera functions. Then it’s up to you to be as creative as you like. If you can, download Snapseed the editing app before we meet.

Who it is for: for a serious wine lover that is curious to find out more about the crazy concept behind the Bonsai wine and wants to taste our whole selection. Winery, ecosystem, farmhouse, alive organism. Live the wine experience. Discover the Biodynamic vineyard and how producing a great wine means putting farming first. Come discover the densest vineyard in the world, where vines are planted only 40 centimeters apart resulting in a density of 62.500 plants per hectare. You will be guided through an exclusive tasting, having the chance to savor one of the most exclusive wines out there. Only 1000 bottles a year come from this very unique vineyard! Why do we produce a better wine from the Bonsai vineyards? Come find out why our plants’ roots can reach more than three meters in depth in a few years of growth. Giulia or Chiara will lead you throughout the whole winemaking journey, explaining how the biodynamic approach – carried out in absence of chemical interventions – preserves the beauty of nature and allows our plants to grow in the most natural way possible. This way they can express the authenticity of the soil, the microclimate, and the grape varieties of Podere Le Ripi.

You will fully immerse yourselves in the "local life", understanding how the farming culture of growing plants, pruning ancient olive trees and breeding farm animals is in our blood and with all probability the strongest feature that distinguishes Tuscan people. Who is it for: families and friends (of any age!) that love to have fun and curious to find out more about farming and wine. We will be showing you our most important Brunello vineyards, introducing the concept of microclimatic differences, and the respectful practices of biodynamic farming. We'd like to explain how understanding and respecting your land is part of Montalcino's culture and it's what allows us to become great winemakers. You will learn why having a large vegetable garden increases our biodiversity, life and interaction which all have a positive outcome on our wines. Chiara and David will lead you along an interactive journey through the garden. The tour path is designed as a learning game, purposely made for both younger and older guests. You'll be able to pet our animals, pick, taste and smell what nature will offer us according to the season. Don't worry, we'll dress you up in farmer clothing from head to toe, so you'll feel like one of us and we won't worry about getting dirty. Other things to note If you like to be 100% hands-on and in touch with nature, and if you like to get a little competitive, this is the perfect experience for you!