Tuscany

The Crowds are gone – Experience Autumn in Tuscany!

“Florence has the art, Pisa has the tower, but if you’re looking for the Tuscan countryside of films & glossy books, then you’re looking for the Val d’ Orcia.”

MY FRIENDS LUCIA NORRITO AND DREAM ITALIAN VILLAS & TOURS have created an exceptional opportunity to meet the locals and gain a deeper understanding of the relationships we have with our land, our crafts, and how we honor the generations that came before us.

Please consider their Autumn in Tuscany 100% All-Inclusive Tour (details below) complete with a 5-star villa, private chef, winery tastings and foodie excursions. This is not a tour in the traditional sense – just 14 like-minded guests who have food and wine in common, and have always dreamt of a villa experience, but still want their privacy with exceptional accommodations. I will be joining you twice –PLUS– you’ll earn $400 toward the Wine Club.

Alternatively, they offer à la carte options tailored to your unique desires. I hope to see you in Tuscany!

Saluté,

Francesco Maramai

Francesco Maramai holding a glass of wine and smiling.

Francesco Maramai

Francesco Maramai raising a glass of wine behind a display of wine bottles on a table.



Our Gift To You:
$400 for Wine
from PERBACCO WINE CLUB

100% ALL-INCLUSIVE VILLA

Spacious En Suite Accommodations
Dinners by Private Chef
Open Bar:
Hand Selected Italian Wines & Spirits
Francesco Wine Dinner
Five Tours Include Wine with Lunch
Olive Oil & Cheese Tastings
Truffle Hunting
Cooking Class
Montalcino Wine Tasting
Montepulciano Wine Pairing Lunch
All Gratuities & Taxes
Conveniently Located Between
Rome & Florence

See Sample Itinerary Below

VILLA CATERINA

Absolutely beautiful stone house, state of the art with every modern amenity, restored by one of Italy‘s top designers, overlooking the Val d’Orcia.

SAMPLE TOUR

Customizable for groups of 10 or more

DAY 1 – SATURDAY
11am – optional transfer from Rome City Center — includes stop in Orvieto for lunch & shopping on own; cost based on participation
5:30pm – Check-in
6:30pm – Welcome Reception followed by dinner

DAY 2 – SUNDAY
Breakfast and Dinner at the villa
Abbadia San Salvatore

Experience an Autumn food festival celebrating the harvest of chestnuts, prevalent in Tuscany.
Lunch is served at convivial tables placed along the streets, or in ancient cellars. Food is prepared by the locals where multi-generations work side by side for this special celebration.

DAY 3 – MONDAY
Breakfast and Dinner at the villa
Cetona
Walk through the olive grove of Frederio and Tania’s award-winning, family-run organic farm and learn about the different varieties of olive trees, including a rare, ancient Etruscan variety.
Enjoy a delicious, homemade lunch, prepared by the family’s well-loved “Nonna”.
Let an olive oil expert teach you how to pair oils with different foods – including dessert!

DAY 4 – TUESDAY
Breakfast and Dinner at the villa
Montalcino the home of the infamous Brunello wine, where you will have time to explore this quaint town, followed by a private wine tasting with light lunch at Ciacci Piccolomini Wine Estate.
We will then visit their historical cellars.
Time permitting, a stop at Abbey of Sant’Antimo, one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Italy to hear the Monks’ Georgian Chants.

DAY 5 – WEDNESDAY
Breakfast and Dinner at the villa
Pienza
Take a stroll through Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage site, then lunch at Il Casale, featuring pecorino and caprino cheeses made on an organic, family-run dairy farm.
Dine tonight with our special guest, Francesco — restaurant owner and sommelier — who will introduce us to some unexpected wines with a departure from Brunello.

DAY 6 – THURSDAY
Breakfast and Dinner at the villa
San Quirico d’Orcia
Free time to explore Montepulciano, known worldwide for its wine and renowned for its pork, cheese, “pici” pasta, lentils, and honey.
We will then meet at Francesco’s family restaurant for lunch and wine pairing
OR, choose prestigious WHITE TRUFFLE hunting**. The rare Italian white truffle is the holy grail for foodies, and is only available in October/November in very select areas. A Tuscan picnic afterwards to celebrate!

DAY 7 – FRIDAY
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at the villa
Join a lunchtime cooking class in the villa with your private chef.
Relax before a celebratory dinner, or opt for a visit to Sarteano for their weekly market, or book a private massage at the villa. Prices available on request.

DAY 8 – SATURDAY
Breakfast at the villa
10am – Check-out, then embark on your other Italian travel plans. Florence or Venice anyone? Details for optional transfers upon request.

Requests for pre/post extensions throughout Italy are always welcome. We can also assist with flights, often lower fares, and all transfers.

Allow us to make your Italian Dream Vacation become a reality!

À LA CARTE TAILORED EXPERIENCES

Florence has the art, Pisa has the tower,
but if you’re looking for the Tuscan countryside of films and glossy books,
then you’re looking for the Val d’Orcia.

SUGGESTED OPTIONS

Boutique Hotels • Bed & Breakfasts • Farmhouses
Full Range of Local Wine Producers & Winery Visits
Organic Pecorino & Caprino Cheese Tasting at Local Farm
Truffle Hunting
World Heritage Sites
Local Artisan Studios & Coffee Roasters
Bookbinding & Cooking Classes
La Foce Garden Tours

À la carte tours are well suited for rental cars, but private drivers can be arranged.

Please Read Disclaimer

* If Covid impacts travel into 2021/2022 we will work with our Italian partners to be flexible with deposits/final payments and credits for future travel. We highly recommend everyone purchase trip cancellation insurance at time of deposit. You are responsible for understanding the policy and the fine print of the policy you are purchasing. We are not licensed insurance agents and cannot legally counsel you on the policies that are available for purchase. You need to speak with the insurance agents of the respective companies.

We are not responsible for any fees you might incur that insurance, or trip cancellation does not cover.

Should the Italian government raise taxes, or fuel increases, while rare, additional collection will be required prior to departure, Some restrictions apply.

US$ Credit card payments require a 2.9% fee, International 4.4%, we accept US$ Checks, otherwise we accept International Wires with a $15 fee. Bank Fees subject to change.

PLEASE NOTE GROUPS: They require minimum participation. If not met, you will be notified by 7/6 months out and a full refund will be issued. No refund due to inclement weather, or on unused nights. We recommend not purchasing any non-refundable airfare etc. until such time. Transportation included for scheduled excursions only.

Should you opt out of the tour, a light lunch will be available at the villa, no refunds on unused tours.
Pricing is per guest and includes all meals and items noted in the program. If deemed necessary to make adjustments to the program, it will be held to the same standards.

**Truffle hunting requires being physically fit, weather appropriate boots and signed release form, min of 8 guests required. Truffles can be purchased afterwards.

† $400 gift certificate Perbacco Wine Club applies to “Tuscany All Inclusive Tour” either hosted by us or your own group (2021/2022) based on 7 rooms and 14 guests paying the published price, based on double occupancy, singles receive $200. Wine is shipped either in the spring, or the fall based upon when you return from your trip. Due to laws pertaining to importing Italian wines beyond the United States, a check for the amount, or a credit at a local winery may be substituted.

Tuscany Location

Tuscany Without the Crowds

By DANIELLE PERGAMENT MARCH 2, 2010 IT was a cold, foggy morning in Tuscany, and La Foce, a 15th-century villa that sits on 2,000 acres of rolling fields overlooking the storied Montepulciano vineyards, was eerily quiet. I walked the stone pathways in the manicured garden. Around me, cypress trees creaked, ripe persimmons swayed soundlessly from bare branches and […]