Our Tuscany Immersive Study Trip Was a Great Success!

After more than a year of planning, on June 2th we welcomed a wonderful group of people to the heart of Chianti Classico in Tuscany. Our goal with this immersive educational trip was to explore the region through its wine, food, and people with a geographical and historical focus to showcase the richness of culture.

We had thoughtfully planned an itinerary that allowed us deep conversations with producers like Michael from Monte Bernardi and Elizabetta from Sono Montenidoli, in the vineyards and the cellar, that connected the wine in our glass with the terroir and the people who produced it.

We also visited Corzano e Paterno, a wine and cheese producer who has developed a line of sheep’s milk cheeses, using cheesemaking techniques from France and England, from soft camembert and goat-like cheeses, to the classic pecorino Toscano. This turned out to be one of the group’s favorite visit because most have never been to a cheese producer so seeing the behind-the-scenes of this iconic operation.

Food conversations were also an intricate piece of this itinerary. For us, the same focus on regionality and terroir put into wine should be applied to the food, especially in a place were long-standing traditions are guarded with passion and care. To facilitate this conversations we had a cooking class at Badia a Coltibuono where we learned to make some local especialities like schiacciata (the Toscan version of focaccia), cantucci (the Toscan version of a biscotti), and pasta, among other dishes. We also enjoyed a range of restaurant meals, from spots favorited by the locals to Michelin rated experiences.

Every morning we launched from our home for the week, a renovated villa in the heart of Tuscany just five minutes from the town of Panzano. Our guest enjoyed strolling in and around the vineyards, taking breakfast on the terrace overlooking the rolling hills and listening to the birds, and lounging by the pool during their free time. Plus, we made sure to enjoy aperitivo as often as time allowed.

You can watch the highlights of the trip on our Instagram page. And stay tuned for our next immersive educational trip.