Join me and M’tucci’s for an unforgettable, luxury experience in Tuscany. Hunt truffles with a truffle dog in a Tuscan forest, explore the famous Carrara Marble Quarry, and visit the shop and restaurant of famed celebrity chef and butcher Dario Cecchini. Sample the renowned wines from the Chianti, Montalcino and Super Tuscan regions, while visiting the locations and restaurants that inspired the M’tucci’s chefs during their 2019 visit to the area.
When Jeff, Katie and John opened the first M’tucci’s in 2013, their goal was to embrace the Italian mantra of living “la dolce vita” (the sweet life). Jeff talked about creating an experience like this for our guests. The first step in achieving this was to send four M’tucci’s chefs and photographer, Michael Lewis, to Tuscany in 2019. This excursion was inspired by their experiences and will take you to many of the same places that they loved on that trip.
This trip will focus on the popular Chianti region south of Florence, with day trips to Western Tuscany on the Mediterranean Sea, and to the mountain area north of Pisa.
Most meals (including wine) and ground transportation are included. Breakfasts will be served in our villa every morning and will consist of a buffet with coffee, juice, fruit, pastries, local cured meats and cheeses.
M’tucci’s in Italy is September 24 – October 1 (8 days & 7 nights).
Day One: Arrive in Florence and meet at Santa Maria Novella Train Station by 2:00pm to take a Private Van through the Tuscan countryside to our Villa. We will enjoy our get acquainted dinner at our villa with local chef. There will be an “Introduction to Amaro” program and a tasting after dinner.
Day Two: After breakfast, travel by private van to the architecturally distinctive home of Antinori Vineyards near San Casciano for a tour of the cellars, and a wine tasting before lunch at their highly rated restaurant, Rinuccio 1180. That evening we will have a cooking class at the villa, enjoying what we cook.
Day Three: We will visit Montalcino, the stunning hill town overlooking the vineyards that produce world-famous Brunello di Montalcino. After arriving we’ll have time to explore the town to shop and take in the amazing views. Lunch is on your own. On our way back to the villa, we will visit Siena’s historic piazza, site of the world-famous horse race, the Palio. We will have dinner together at a local Osteria. (A Casa Mia)
Day Four: Panzano in Chianti: Macelleria Dario Cecchini is the ultimate meat experience. A glass of Chianti is placed in your hand as you enter to watch the master as he holds court behind his meat counter, then indulge in a huge Tuscan lunch with eight plates including the massive Bisteca Fiorentina. Also, there is a seven-plate menu for vegetarians. In the afternoon there will be time for a walk or lounging around the villa’s pool. We will enjoy a light evening dinner (salads & charcuterie) at the villa. Believe us, you probably won’t be hungry after your Dario experience. We’ll have the opportunity to address any photography concerns or questions during the evening.
Day Five: Move to our new villa near the Tuscan Coast on the Mediterranean Sea. The small town of Bolgheri is perfect for a stroll, shopping and lunch on your own. In the afternoon we’ll visit the Antinori Guado al Tasso winery for a tour and tasting. After checking into our villa, our group dinner will be in Bolgheri.
Day Six: After breakfast we’ll head south to the town of San Gimignano, well-known for its seven medieval towers. We will visit Podere La Marronaia, a family-owned business that specializes in bio-dynamic wines, extra virgin olive oil and truffles! We will take a forest walk with a truffle-hunting dog and his human, then enjoy a truffle-infused lunch after our walk. After returning to the villa, a private chef will make pizzas and we’ll join in to help.
Day Seven: We will travel north of Pisa to Cararra to tour the Marble Quarries, which have been yielding white marble for buildings and statues since the 2nd Century BC. After our tour we will sample the local lardo (served at M’tucci’s as Colonatta Butter) at the Lard Rock Cafe. Our final night together will be at a seaside restaurant in San Vincenzo, where we’ll watch the sunset and enjoy seafood from the Mediterranean.
Day Eight: Return to Florence by private mini-bus. In Bolgheri, we will be very near a train station. Guests will have the option to continue their journey by train to Rome, to the Cinque Terre or any other location in Italy, instead of returning to Florence.
Included:
All Ground Transportation (excluding optional train travel)
7 Breakfasts
4 Lunches @ Restaurants
3 Dinners @ Restaurants
4 Dinners @ Villa
All lunches and dinners include one aperitivo (vermouth, prosecco or spritz) and two glasses (1/2 bottle) of wine or beer per person. Cocktails are not included.
Not Inlcuded: Two lunches, extra wine, cocktails, gratuities.
Cost of this all-inclusive trip is $4,895 per person. We will require a minimum of 6 guests for the trip to proceed. The maximum number of guests will be 10. A single supplement with a private double room is an additional $1,500. A 25% deposit is required to reserve your space, with the balance due 60 days before departure. See the Terms and Conditions page for more details about payments and cancellations. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
The trip will be led by former National Geographic photographer and former La Gazzetta di M’tucci’s editor Michael Lewis. Michael has visited Italy eight times and knows the area well. He has led tours and photo workshops in Uganda, Kenya, Mexico and Colorado. In addition to a deep dive into the food and wine of Tuscany, Michael and his wife, Jennifer, will be on hand to help you with your photography.