Autumn is a beautiful season to visit Tuscany, the intense heat of the peak summer months gives way to warm balmy evenings and the ideal time to explore the Tuscan countryside as olive oil and wine production begins. Tuscany Now have a range of incredible villas throughout Tuscany, perfectly located to take advantage of visits to fully functioning vineyards and olive harvesting in full swing. Autumn also means chestnut season and this staple of Tuscany cooking is in abundance, ripe for the picking, offering a delicious array of earthy flavours. Regional festivals celebrating ancient traditions allow visitors a taste of local culture, recipes and gourmet.
Autumnal Activities
Excursions are available from any of the Tuscany Now villas and allow experts to showcase all that this stunning region has to offer. From foodie offerings such as truffle hunting and chestnut picking to taking in the autumn shades with a train ride through the countryside, this is the ideal time to explore.
Truffle Hunting
The San Miniato Truffle Festival –The first White Truffle Festival of San Miniato was held on the 26th of October 1969. This year marks the 45thanniversary of this internationally recognised festival. During the festival a prize is given to the biggest truffle and to the oldest truffle hunter. A feast for foodies, traditional recipes and Tuscan delicacies are on sale for tourists and locals to enjoy.
Truffle Hunting in the Crete Senesi – Whether it’s a Carpaccio of truffle, an exquisitely infused sauce or simply an oil drizzled on pasta that gets your taste buds going, you can’t go too wrong with one of the rarest and most delectable gourmet delicacies. Guests of Tuscany Now have the opportunity to take part in a fantastic truffle hunting experience in the Crete Senesi, the spectacular clayey hills south of Siena. Guests will be helped in the hunt by the extraordinary sense of smell of a Lagotto Romagnolo, an expert truffle dog and during the experience, local guides will educate guests on the local truffle-hunting tradition, sharing anecdotes and even a few secrets!
Il Trebbio was constructed nine hundred years ago as a small, fortified castle for a member of the powerful Guidi family, The lovely old building sits on a hilltop surrounded by rolling hills just minutes away from Castellina-in-Chianti. Ancient stone walls enclose luxuriously furnished interiors, with air-conditioned bedrooms, in which traditional beamed ceilings and tiled floors provide a backdrop to a valuable collection of local antiques and contemporary paintings. Il Trebbio, which translates as ‘The Harvest’, lies in the heart of the Chianti wine-producing and truffle hunting areas.
Wine Tasting
Celebrating the harvest, the Wine Festival of Greve in Chianti takes place from the 10th to the 13th of October and is acknowledged to be one of the most important wine festivals in the region. In the Chianti area every small town has its own little wine festival in September as the harvest begins. However this is the one to head to for a renowned selection of wine and food! This year marks the 45th year the festival and tastings, prizes and celebrations will be taking place every day.
Chianti Vineyards in a Vintage Automobile – Guests can enjoy a refined excursion by touring the Chianti Vineyards in a vintage car – whether a Maggiolini, Ferrari or Porsche. Discover Tuscany through the beautiful countryside and explore historic wineries where renowned Chianti wines are cultivated. Guests should be sure to visit Castello di Verrazzano – home of a traditional Chianti wine-maker and the birthplace in 1485 of explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, complete with Renaissance gardens, historic cellars, and a tasting of reds including the estate Chianti, extra-virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
This beautifully restored farmhouse comes with its own private bridge It is positioned perfectly, with a line of cypress trees defining the edge of the sweeping lawns and garden enjoying beautiful views of the countryside. The interior is as impressive, antique terracotta floors, beamed or arched ceilings, where in the kitchen, pantry and cantina they have fitted a wonderful antique wooden floor. The whole property is managed by green power; solar energy runs both the electrics as the water. The same ecological principles reign in the garden as in the olive groves and vineyards. The ideal wine lover’s property, be immersed in the vineyards during the harvesting season.
For further information and bookings, please contact www.tuscanynow.com or call 0207 684 8884.
