Visit Italy and EXPERIENCE a true Umbrian way of life.
These two separate 10 day events allow you to be a part of the best elements of Italian life: Wine, Truffles and Olive Oil! You will not only visit beautiful medieval towns and vineyards, you will also participate in activities that make fall unique. In September you will be a part of the wine harvest and we will focus on wine. In October we will be picking olives, taking them to the press and hunt for white truffles! Each Experience Event below includes: airport pickup, room accommodations at Villa Ercolano, daily activities arranged with transportation provided, wine tastings, meals, music and events. These all inclusive Experiences* are priced per person with a minimum of 2 guests and maximum of 8 guests.
MID SEPTEMBER; SEPTEMBER 16-27, 2017
GRAPE HARVEST, WINE & TURFFLES
The GRAPE HARVEST tour will include a visit to two different wineries where we will participate in the wine activity of the day. This could include picking grapes, moving grapes to the next phase or working on the pressing. Wine tasting and lunch or dinner will be scheduled at the vineyard. We will visit the beautiful towns of Cortona, Montone, Montepulciano, Monterchi, Torgiano, Anghiari, Sansepolco and Citta di Castello where our events will include: visits to workshops, museum tours with guides, art galleries,a print shop, a honey bee farm, truffle hunting, Vinsanto tasting, cooking classes and olive oil tastings. Music performances will be included in two of the evenings events.
Each day will include hands on activities and the opportunity to meet the wonderful people and unique artisans that carry on traditional elements of life in our very modern world. We will visit the outdoor farm market and shop for dinner, (that we will all prepare together) on our final night at the Villa
MID OCTOBER: OCTOBER 14-25, 2017
CHESTNUTS, OLIVES & TRUFFLES
All of the above activities will be included in October.** because the grapes will be harvested we can visit the winery, but note pick grapes.
OLIVE PICKING: Put on your boots and join the crowd as we hand pick the olives! We will transport the olives to a pressing where we will follow the olives and watch them pressed. This is followed by dinner and olive oil tasting!
CHESTNUT PICKING in Monterchi followed by a barbecue in the woods. That evening we will include roasting chestnuts with our after dinner dessert. We will also have the opportunity to hunt for WHITE truffles and enjoy being part of the White Truffle festival in town.
NOTE: Depending on guest timing and weather, we may also include in either of the above Experience weekends: Vespa rides, a flower arranging class, Alberto Burri Museum (modern art), a morning horse ride, the Slow Food "presidia" ( a bean farm at Lake Trasimeno ). Exact days for each of the activities listed in the Experience Events will be based on weather.
* The Experience Events do not include airfare. Price is based on the number of guests scheduled in your group, and is priced per person. 2-4 Guests: $4,000.00 per person; 5-6 Guests: $3,500 per person; 7-8 guests: $3,000 per person.
** In October the grapes will be harvested. We will visit the winery, but we will not be able to pick grapes.
