Tuscan Food & Wine Tours

04/08/2026

Last Saturday, we cooked gnocchi together live from our farmhouse kitchen here in Bolgheri!

Looking at the Zoom grid, we had home cooks joining in from the US, Canada, the UK, France, Switzerland, Mexico, and Italy.

There were over 120 of us in total, and while we love having people over, we are pretty sure 120 home cooks wouldn't have fit in our kitchen!

Seeing all those smiling faces shaping dough in their own kitchens at the exact same time: that’s really the magic of these live classes.

We’ve been teaching live Italian cooking online from Tuscany for 6 years now, with over 120 recipes cooked together in real time. But as always, it’s a team effort!

Arnaud was behind the cameras making sure the audio and video angles ran smoothly here in the kitchen, while Denise co-hosted live from Oregon and Paolo handled the chat from the UK.

It still amazes us how a simple batch of gnocchi can bring so many people together from all over the world.

If you missed the live class, or just want to make fresh gnocchi again this week, you can watch the full replay on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zPFY1d-1t5c

Grazie to everyone who cooked with us!

Thank you so much for joining our 2-ingredient Free Gnocchi Party! ...

20/07/2026

Thanks so much to our friends at Grape Tours in Tuscany for such a wonderful time together!

18/07/2026

Want to try one of our live classes?

Let’s dough it! In exactly two weeks, our free live gnocchi class is back.

If you’ve never made pasta from scratch, or if you think it’s too complicated, this is for you. We’re making my family’s traditional recipe using just two ingredients: flour and water. No potatoes, no stress, just a lot of fun together.

We'll also whip up a delicious sweet pea and pancetta sauce to go with it. It’s going to be a giant, global gnocchi party right from my kitchen here in Bolgheri, Tuscany.

It’s happening on Saturday, August 1st:
• 1:30 PM ET (New York / Toronto)
• 6:30 PM (London)
• 7:30 PM (Italy / Central Europe)

Even if you can’t make it to the live Zoom, sign up anyway because we always send out the replay and the full shopping list right away.

Come join the party! You can grab your free seat through the link in our bio: https://cookingintuscany.cc/gnocchi/

Can't wait to cook with you,
Chicca ❤️

16/07/2026

Every year in Bolgheri, there is one morning we never want to miss.

July 16th is the only day when the gates to the beautiful road leading up to Castiglioncello di Bolgheri open for the Festa della Madonna del Carmine.

We wake up early and meet our biking friends at 6:30 in the morning. Together, we quietly start riding along the Wine Road, heading toward the old gate. We go so early because, in summer, the heat arrives quickly, but also because there is something magical about having this road almost entirely to ourselves.

This year, as usual, we were the first ones to arrive.

The climb is not easy: about 7 kilometers uphill through vineyards, untouched forests, and the ruins of old stone houses. But every time, it feels like stepping into another world.

These hills are part of the ancient lands of the Della Gherardesca family, who settled here more than 1,000 years ago and owned this territory for centuries. Even today, they still own much of the land and the hills we ride through.

At the top, we reach the old castle, where many years ago a hermit lived. Standing there feels like going back in time. There are only stones, trees, silence, and the endless view stretching all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.

The scent of the Mediterranean plants is everywhere: wild herbs, flowers, and the humid summer air. It is so intense.

And then, among all this untouched nature, there is one small vineyard on the southeastern side of the hill.

This is where the story of Super Tuscan wines began, where the first French grape varieties were planted in Tuscany, and where Sassicaia was born.

After spending some time soaking in the atmosphere and taking a few pictures, we slowly rode back home, where we shared some coffee and a little breakfast together.

These are the moments I love about living here in Bolgheri. The places, the people, and the traditions that bring us together year after year.

09/07/2026

One of my favorite parts of welcoming guests to Tuscany is helping them discover the places you won't always find in the guidebooks.

Of course, Bolgheri is famous for its world-renowned wineries, and they're well worth a visit. But sometimes, the places that leave the biggest mark on your heart are the small family wineries hidden among the vineyards, where every bottle tells a personal story.

That's exactly how we felt when we visited Le Vigne di Silviafor a wine tasting and lunch.

Their story is one of my favorites. Carlo and Lavinia gave a piece of their land to their daughters, Silvia and Stefania, so they could create something of their own. One daughter had been a professional soccer player, the other was living in New York.

They both chose to come home, to their family, their land, and a dream of making organic wines together.

As someone who loves bringing people around the table, I couldn't help but smile all afternoon. Carlo was happily helping wherever he was needed, Silvia and Stefania shared the story behind every bottle, and in the kitchen, Mama Lavinia was doing what Italian mothers do best... feeding everyone with love.

And those ravioli... I think I'll be dreaming about them for a long time!

There was laughter, good wine, delicious food, and the kind of hospitality that can't be taught. It's simply part of who they are.

This is the Tuscany I love sharing with my guests. The people, the family stories, and the passion that lives behind every table and every glass of wine.

Thank you, Carlo, Lavinia, Silvia, and Stefania, for opening your home and your hearts to us. It was a day we'll remember for a long time.

04/07/2026

There is something so special about just walking through Bolgheri. If you turn the sound up, you can practically hear the quiet charm of this place, the distant chatter from a café and the slow pace of everyday Tuscan life.

To get here, you drive down that incredible 5-kilometer avenue entirely lined with giant cypress trees. It’s a magic entrance, and it always feels like you're stepping into another world.

Most people know Bolgheri because it gave its name to some of the most famous wines in the world. But beyond the prestigious appellation, it’s simply a beautiful, tiny village that we absolutely love.

It’s one of our favorite places to bring our friends and clients. There’s no rush here; you just wander the stone streets, breathe in the history, and eventually find a spot to sit down and enjoy a gelato or a great glass of wine together.

Have you ever been?

14/06/2026

In 1978, Giovanni Chiappini bought his first land in Bolgheri.

Then, in 1985, he wanted to make his mark on the landscape and frame the entrance to his property, well before Bolgheri became the global wine superstar it is today.

That is how these young cypress trees came to be planted.

Forty-one years later, everyone can admire the beauty of this tree-lined driveway.

25/05/2026

Ready for a cappuccino in Tuscany?