The food was amazing. Service was amazing…read more The ambiance was amazing with olive trees, a farm and the beautiful sun of Italy full of grape vines. The Bolognese was amazing. The meat sauce was perfect and with adding the extra olive delicious. Their fresh charcuterie and cheese was to die for. The service was world class and very calm.

We had an absolutely wonderful time here as a part of a Trafalgar tour. The food and wine were…read morefantastic. The setting is beautiful inside and out. We enjoyed the tour up to the vineyard. Definitely go here if you have the opportunity!

Such a fun day exploring the foods of Bologna! First we were picked up promptly, first thing in…read morethe morning (the sun hadn't come up yet) at our hotel in a passenger van, and drove to the first experience which was the cheese factory/farm. We actually got to see how the whole processing of making Parmigiano Reggiano,from start to finish, which was very enlightening. I have to say their Ricotta cheese is the best I have tasted from all over the world. Next we drove to a family owned DOP balsamic vinegar vineyard where we were able to see the process of making balsamic vinegar. Did you know it takes years and years to make just a small amount of vinegar. Very fascinating to hear and to taste. We got to compare balsamic venegar that isn't DOP and some that is. We were also able to taste the 25 year old, and 50 year old vinegar. This is tightly guarded as it is quite an arduous process, and very, very, time consuming just to get a few bottles out of the 25 and 50+ vinegar. Let's just say it's yummy. Make sure you buy a bottle while you are there. I didn't, and I could kick myself as it's more expensive is the USA from the same vineyard. Then it was off to the place where the prosciutto di Modena is made. That was interesting as well all these ham hocks hanging up, and the process of how the most tasty prosciutto is made. Final stop was to have lunch at a cantina on a sprawling estate. Great views. Did I say FOOD, lots, and lots of Italian food and wine. Very tasty and a good variety of Italian dishes. Then off to our hotel we go. We had our driver drop us off closer to city center so that we could enjoy the city before heading back to our hotel since this was or last night in Italy. She was very happy to oblige us. Such a fun day. I highly recommend this tour.

We had a fabulous tour with Italian Days! We saw how they make Parmegiano Reggiano, Prosciutto and…read moreBalsamic Vinegar. Not only did we get to taste the finished product, the process that goes into making them was very interesting. Alessandro, our tour guide, was excellent at explaining all the steps for each. We had a lovely breakfast after the Parmegiano Reggiano tour. After touring the Prosciutto company, we had a lovely five course meal including wine. I highly recommend Italian Days.

this is a farm that delivers organic produce directly to your house.The program works like this,…read moreyou get to try a 'sample' box for free of what kind of vegetables they will deliver ( there are two sizes) and whats inside? fresh seasonal vegetables from the farm. they use no dangerous chemicals and they participate in programs like GAS. After speaking to them over email, they delivered our box the very next day. We got a really impressive variety of veggies, bell peppers, peppers, onions, garlic, cabbage, eggplant, herbs, leeks and even a huge yellow melon. The price is 15 euros for a 'standard' box and they deliver weekly (you can arrange with them). They have a sort of membership, you have to agree to 10 deliveries which costs 150 euros (15 euros a box + delivery) and that includes IVA. highly recommend if you live in Tuscany! We are so happy to have a variety of fresh organic veggies to truly eat healthy in a way without having to travel at all. You are also more than welcome to visit the farm and they encourage it!

Great countryside family operated farm-stay (agri-tourism) centrally situated in Tuscany - 30…read moreminutes from Siena and 20 minutes from San Gimignano by car. Tenuta di Mensanello is a self-sustained farm - they grown their own vegetables, make their own wine, olive oil and care for their own pigs. (But no, you don't see them roaming around.) Room and bathroom are clean and modest. (Remember this is not a 5-star luxury hotel, it's a true farm living.) Within minutes of walk around the property, you will see some amazing green rolling hills and vineyards. simply spectacular!! Carla, the property manager, took care of us and could not be nicer! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay!

RUN DON'T WALK to the most spectacular hidden gem restaurant in Florence! This is by far the best…read moremeal we've had in Italy so far. We were welcomed so warmly and sat on their outdoor patio for the evening. Our server brought us a lovely complimentary starter of crostinis with different meat toppings - so lovely! We started with a glass of Chianti and an Aperol Spritz - both delicious. We read about pinsas being gluten-free and like a pizza, and were sold! We opted for the one with ham and cheese, and a charcuterie board with meats and cheeses both. Our incredible server told us about the family-owned farm and how they make all of the cheese, pork products, and more from scratch. You could taste the quality in each bite! We were literally IN AWE at the pinsa's flavor, and the meat and cheese. Everything was exactly what we'd hoped we would find in Italy. We ended the night with a limoncello and a chat with our incredible server. 5/5 for service, quality, flavor, and ambiance!

Wow, what a great surprise. A Rick Steve's recommendation that was just exquisite. The…read morecharcuterie plate was out of this world. Kathleen a 21 year transplant from New Jersey and her husband Gino are the consummate hosts. Warm and personable. The wine pairings are stupendous.

A very small family farm, vineyard, and winery will of the tourist routes. They are so warm and…read moreinviting, and the setting so serene, that the wine tasting adds the perfect touch. Reservations are usually necessary, especially for the light lunch option. I added their chef's apron to my collection!

This was our first stop on a wine tour we did. Unfortunately I don't remember which wine tour it…read morewas. Upon arriving, I was extremely excited just being there. They showed us the vineyard as well as the cellar, typical wine tour stuff. Then we did the wine tasting where they provided cheese & bread along with olive oil & this AMAZING chutney of some sort. My boyfriend & I fell in love with it. We were expecting a sweet taste but were shocked with a little spicy aftertaste. We learned it was made of tomato. We ended up buying a couple jars of it as well as a bottle of wine. The host was extremely friendly & the winery was beautiful! I would definitely visit again if we ever go back to that area of Italy. P.S. This review has been written 3 months after visiting Italy so it's not as thorough as I would've liked.

A hidden gem in Firenze. A quaint meat and cheese shop, offering small bites and sandwiches…read more Alessandro the owner was so kind and welcoming. He recommended a meat and cheese board with some vino that was absolutely divine. I don't think I've ever had such a delicious and fresh off the bone charcuterie as I did today. He sat with us while we snacked sharing with us his family history and 3 generations of business, since 1924. Such a kind soul. I hope his business lasts lifetimes more. It truly is such a special place. Can't wait to get back. Highly recommend. No crowds either.

One of my absolute favorite meals I had while in Italy. Not as well known, as another reviewer…read morementioned, definitely a hidden gem. One I'm so glad my group and I stumbled upon. The family/staff that owns the market and restaurant was so sweet. We stopped by for a lunch and ordered anything they recommended. They were extremely attentive and wanted us to have the best experience. We had the Ribollita and their charcuterie board for 2. It was such a treat! I've never had Ribollita before then, but it tasted so fresh and homey. It was as if a family had invited you to their home for a meal. The eating space is a tiny, so if you find an open table definitely try to grab a bite there! The walls are also littered with post it notes from customers who have had the pleasure of eating there. Such a great eatery!

We did the truffle hunting experience as a group of 40 the day after our wedding. Vittorio was very…read morehelpful in making sure that we had a bus big enough for the group and gave clear instructions on where to meet him in Florence for our pickup. Our group loved learning about truffles, meeting the dogs, and exploring the woods. We even found 4 truffles that day, though Luna ate one. The lunch is absolutely delightful. Each course is paired with wine and you get to try fresh bread with all of the different truffle oils and butters. I could eat that truffle pasta every single day. You are served in the family home and are treated just like family. It's really very special. At the end of the tour, you can buy wines, salts, or truffle oils. They also sell beautiful candles and plates. This was the perfect post-wedding activity and was so much fun. We left at around 11am and got back by 5pm.

This is an amazing experience to do if you're in the Florence area. The farm is located about 40…read moreminutes away from downtown Florence and is worth renting a car. The roads to the farm are windy and narrow, but the views are incredible. Once we arrived, we were greeted by Francesca (our host and guide). She offered us coffee and water, as well as mosquito repellent since it was summer time. She has a brief overview of what we were going to do. Then we went and got Choco, our truffle hunting dog. He's a friendly and energertic Lagotto Romangnolo. He's specially trained to find truffles, but not eat them. Since it was July in Tuscany, Francesca reminded us that she respected the dogs and if Choco was too hot, we would have to end the hunt. Then we went off on a short hike through the woods. As soon as we got into the woods, Choco stopped and started digging. Francesca and Choco work extremely well with each other and respect each other. Francesca dug up a small (about the size of a button mushroom) white truffle! These are not in season, but it still smelled fragrant and Francesca said she would keep it since it was good quality. For the next half hour we continued to walk through the forest and found 2 black summer truffles and another white truffle. The black summer truffles are not as aromatic as the white ones, but had an earthier smell. Francesca also pointed out other plants and vegetables along the way. When Choco was tired, he let us know by sitting at our feet which indicated it was time for pictures lol. We then walked back to the farmhouse where we said good bye to Choco and ate an amazing 4 course lunch with tons of truffles. Even though it was hot, they provided fans and ice water to keep us cool. I was shocked by how much food we got and the wines served with lunch was incredible! We were so full after lunch! Francesca and her family made sure we were comfortable and well fed. Their hospitality was so generous and we loved every minute we were there. *Helpful Hint* Wear long pants and good sneakers because the forest has lots of branches and thorny plants. The other people in our group wore shorts and it was unconfortable for them to walk around.