What our guests say

My wife and I and another couple spent a week this May at the Organic Cooking School. We can't say enough about the wonderful time we had. Ricardo, Shilpa and there staff were great! . There hospitality was A1 . The villa is very comfortable, and the views were fantastic. The cooking lessons were very enjoyable and the results were fantastic. They even supplied guides for tours of some of the surrounding medieval towns! We would highly recommend the Organic Tuscany Cooking Classes to anyone wanting a unique vacation!

Thanks to Shilpa, Riccardo, and the whole team, we had the best vacation ever! Everything was so well organised, every detail so perfectly taken care of, we were astounded every time we were carrying out each step of the weekly itinerary. The food and wine was delicious, especially when eating with such a wonderful view. The house was lovely, rooms were clean and equipped with everything we needed. The only thing that bothered me a little bit was low pressure of water in the shower, but I can understand that, in an old villa like this, it's probably normal. Overall, we can recommend this experience to each person who loves to eat and cook, and to whom quality of food and wine, as well as good organisation, is very important.

What an amazing week we had! From the moment we arrived at the villa we were transported into a world of cooking, sightseeing and camraderie. Every detail was arranged with a personal touch.The rooms at the villa are well appointed and comfortable, having cooking classes and meals with other couples offered an international touch that enriched our experience, and the staff, especiall Shilpa and Riccardo, were there for each and every need. Special note: you will not see a frozen vegetable or ingredients from a can or bread from a bag - every morsel that is offered up is made locally or in the villa kitchen with love and attention to detail. We would do this trip again in a heartbeat.

This was a terrific experience. Everyone was wonderful, kind, and generous, and the setting beautiful. The cooking instruction was top notch. I felt I got a glimpse into how professional chefs think differently than folks like me, who like to cook but are self-taught. The hands on instructions were great, and the meals we prepared were delicious. I really enjoyed and learned so much from the tour of the vineyard and organic farm, and the tours of Certaldo and San Gimignano were fun and very interesting. I didn't get much out of the tours of Siena and Florence; I'd been to Florence several times before. I would have traded the Siena tour for another cooking day. But these are mild critiques and don't diminish the overall experience. I highly recommend this!

Our week here was amazing and memorable . The villa was beautiful with comfort in every room . The view was stunning . The classes were well organized with attention to every detail of the recipes and techniques . The staff were charming , helpful and so knowledgeable. We laughed so much while learning how to prepare wonderful local food . The wine and olive oil tastings at the villa and the field trips to towns and wineries were top notch and well organized . Ricardo and Shilpa were the best hosts ! This was one of our all time favourite vacation destinations .

It was everything as wonderful as we expected it to be. The people were great, the accommodations were excellent, and the classes were fun. The nightly dinners were not to be missed. Side trips were excellent. We'd go again!

We had a wonderful week with Organic Tuscany. Shilpa and Riccardo made us feel very much at home . The villa was beautiful with exceptional views of the surrounding countryside. Really enjoyed the cookery classes and eating the results of our labours! A very well-planned week. Thanks to the whole team for making it so enjoyable.

My partner and I recently returned from an amazing week at Organic Tuscany. My favorite part was meeting all the interesting, kind and genuine people who work together to make this experience so special. We learned so much - not just about cooking (although that was so fun!), but about the land and the people and the history that make this region so magical. I felt like we were immersed for a short time in their community and I so appreciate being welcomed as family through Organic Tuscany. It’s truly a special experience.

Always a warm welcome at the villa. Classes were informative & fun. The food was exceptional. Side tours were fun as well as relaxing by the pool.

What a week! It was everything I could have hoped for and more. I traveled with my sister to celebrate her big birthday. Shilpa and Riccardo were the most gracious hosts and their entire team was warm and engaging. I have some specific food considerations and they all went above and beyond to accomodate me--even when I said it wasn't necessary. The food was delicious, the wine was amazing, the setting magnificent. It was the people, though--the Organic Tuscany team and our group that made it so special. One of my best vacations ever!

We loved it!I I was a little worried that my daughter (21) might feel out of place due to her age, but we both loved our week at Organic Tuscany. Riccardo, Shilpa and all the staff were wonderful, as were the other guests during our week there. The week is a nice balance of cooking and sight seeing, with opportunities to relax poolside if you wanted to. I would highly recommend this experience to others. It was the highlight for me during our 5 weeks in Europe. - Cathy Shilpa and Riccardo were very welcoming and accommodating hosts, they even helped us to print our voting papers so that we could vote from overseas! The food was exceptional and I probably ate twice as much as I normally do because of this. I throughly enjoyed the cooking classes and the staff were friendly and helpful. We visited Florence and Siena and the tour guides (who were organised by Organic Tuscany) were very passionate about their cities and gave engaging tours. I particularly liked the tour that our guide gave of Florence where we saw a local market and she got us some samples of cheese and truffle dishes. The other guests were friendly and we all got along really well. The villa has a spectacular view and it was nice to call Il Pino home for a week! Overall it was a wonderful vacation and my only regret is that we didn’t manage to get a photo of everyone. - Emma

My husband and I had the most amazing week with Shilpa, Riccardo and the Organic Tuscany crew. The setting was beautiful, the classes were both fun and informative, everyone involved was approachable and kind, and it was a great way to unplug for the week. There was ample time to participate in organized activities while still having downtime and space to do your own thing. I came back fully refreshed and excited to cook a few new dishes for my family.

What a fabulous week! Riccardo & Shilpa are excellent hosts and shared not only recipes, but Tuscan hospitality. We felt like guests in their home and not just tourists. Manuela and Serenella were talented and patient as they taught us the nuances of Italian cooking. Christina taught us about olive oil and wine. The villa was beautiful and the accommodations were first-class. The side trips to San Gimignano, Certaldo, Siena and Florence were lead by excellent and knowledgeable guides. I feel that I have made lasting friends with the others in the class. I recommend this vacation without reservation!

Organic Tuscany was an amazing week. Everything was just incredible. The staff were easy going and friendly with loads of patience during the classes. The food was so good!! I'm not particularly interested in cooking but went along as part of my friend's birthday celebration and I enjoyed everything about our week. There were plenty of activities planned outside of the cooking classes including guided tours in Sienna, Florence and Cetaldo. I would love to go back for another week and highly recommend for anyone interested in good food and a look at Tuscany.

We couldn't be happier about our week with Organic Tuscany! We were part of an extended family group of nine, including two teenagers. Shilpa and Riccardo were great hosts, so welcoming, knowledgeable, and organized. The cooking classes were approachable for novices, but would also appeal to the experienced cook. Classes were fun. Leading us through preparation of some classic Tuscan dishes, our expert instructors made sure that everyone had a job to do and had a turn at different steps in the process. Best of all, we got to eat everything we prepared--sourced from wonderfully fresh and local ingredients. The accommodations in our villa outside Certaldo were excellent and put our well-curated and guided field trips to Florence, Siena, and other Tuscan destinations within easy reach. In short, our Organic Tuscany experience was fantastic!

What could be more wonderful than a week in a beautiful villa, learning to prepare and sample mouth-wateringly delicious Tuscan meals? And all this in the company of delightful fellow participants who had never met before, hailed from Canada, USA and South Africa and yet, found a connection and became firm friends. We were guided in our cooking endeavours by our hosts Shilpa and Riccardo and assisted by the bubbly Serenella! The highlights - where do I start? The venue, beautiful; the view, breathtaking; the staff, excellent; the excursions, top notch with professional and superb guides; the lunch at the wine farm, just like a movie; the food, sublime - ditto the wines. The recipes, varied and using the very best ingredients, were easy to follow and will be used again and again on our return. The final evening, as we sat, replete after a delicious meal, we were treated to the sounds of classical guitars under a full Tuscan moon. This magical experience will be forever etched in our memories.

Absolutely amazing experience. Everything was perfect! The guest rooms are spacious, our bed was comfortable and the home was very clean. We were treated like family by all the staff. The well organized cooking sessions were just right in occurrences and length of time, allowing us time to explore the beautiful area or just sit with a glass of wine and enjoy the peaceful setting. The guided tours were great and again, perfect in length. It definitely helped that the rest of the "students" were so much fun to cook and dine with. We have formed a friendship that we trust will last a lifetime. I would repeat this experience in a heart beat! We traveled for three weeks in Europe, this week was by far the best week! Just do it!!

This Tuscan cooking class is so much fun for everyone at all ages. Shilpa and Riccardo are such caring and interesting people. The recipes and cooking classes are so delicious and interesting to learn. I learnt some really good techniques that are used in Italian cooking. The variations of recipes was also an amazing experience. The assistant chefs and tour guides that are part of the experience are knowledgeable of the vegetation in the Tuscan region. Grapes, olives and vinegars. My week at Organic Tuscany was very enjoyable and I would sincerely consider going back in a few years for additional Italian cuisine learning. Love it!

This was my first trip to Italy (and my first solo trip). I had been wanting to do a destination cooking course and stumbled upon Organic Tuscany. Ricardo and Shilpa were very helpful in answering any questions I had prior to the trip. Upon arrival, Shilpa was extremely welcoming and friendly (even though I arrived a bit early). My stay throughout the week was so much more than I had anticipated. The cooking courses were fun, informative and delicious! The friendliness of all the staff and hosts made me feel at home. At the location..the view...was spectacular. And on top of all that they had great adventures planned for us throughout the week. If you want to explore Tuscany and explore Tuscan cuisine, I highly reccomend this ! I truly look back at this experience as the highlight of my trip to Italy. Thank you so much Ricardo and Shilpa!

Sucb a fun experience! This was my first trip to Italy (and my first solo trip). I had been wanting to do a destination cooking course and stumbled upon Organic Tuscany. Riccardo and Shilpa were very helpful in answering any questions I had prior to the trip. Upon arrival, Shilpa was extremely welcoming and friendly (even though I arrived a bit early). My stay throughout the week was so much more than I had anticipated. The cooking courses were fun, informative and delicious! The friendliness of all the staff and hosts made me feel at home. At the location..the view...was spectacular. And on top of all that they had great adventures planned for us throughout the week. If you want to explore Tuscany and explore Tuscan cuisine, I highly reccomend this ! I truly look back at this experience as the highlight of my trip to Italy. Thank you so much Riccardo, Shilpa, and the whole Organic Tuscany team!