What our guests say

Fabulous experience We waited 2 1/2 years for this trip and we weren’t disappointed! Our hosts were great. The villa and pool were fabulous and the food so delicious! It’s the perfect split between cooking, sight seeing, relaxing and just being totally spoilt! Would thoroughly recommend to anyone wanting to explore Tuscany and experience the amazing food and wine from the area. Can’t wait to go again!

This was our 2020 trip that we moved to 2022! It was so worth the wait! Shilpa and Riccardo are wonderful hosts and every minute was amazing. The villa was beautiful with amazing views. The cooking together with new friends was so fun and delicious. The planned side trips allowed us to see more of Tuscany. This was a dream trip that we want... read moreThis was our 2020 trip that we moved to 2022! It was so worth the wait! Shilpa and Riccardo are wonderful hosts and every minute was amazing. The villa was beautiful with amazing views. The cooking together with new friends was so fun and delicious. The planned side trips allowed us to see more of Tuscany. This was a dream trip that we want to repeat! We just need more time. 2 weeks in Italy was not enough! read less

This trip was fantastic - Shilpa and Riccardo run a wonderful course with delicious recipes and great trips to local attractions as well. The instructors and local producers we visited were all lovely and took plenty of time to share their experience and products with us. Really enjoyed the whole trip. The villa was beautiful and very comfortable.

In a perfect rustic villa, Organic Tuscany’s two wonderfully gracious hosts shepherded a small but interested bunch of amateur chefs through intense hours of chopping. dicing and etc. With our rapidly formed cohesive group, every minute was fun, exciting and certainly instructive. All made possible with the support of their wine maker friend, olive oil expert and local family members. In between sessions were several trips to nearby towns and... read moreIn a perfect rustic villa, Organic Tuscany’s two wonderfully gracious hosts shepherded a small but interested bunch of amateur chefs through intense hours of chopping. dicing and etc. With our rapidly formed cohesive group, every minute was fun, exciting and certainly instructive. All made possible with the support of their wine maker friend, olive oil expert and local family members. In between sessions were several trips to nearby towns and socializing with a glass of chianti. I’d certify put this on anyones bucket list. Ciao. read less

Great experience. Engaging cooking lessons, wine and olive oil tasting was really interesting as was a visit to a local wine and olive producer. The Villa is amazing,great company.

Organic Tuscany was one of the best vacations I've ever had. The setting is magnificent, the staff so pleasant and helpful, the cooking classes were both informative and tremendously fun. And the food and wine were amazing. Meeting new friends from across the globe, touring multiple cities with great guides, visiting a vineyard and a potter's studio, having wine tastings and olive oil tastings made the stay incredible. ... read moreOrganic Tuscany was one of the best vacations I've ever had. The setting is magnificent, the staff so pleasant and helpful, the cooking classes were both informative and tremendously fun. And the food and wine were amazing. Meeting new friends from across the globe, touring multiple cities with great guides, visiting a vineyard and a potter's studio, having wine tastings and olive oil tastings made the stay incredible. And the view is to die for. I cannot say enough good things about this experience. read less

We picked the perfect Cooking School Shilpa ,Riccardo and their staff were perfect hosts. The whole week was so well planned from Day one. The side trips were perfect for seeing more of Tuscany. The food we made together was delicious. We came home and have made several dishes. The villa was beautiful with amazing views. We can't rave enough about Organic Tuscany and plan to return. We just need... read moreShilpa ,Riccardo and their staff were perfect hosts. The whole week was so well planned from Day one. The side trips were perfect for seeing more of Tuscany. The food we made together was delicious. We came home and have made several dishes. The villa was beautiful with amazing views. We can't rave enough about Organic Tuscany and plan to return. We just need more time in Italy. Two weeks is not enough. read less

Excellent trip This was on my bucket list. Best trip ever! We will be back. Everyone working at Organic Tuscany were incredible. Food, fun and friends!

My wife and I had absolutely the BEST week at Organic Tuscany! After postponing for 2 years due to Covid, we went the end of May 2022 (great weather at that time of year). We arrived a day early, spending the evening in Florence to help get over the jet lag. The next day we took the train to Certaldo, where our rented (automatic, as I don't drive a stick... read moreMy wife and I had absolutely the BEST week at Organic Tuscany! After postponing for 2 years due to Covid, we went the end of May 2022 (great weather at that time of year). We arrived a day early, spending the evening in Florence to help get over the jet lag. The next day we took the train to Certaldo, where our rented (automatic, as I don't drive a stick shift) car was waiting for us. We had excellent instructions to drive to the Villa, and were put into a beautiful room with an AMAZING view of the pool and the rolling Tuscan hills (in the distance we could see San Gimignano!). There is too much to describe, so I will just go over the highlights. Riccardo and Shilpa were excellent hosts, and helped with the cooking. We were a group of six lovely people, and the main cook Saranella was an excellent teacher. There was another woman who didn't speak english but aptly demonstrated what we had to do. There were 4 intense cooking sessions, and in each we learned how to make an appetizer, first and second course with sides, and dessert. If you already cook, there are good tips and recipes (as a dessert guy, I especially enjoyed the Tiramisu and Cantuccini), and even if you don't cook as much, it was a lot of fun! They even made allowances for my wife who doesn't eat pork, so that she would still be able to participate in cooking without touching the two pork things we prepared (she made the same dishes, just without adding the sausage). Of course we ate the delicious meals we prepared (and we already bought a Gnocchi board and potato masher, so we can make these at home!). But the week wasn't all about cooking. It was also about learning about the land, the people, and the culture. We went to a gorgeous winery in the hills near Certaldo, and learned about making wine from Cesare, the son of the owner. We sampled some of his products, had a wonderful lunch, and even got to tour his family villa, which is a treasure and looks like a museum. On another day, also had a nice guided tour of an olive oil production grove, and additionally a private wine and olive oil tasting back at the Organic Tuscany villa by Christina, who had previously taken us to the olive grove. While on one day the rest of the group took a tour of a local ceramics studio, my wife and I took the opportunity to rest for the afternoon at the villa (every day was so busy!). During the time we had to ourselves, I took a nice walk into the countryside on my own, while my wife hung out at the pool and caught some rays (the weather was perfect, and fyi there is air conditioning in the rooms when it gets too hot). Trips included a guided tour of Certaldo and Siena, and a trip on our own to San Gimignano (easy driving instructions). Instead of taking the included guided tour of Florence on the last day (we had already been there on a past trip), my wife and I drove to Volterra, yet another gorgeous medieval city located only an hour away and surrounded by the amazing Tuscan hills. Surprisingly, driving was pretty easy in Italy, all on local roads with beautiful views at every turn. On our last night at the Villa, Saranella prepared a special meal for us. After dinner, as we did all week, we hung out around the table drinking wine and enjoying the conversation and evening breeze. As a special treat, on the last night we were treated to a special concert of Italian folk music from a local guitarist and his son. We left the next day for Rome, and stayed over so we could get our flight home without rushing to catch our flight. In addition to all the meals we prepared (which may vary from group to group) there is a link they give for other recipes that they teach, so you can make so much more once you get home! One thing about Covid. It wasn't an issue anywhere we went. You need to wear a good mask on the buses and trains. We ate outside at every restaurant, and I put on my mask when I went inside a store/church. To summarize, this was one of the best trips we have ever taken! Thank you Riccardo and Shilpa for helping to make this such a memorable trip! read less

Spent a wonderful week at OT in June. The entire staff was amazing and helpful. The classes were fun and the food was delicious! All set in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany. We enjoyed excursions to a local winery, a local olive oil producer, and the nearby towns of Certaldo, San Gimignano, and Sienna. Thank you to all of you for making a long-awaited trip... read moreSpent a wonderful week at OT in June. The entire staff was amazing and helpful. The classes were fun and the food was delicious! All set in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany. We enjoyed excursions to a local winery, a local olive oil producer, and the nearby towns of Certaldo, San Gimignano, and Sienna. Thank you to all of you for making a long-awaited trip so special. The week went to fast! Lorraine and Geoff read less

If you have one week in Italy, go here! My mum and I finally got to our Organic Tuscany week in May 2022 and it was the best part of our month long European holiday (Italy and Spain). And it was so much more than you even imagine reading the website and the schedule. We had an amazing and diverse group of 10, from Canada, US, UK and Australia - newlyweds, old friends, married couples, and two sets of... read moreMy mum and I finally got to our Organic Tuscany week in May 2022 and it was the best part of our month long European holiday (Italy and Spain). And it was so much more than you even imagine reading the website and the schedule. We had an amazing and diverse group of 10, from Canada, US, UK and Australia - newlyweds, old friends, married couples, and two sets of mums and daughters! The cooking lessons were so much fun and the food was delicious. My biggest revelation - I never really "got" gnocchi, but it was sublime at Villa il Pino and once in Rome I purchased all the instruments to make them at home! Plus the exact same pasta machine that I ordered on Amazon. I also adored the risotto and the tagliolini con asparagus - divine! Shilpa and Riccardo were such wonderful hosts, caring, funny, organized, relaxed, just lovely lovely people, in their element. The side trips - olive oil tasting, ceramics, Siena and San Gimignano, old town Certaldo, dinners, all were super fun and interesting, and the guides were great. If I was to do another cooking week in Italy, I would go back again to Organic Tuscany without hesitation! I hope I get the chance! Mum too! read less

If you have one week in Italy, go here! My mum and I finally got to our Organic Tuscany week in May 2022 and it was the best part of our month long European holiday (Italy and Spain). And it was so much more than you even imagine reading the website and the schedule. We had an amazing and diverse group of 10, from Canada, US, UK and Australia - newlyweds, old friends, married couples, and two sets of... read moreMy mum and I finally got to our Organic Tuscany week in May 2022 and it was the best part of our month long European holiday (Italy and Spain). And it was so much more than you even imagine reading the website and the schedule. We had an amazing and diverse group of 10, from Canada, US, UK and Australia - newlyweds, old friends, married couples, and two sets of mums and daughters! The cooking lessons were so much fun and the food was delicious. My biggest revelation - I never really "got" gnocchi, but it was sublime at Villa il Pino and once in Rome I purchased all the instruments to make them at home! Plus the exact same pasta machine that I ordered on Amazon. I also adored the risotto and the tagliolini con asparagus - divine! Shilpa and Riccardo were such wonderful hosts, caring, funny, organized, relaxed, just lovely lovely people, in their element. The side trips - olive oil tasting, ceramics, Siena and San Gimignano, old town Certaldo, dinners, all were super fun and interesting, and the guides were great. If I was to do another cooking week in Italy, I would go back again to Organic Tuscany without hesitation! I hope I get the chance! Mum too! read less

Amazing week! My wife and I had absolutely the BEST week at Organic Tuscany! After postponing for 2 years due to Covid, we went the end of May 2022 (great weather at that time of year). We arrived a day early, spending the evening in Florence to help get over the jet lag. The next day we took the train to Certaldo, where our rented (automatic, as I don't drive a stick... read moreMy wife and I had absolutely the BEST week at Organic Tuscany! After postponing for 2 years due to Covid, we went the end of May 2022 (great weather at that time of year). We arrived a day early, spending the evening in Florence to help get over the jet lag. The next day we took the train to Certaldo, where our rented (automatic, as I don't drive a stick shift) car was waiting for us. We had excellent instructions to drive to the Villa, and were put into a beautiful room with an AMAZING view of the pool and the rolling Tuscan hills (in the distance we could see San Gimignano!).
There is too much to describe, so I will just go over the highlights. Riccardo and Shilpa were excellent hosts, and helped with the cooking. We were a group of six lovely people, and the main cook Saranella was an excellent teacher. There was another woman who didn't speak english but aptly demonstrated what we had to do. There were 4 intense cooking sessions, and in each we learned how to make an appetizer, first and second course with sides, and dessert. If you already cook, there are good tips and recipes (as a dessert guy, I especially enjoyed the Tiramisu and Cantuccini), and even if you don't cook as much, it was a lot of fun! They even made allowances for my wife who doesn't eat pork, so that she would still be able to participate in cooking without touching the two pork things we prepared (she made the same dishes, just without adding the sausage). Of course we ate the delicious meals we prepared (and we already bought a Gnocchi board and potato masher, so we can make these at home!).
But the week wasn't all about cooking. It was also about learning about the land, the people, and the culture. We went to a gorgeous winery in the hills near Certaldo, and learned about making wine from Cesare, the son of the owner. We sampled some of his products, had a wonderful lunch, and even got to tour his family villa, which is a treasure and looks like a museum.
On another day, also had a nice guided tour of an olive oil production grove, and additionally a private wine and olive oil tasting back at the Organic Tuscany villa by Christina, who had previously taken us to the olive grove. While on one day the rest of the group took a tour of a local ceramics studio, my wife and I took the opportunity to rest for the afternoon at the villa (every day was so busy!). During the time we had to ourselves, I took a nice walk into the countryside on my own, while my wife hung out at the pool and caught some rays (the weather was perfect, and fyi there is air conditioning in the rooms when it gets too hot).
Trips included a guided tour of Certaldo and Siena, and a trip on our own to San Gimignano (easy driving instructions). Instead of taking the included guided tour of Florence on the last day (we had already been there on a past trip), my wife and I drove to Volterra, yet another gorgeous medieval city located only an hour away and surrounded by the amazing Tuscan hills. Surprisingly, driving was pretty easy in Italy, all on local roads with beautiful views at every turn.
On our last night at the Villa, Saranella prepared a special meal for us. After dinner, as we did all week, we hung out around the table drinking wine and enjoying the conversation and evening breeze. As a special treat, on the last night we were treated to a special concert of Italian folk music from a local guitarist and his son. We left the next day for Rome, and stayed over so we could get our flight home without rushing to catch our flight.
In addition to all the meals we prepared (which may vary from group to group) there is a link they give for other recipes that they teach, so you can make so much more once you get home!
One thing about Covid. It wasn't an issue anywhere we went. You need to wear a good mask on the buses and trains. We ate outside at every restaurant, and I put on my mask when I went inside a store/church.
To summarize, this was one of the best trips we have ever taken! Thank you Riccardo and Shilpa for helping to make this such a memorable trip! read less

The perfect week in Tuscany Such an awesome week spent at Organic Tuscany! They definitely had a perfectly planned week for us with just the right amount of classes and excursions. It was fun getting to know new people, new cooking techniques, olive oil tasting and wine tasting! We still had time to relax and enjoy the amazing view! The week went way too fast! Thank you to the entire... read moreSuch an awesome week spent at Organic Tuscany! They definitely had a perfectly planned week for us with just the right amount of classes and excursions. It was fun getting to know new people, new cooking techniques, olive oil tasting and wine tasting! We still had time to relax and enjoy the amazing view! The week went way too fast! Thank you to the entire staff for making the week so much fun! read less

Amazing week! My wife and I had absolutely the BEST week at Organic Tuscany! After postponing for 2 years due to Covid, we went the end of May 2022 (great weather at that time of year). We arrived a day early, spending the evening in Florence to help get over the jet lag. The next day we took the train to Certaldo, where our rented (automatic, as I don't drive a stick... read moreMy wife and I had absolutely the BEST week at Organic Tuscany! After postponing for 2 years due to Covid, we went the end of May 2022 (great weather at that time of year). We arrived a day early, spending the evening in Florence to help get over the jet lag. The next day we took the train to Certaldo, where our rented (automatic, as I don't drive a stick shift) car was waiting for us. We had excellent instructions to drive to the Villa, and were put into a beautiful room with an AMAZING view of the pool and the rolling Tuscan hills (in the distance we could see San Gimignano!).There is too much to describe, so I will just go over the highlights. Riccardo and Shilpa were excellent hosts, and helped with the cooking. We were a group of six lovely people, and the main cook Saranella was an excellent teacher. There was another woman who didn't speak english but aptly demonstrated what we had to do. There were 4 intense cooking sessions, and in each we learned how to make an appetizer, first and second course with sides, and dessert. If you already cook, there are good tips and recipes (as a dessert guy, I especially enjoyed the Tiramisu and Cantuccini), and even if you don't cook as much, it was a lot of fun! They even made allowances for my wife who doesn't eat pork, so that she would still be able to participate in cooking without touching the two pork things we prepared (she made the same dishes, just without adding the sausage). Of course we ate the delicious meals we prepared (and we already bought a Gnocchi board and potato masher, so we can make these at home!).But the week wasn't all about cooking. It was also about learning about the land, the people, and the culture. We went to a gorgeous winery in the hills near Certaldo, and learned about making wine from Cesare, the son of the owner. We sampled some of his products, had a wonderful lunch, and even got to tour his family villa, which is a treasure and looks like a museum.On another day, also had a nice guided tour of an olive oil production grove, and additionally a private wine and olive oil tasting back at the Organic Tuscany villa by Christina, who had previously taken us to the olive grove. While on one day the rest of the group took a tour of a local ceramics studio, my wife and I took the opportunity to rest for the afternoon at the villa (every day was so busy!). During the time we had to ourselves, I took a nice walk into the countryside on my own, while my wife hung out at the pool and caught some rays (the weather was perfect, and fyi there is air conditioning in the rooms when it gets too hot).Trips included a guided tour of Certaldo and Siena, and a trip on our own to San Gimignano (easy driving instructions). Instead of taking the included guided tour of Florence on the last day (we had already been there on a past trip), my wife and I drove to Volterra, yet another gorgeous medieval city located only an hour away and surrounded by the amazing Tuscan hills. Surprisingly, driving was pretty easy in Italy, all on local roads with beautiful views at every turn.On our last night at the Villa, Saranella prepared a special meal for us. After dinner, as we did all week, we hung out around the table drinking wine and enjoying the conversation and evening breeze. As a special treat, on the last night we were treated to a special concert of Italian folk music from a local guitarist and his son. We left the next day for Rome, and stayed over so we could get our flight home without rushing to catch our flight.In addition to all the meals we prepared (which may vary from group to group) there is a link they give for other recipes that they teach, so you can make so much more once you get home!One thing about Covid. It wasn't an issue anywhere we went. You need to wear a good mask on the buses and trains. We ate outside at every restaurant, and I put on my mask when I went inside a store/church.To summarize, this was one of the best trips we have ever taken! Thank you Riccardo and Shilpa for helping to make this such a memorable trip! read less

The perfect week in Tuscany Such an awesome week spent at Organic Tuscany! They definitely had a perfectly planned week for us with just the right amount of classes and excursions. It was fun getting to know new people, new cooking techniques, olive oil tasting and wine tasting! We still had time to relax and enjoy the amazing view! The week went way too fast! Thank you to the entire... read moreSuch an awesome week spent at Organic Tuscany! They definitely had a perfectly planned week for us with just the right amount of classes and excursions. It was fun getting to know new people, new cooking techniques, olive oil tasting and wine tasting! We still had time to relax and enjoy the amazing view! The week went way too fast! Thank you to the entire staff for making the week so much fun! read less

This trip was an absolute dream! Basically like jumping into the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun.” The century old villa w frescoed ceilings is positioned overlooking rolling hills of grape vines. The hosts are immensely kind and thoughtful. They caringly guided us where we needed to go and helped usher us through the process of getting COVID tests before leaving town. We learned all the inside cooking tips and tricks... read moreThis trip was an absolute dream! Basically like jumping into the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun.” The century old villa w frescoed ceilings is positioned overlooking rolling hills of grape vines. The hosts are immensely kind and thoughtful. They caringly guided us where we needed to go and helped usher us through the process of getting COVID tests before leaving town. We learned all the inside cooking tips and tricks to make authentic local Tuscan food. a generous repertoire of diverse recipes including desserts. We tasted olive oils and toured a winery sampling directly from oak barrels and accessing a VIP tour special to Organic Tuscany groups. We toured nearby medieval towns with guides and transport included in the cost. We could not get over the value of this trip for the cost. There were so many extras we were not expecting and the quality of the authentic experiences w smart and talented cooks, guides and hosts was unreal! We laughed, we cooked, we learned. We made friends with the other international guests and had riveting dinner conversations. read less

We recently returned from spending the month of May in Italy. Our highlight was our week @ Organic Tuscany. It was everything and exceeded our expectations. Shilpa and Ricardo with their excellent team of cooks(like Coaches) have the winning formula for a wonderful experience in the middle of Tuscany. Shout out to Serenella, Manuela and Diana for their guidance and patience. As a novice culinary type, I personally appreciate... read moreWe recently returned from spending the month of May in Italy. Our highlight was our week @ Organic Tuscany. It was everything and exceeded our expectations. Shilpa and Ricardo with their excellent team of cooks(like Coaches) have the winning formula for a wonderful experience in the middle of Tuscany. Shout out to Serenella, Manuela and Diana for their guidance and patience. As a novice culinary type, I personally appreciate their passion and love of food, especially Tuscan cuisine. The Villa nestled in the Tuscan Hills overlooks vineyards and rolling farm fields about a 10 minute drive from Certaldo. In the distance, San Gimignano towers over the landscape. In addition to our classes(so much fun), we visited Certaldo, Sienna and Florence where hand picked guides, Clara, Chiara and Elisabetta showed us not only the sites but invaluable advice every tourist should have. In addition to cooking, we learnt about Olive oil and wine from Cristina. Also, one of our hi lights was our visit to Vico d'Elsa and Majnoni Guicciare Vineyards and Cellars. Our host, Cesare, gave us an extensive tour and instruction on growing, tasting wine right from the barrels only to top it off with a scrumptious meal made just for our group of 10 complete with wine pairings. Could have stayed there all day. Seriously, it doesn't get better than this. Although our group spanning the globe from Australia, USA, Britain and Canada didn't know each other in the beginning, we became close due to our love of food and cooking. On our last night, we had a musical treat with Stefano and his son, Pete, entertaining us with some wonderful guitar and singing, especially, the Gypsy Jazz. Ricardo also joined in on guitar. What a special night to cap off a wonderful week and our Tuscany experience. read less

There aren’t enough superlatives to describe our cooking week at Organic Tuscany. From Shilpa’s first warm greeting to a rather early morning farewell hug from Riccardo we had a wonderful week of cooking, tasting, learning and visiting some of Tuscany’s beautiful towns and cities. Stand out cookery moments were making gnocchi, preparing artichokes for the first time, attempting to make trofie and rolling a polpettone( a giant meat ball.) Early... read moreThere aren’t enough superlatives to describe our cooking week at Organic Tuscany. From Shilpa’s first warm greeting to a rather early morning farewell hug from Riccardo we had a wonderful week of cooking, tasting, learning and visiting some of Tuscany’s beautiful towns and cities. Stand out cookery moments were making gnocchi, preparing artichokes for the first time, attempting to make trofie and rolling a polpettone( a giant meat ball.) Early morning swims and evening discussions with so many interesting and fun people added to the enjoyment. Thank you all so much- what a brilliant team you have Shilpa and Riccardo. read less

A perfect week. The classes were fun, informative & the food was exceptional. The week was a good balance between cooking, sight seeing and down time.