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... 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,... 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... 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

Beautiful Tuscany with food, wine and tours. Our month long Italy experience was designed around Organic Tuscany. We weren't disappointed. It was the perfect blend of cooking, exploring nearby towns complete with tours and wine tasting. Our week-long stay was never boring, a perfect balance and our group from England, Australia, US and Canada embraced our common love of food and wine. This is what Italy is... read moreOur month long Italy experience was designed around Organic Tuscany. We weren't disappointed. It was the perfect blend of cooking, exploring nearby towns complete with tours and wine tasting. Our week-long stay was never boring, a perfect balance and our group from England, Australia, US and Canada embraced our common love of food and wine. This is what Italy is and we hit the jackpot. Thank you again to all the staff, Shilpa and Ricardo for making our stay so wonderful. read less

An Exquisite Tuscan Culinary Experience I loved the whole package deal: the gorgeous location, the amazing cooking experience, the excursions to the picturesque Tuscan towns, the wine and olive oil tasting, the comradery among the participants and the kind and caring leadership of our hosts. I have traveled extensively, been on some wonderful river cruises all over Europe and this experience rates on top of... read moreI loved the whole package deal: the gorgeous location, the amazing cooking experience, the excursions to the picturesque Tuscan towns, the wine and olive oil tasting, the comradery among the participants and the kind and caring leadership of our hosts. I have traveled extensively, been on some wonderful river cruises all over Europe and this experience rates on top of my list of favorites. read less

Cookery and laughter in beautiful Tuscany Well thought-through menus with excellent teaching and tips. Fun and flavoursome. Excursions with interesting and knowledgable guides and the wine and olive oil tasting sessions with Christina were excellent also.

Amazing foodie week in Tuscany Hello Brenda! Thank you for your kind words. It was such a pleasure to share food, wine, and laughter with you and Alan. It's a pleasure to hear that we helped create some lovely memories! Sending very warm wishes! Shilpa and Riccardo

Organic Tuscany is great!! Great experience with a good mix of seeing the area and cooking classes. The people who work with Organic Tuscany are all experts and great chefs! We learned so much and will continue to prepare many of the dishes. We ate well! Organic Tuscany was so organized with schedule, directions, and recommendations!

Better than expected What an amazing trip to Organic Tuscany. Our experience was more than expected. It was a great mix of cooking and side trips. The villa is beautiful and Shilpa and Riccardo took great care of us, as did all the guides, and cooking assistants. Incredible value for a cooking week that included trips to Sienna, San Gimignano and... read moreWhat an amazing trip to Organic Tuscany. Our experience was more than expected. It was a great mix of cooking and side trips. The villa is beautiful and Shilpa and Riccardo took great care of us, as did all the guides, and cooking assistants. Incredible value for a cooking week that included trips to Sienna, San Gimignano and Florence. I would highly recommend Organic Tuscany to cooks and non cooks alike. read less

You will love Organic Tuscany! I will never forget the fabulous week we had at Organic Tuscany. Shilpa and Ricardo were amazing hosts and everyone on their team, from the cooks to the tour guides, to the local artisans were approachable, knowledgeable and fun. It was a perfect mix of cooking and touring. I highly recommend the Organic Tuscany experience.
Ann

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,... 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... 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

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... 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... 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... 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.

Well organized. Nice blend of seeing Tuscany sites and learning foods and recipes of the region. Great hosts, pleasant company, great setting, knowledgeable assistants. Food, wine, olive oil, culture - a nice blend. Highly recommend! Barb & Rich Haase

Our stay at Organic Tuscany was like a dream! Shilpa, Ricardo, and Ceranella were delightful, accommodating hosts that made our stay comfortable, relaxing and awe-inspiring. The cooking classes were detailed and I learned many tricks that I will be able to apply to all my cooking. We used fresh ingredients and received all the recipes to try at home. The... read moreOur stay at Organic Tuscany was like a dream! Shilpa, Ricardo, and Ceranella were delightful, accommodating hosts that made our stay comfortable, relaxing and awe-inspiring. The cooking classes were detailed and I learned many tricks that I will be able to apply to all my cooking. We used fresh ingredients and received all the recipes to try at home. The location is incredible!! Beautiful view of the Tuscan hillside to enjoy the meal you worked hard to make! Other activities were very well planned out with knowledgable and enthusiastic tour guides to show us around Siena, Certaldo, San Giminiano and Florence. I highly recommend this experience!! read less

Having decided to take our beloved old Alfa on a road trip from UK to Tuscany, over the Alps, we didn't think it could get any better than the journey to "Organic Tuscany". But we were wrong. From the minute we arrived Shilpa, Riccardo, Serenella, Diaine and the team gave us a truly personalised experience in a stunning setting,... read moreHaving decided to take our beloved old Alfa on a road trip from UK to Tuscany, over the Alps, we didn't think it could get any better than the journey to "Organic Tuscany". But we were wrong. From the minute we arrived Shilpa, Riccardo, Serenella, Diaine and the team gave us a truly personalised experience in a stunning setting, overlooking the Tuscan hills. Nothing was too much trouble, including sourcing fresh apple juice for us to take home for our son (he loved it by the way!), to the fantastic cookery course, to taking us to the homes/businesses of their local friends to experience authentic food, wines and even beautiful ceramics (as well as a surprise serenade one evening). The balance of cooking, to visits to just time on our own relaxing was perfect. Getting to meet and socialise with our other house guests was great and the sense of camaraderie on the cooking course itself as we worked as a team was tremendous. We learned so much which we're already practising back home! We left feeling utterly relaxed, uplifted and inspired to cook Tuscan food. Thankfully the old Alfa behaved impeccably and didn't put a foot wrong on the journey home (of which we had no doubt!) Thank you Organic Tuscany for giving us a truly memorable holiday which we will be regaling to friends and family for a long time to come. I feel sure we'll be back!! Lindsay & Chris UK read less

My wife and I really enjoyed ourselves at Organic Tuscany. Shilpa, Ricardo, and their staff are wonderful cooks and instructors. The hands on instructions are fun and easy to do. The recipes are classic Italian, very tasteful, and easy to duplicate when you get home and want to impress your friends and family members. This was one of our best... read moreMy wife and I really enjoyed ourselves at Organic Tuscany. Shilpa, Ricardo, and their staff are wonderful cooks and instructors. The hands on instructions are fun and easy to do. The recipes are classic Italian, very tasteful, and easy to duplicate when you get home and want to impress your friends and family members. This was one of our best vacations. I can't say enough good things about Organic Tuscany. We raved about the great time we had, and are making plans with our family and friends to attend another Organic Tuscany Class. read less