Welcome to Chianti: Where Wine, History, and Heart Meet

Join Chef Mauro on an unforgettable journey through Tuscany as he uncovers the hidden gems of Chianti region this Fall 2025. Explore the breathtaking landscapes, world-renowned vineyards, and mouthwatering Italian cuisine that make this region a true paradise. Imagine mastering authentic Italian cuisine alongside renowned Chef Mauro Golmarvi amidst Tuscany’s rolling vineyards and olive groves. This exclusive experience combines hands-on cooking classes using fresh, local ingredients with guided explorations of Florence’s renaissance treasures and Siena’s medieval charm. Savor wine tastings at historic estates, hunt for truffles with local experts, and create memorable meals in centuries-old kitchens. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Tuscany through a culinary master’s eyes. Accommodations at our villa in Castellina in Chianti.

WHEN: FALL 2025 (6 NIGHTS)

Day 1

First Embrace of the Tuscan Sun. The first time you round that curve in the road and Chianti reveals itself to you, something shifts inside. Our Mercedes glides through cypress sentinels standing tall against the Tuscan sky, and suddenly, time slows. The vineyards unfurl before us like nature's tapestry, each row telling stories of generations who've tended this sacred soil. Medieval villages cling to distant hills as if placed there by a Renaissance master's brush, while beneath it all, some of the world's finest wines rest in cool, centuries-old cellars.

Villa Gran Sogno welcomes us home—home for this magical week, at least. The afternoon sun gilds the terracotta roof and caresses the stone walls that began their life as horse stables in 1350. Mauro and Connie have woven modern comfort into these ancient bones without losing a whisper of their soul.

The moment we step into the lounge, we're enveloped in Mauro's famous bear hugs and his warm "Ciao Bello!" echoes off the stone walls. There's something about the way he pours that first glass of Chianti—with reverence, with joy—that tells you everything about the man. "This isn't just land," he confides as we toast to the adventures ahead, his eyes dancing with passion. "This is a story of generations of winemakers, my family's story."

As the evening sun paints the sky in impossible shades of amber and rose, we gather by the pool that overlooks Mauro's pride—gardens that would make any chef weep with envy. "Everyone talks about 'farm to table,'" he laughs, leading us through rows of heirloom tomatoes, eggplants heavy on their vines, and herbs that perfume the air with each step. "But we Italians, we invented it!" His hand gestures emphasize the point in that unmistakably Italian way.

With Aperol Spritz in hand, watching the sun surrender to the hills, we catch the expressions around us—wonder, contentment, anticipation. In just hours, strangers have become friends, united by Mauro's infectious love for his homeland. We already know in our bones—this week will redefine what travel means to us.

Day 2

Earth's Treasures & Kitchen Miracles. We wake to a view that belongs in a Merchant Ivory film—morning mist performing a ballet over the vineyards while the sun flirts with the horizon. Our coffee (Italian, naturally) steams in the cool morning air as we embark on a peaceful hillside walk. The dew-kissed grass, the birdsong symphony, the distant church bells—every sense awakens to Chianti's magic.

Then comes a treasured Italian tradition—hunting for funghi with Recardo, whose eyes seem able to spot a prized porcini hiding beneath centuries of forest debris. His weathered hands move with certainty, his stories of childhood hunts with his grandfather transporting us to another time.

"Cooking," Mauro declares hours later as flour dusts his hands and ours, "is about respect." We're learning to transform simple flour and eggs into silken pasta sheets under his watchful eye. "Respect for ingredients, for tradition, for the land that gives us these gifts." His grandmother's voice lives in his instructions, passed down like precious heirlooms. When we finally sit on the terrace to enjoy our handmade feast, the flavors are somehow heightened by the knowledge that we've participated in this timeless ritual—from garden to table, from heart to heart.

The afternoon carries us to what Mauro casually refers to as "the neighbor's house"—a breathtaking 13th-century village where Sergio's family has been making wine for five generations. Watching these two men converse in rapid-fire Italian—hands flying, laughter erupting—is like witnessing a beautiful, choreographed dance. Whether they're discussing the nuances of Sangiovese grapes or debating last night's soccer match remains delightfully unclear.

The transcendent moment comes in Sergio's cellar, tasting wine directly from ancient oak barrels. Each sip is a direct conversation with the land—telling tales of sun-soaked hillsides, mineral-rich soil, and traditions upheld through wars, plagues, and centuries of change.

Our day culminates in the cobblestone embrace of Castellina with a dinner that stretches luxuriously into the night, followed by gelato that ruins you for all other frozen desserts, and the essential Italian passeggiata. As Mauro explains, strolling arm-in-arm along medieval streets isn't merely walking—it's the art of being present, of savoring connection, of making room for just one more spoonful of pistachio gelato.

Day 3

Wine Whispers & Liquid Gold. Today brings the extraordinary privilege of meeting Alessandro—a winemaking virtuoso who has achieved the impossible: placing two wines simultaneously on Wine Spectator's coveted Top 100 list. Over a five-course feast at Vallepicciola (prepared by Alessandro's personal chef, no less), we sample vintages that make you close your eyes involuntarily with each sip.

"This wine," Alessandro confides as he pours a 2016 reserve that gleams ruby in the light, "was from the summer of endless sunshine." His stories weave through drought years that produced miraculous concentration, and violent hailstorms that taught lessons in humility. In his world, wine isn't just a beverage—it's a time capsule, capturing a specific moment in earth's journey around the sun.

The afternoon finds us wandering among ancient olive trees, their gnarled trunks testifying to decades—no, centuries—of resilience. "These 91 trees," Mauro says with reverence as his hand caresses silver-green leaves, "they're 150 years old. Imagine the history they've witnessed." We're fortunate enough to arrive during harvest, watching as carefully gathered olives become what Mauro rightfully calls "liquid gold." The freshly pressed oil—electric green and peppery enough to catch in your throat—tastes like sunshine distilled.

Dinner at Osteria di Passignano feels almost sacred—tucked within the walls of an ancient abbey where monks once contemplated eternity, we contemplate instead the divine marriage of refined Tuscan cuisine with perfectly paired Antinori wines. Heaven, I decide, must taste something like this.

Day 4

Siena's Secrets & Market Adventures. Siena embraces us this morning—a UNESCO treasure whose beauty hits with physical force. Our guide's stories bring to life the fierce rivalry of the contrade, the breathtaking Palio horse race, and centuries of intrigue that played out in these very streets. Standing in the magnificent shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, I try to imagine it filled with thundering hooves and the roars of 50,000 spectators.

The Duomo di Siena steals breath with its striped marble columns and mosaic floors depicting stories that have guided generations. And yes, Connie was right—Siena's hidden boutiques yield treasures you'll find nowhere else on earth.

Later, the markets of Greve and Panzano become our playground, with Mauro as our masterful guide. Watching him work his magic at Dario's famous butcher shop—bypassing the inevitable line with hugs and rapid Italian—is like watching a virtuoso perform. He navigates market stalls with purpose and joy, teaching us to choose tomatoes by their fragrance, to recognize the perfect ripeness of a fig, to negotiate for prosciutto with just the right marbling.

"Every ingredient has a personality," he insists with a conspiratorial wink as he presses a perfect peach into my hand. "You must listen to what it wants to become." His market bag grows heavy with treasures—wild mushrooms, fresh-laid eggs with feathers still clinging to the shells, cheese that smells of the caves where it aged.

Back at Villa Gran Sogno, as the kitchen fills with aromas that make conversation momentarily impossible, Mauro hosts one of his legendary wine pairings. What makes these sessions magical isn't just the expertly chosen wines or the heavenly bites that accompany each glass—it's Mauro's gift for stripping away pretension and reconnecting us with the simple pleasure of taste.

Day 5

Renaissance Wonders & Fashion Fever. The journey along SR222 "Chiantigiana" becomes a sensory symphony this morning. With windows rolled down, the intoxicating perfume of wild rosemary floods the car while cypress trees stand like ancient guardians over a landscape that seems impossibly, heartbreakingly beautiful. You don't just see Tuscany—you inhale it, taste it, feel it seep into your soul.

Florence unfolds before us from Piazzale Michelangelo like a Renaissance painting come to life. Santa Maria del Fiore's magnificent dome soars above a sea of terracotta rooftops, seeming to touch the very sky Brunelleschi studied so carefully before designing his architectural miracle.

Every cobblestone in this city whispers secrets of Medici intrigue and artistic revolution. A local shows us the worn marble step in Piazza della Signoria that offers the perfect vantage point to admire Neptune's fountain while watching elegantly dressed Florentines pass by—a tradition unchanged for centuries.

Our private guide transports us to the golden age when Florence was the beating heart of the Renaissance. Standing before Michelangelo's David in the Accademia Gallery, we're struck not just by its immense size but by the impossibly delicate details—the tension in the veins of his hands, the quiet determination in his eyes. At the Bargello Museum, Donatello's bronze David offers a fascinating counterpoint—sensual, victorious, with one foot resting on Goliath's severed head.

At the Uffizi, Botticelli's Birth of Venus captures the moment the goddess of love emerges from the sea, standing atop her giant scallop shell. The painting's blues seem to shimmer with actual Mediterranean light.

While Milan may claim today's fashion crown, our guide reveals that high fashion was actually born right here in Florence in 1951, when Giovanni Battista Giorgini's groundbreaking show at Villa Torrigiani introduced the world to Italian style. The "Florentine Four"—Gucci, Ferragamo, Pucci, and Cavalli—all began their journey to global dominance on these very streets.

Via de' Tornabuoni becomes our runway for the afternoon. The flagship Gucci store opposite the magnificent Palazzo Strozzi spans 1,270 square meters across multiple floors, while Salvatore Ferragamo's boutique occupies a five-story medieval castle that Ferragamo himself purchased in 1938. It houses the world's largest collection of his iconic shoes—true wearable art.

As afternoon shadows lengthen, we escape the crowds on Via dei Neri, where Gelateria dei Neri's seasonal fig gelato proves why locals swear by this hidden gem. The creamy, sweet perfection becomes even more magical as we return to Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the setting sun transform Florence into a canvas of amber and rose.

The twilight drive back to Villa Gran Sogno, with long shadows stretching across vineyards and the first stars appearing above olive groves, feels like the perfect conclusion to a day where art, fashion, and natural beauty have converged in perfect harmony.

Day 6

Farewell to Paradise. Our final day begins with the luxury that has now become habit—unhurried breakfast on the terrace, strong coffee cradled in both hands, and conversation that meanders like the Tuscan hills themselves. I've learned perhaps the most valuable lesson of all: the art of taking time.

Afternoon finds us exploring Castellina's historic center, where the fascinating Underground Tunnel (Via delle Volte) reveals how medieval residents navigated their town in safety during times of siege. Later, a private tasting of aged Chianti Classico Riserva wines offers a fitting crescendo to our week of vinous education.

For our farewell dinner, Mauro and Connie have orchestrated pure magic. Under a canopy of stars, with string lights casting a gentle glow over our table, we feast on the very essence of Chianti—wild mushrooms gathered that morning, local lamb slow-roasted with herbs from surrounding hills, and the perfect finale: cantucci cookies dipped in amber Vin Santo. Each dish comes from within ten kilometers of where we sit, each wine tells the story of a specific hillside.

As twilight embraces us for the last time, Mauro shares what might be his most profound wisdom: "Travel is not just about the food and wine. It's about connection—to the land, to history, to each other." Looking around the table at faces that were strangers just days ago but now feel like family, we understand completely.

The magic of traveling with Mauro isn't just in the exclusive access, the legendary bear hugs, or even the extraordinary food and wine. It's that by week's end, you're no longer merely visiting Chianti—you've become part of its living story.

Extra Treats Throughout Your Stay

• Private drivers ensure seamless transitions between each magnificent experience

• Exclusive access to wine cellars typically closed to the public

• Simple wine shipping services to send your discoveries home

• Flexible scheduling to coincide with seasonal festivals and local events

• Optional add on sunrise hot air balloon ride over Chianti's breathtaking landscape—seeing this ancient land awaken from above is truly unforgettable