Wine tasting experience at your villa

A great experience for wine lovers visiting Tuscany who want to taste delicious local wines while staying home relaxed at their villa, maybe by the pool or in a charming veranda. We offer private wine tasting experiences with introduction to the winemaking traditions of Tuscany, serving 6 different wines with little snacks or a full meal, all arranged by our experienced wine tour guide.

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La bella vita in Toscana

The most comfortable way to enjoy delicious wines while visiting our worderful Tuscany. You comfortably sit in the park of your villa, maybe in a panoramic veranda or by the pool, while our experienced wine tour guide gets to your villa and sets the table for all your party, choosing the most suitable space of your rented property. After preparing some little snacks to be paired with the wines for about 1 hour, our guide will give you a first introduction to the world of Tuscan wines. It is an informal yet very informative wine tasting experience, for which no previous knowledge on Italian wines is required. It is appropriate for all the people in your party!

A full meal for a more complete experience

Our wine guide and chef can also arrange for you a full meal that includes at least 3 proper courses served during the wine tasting sessions. The menu will be decided with your booking agent in order to match your preference and perfectly pair the wines served. Please, see below the rates and timing for this option.

A guided tasting session of 6 different wines

While giving you plenty of information on the features of local wines and telling you stories about great wineries, our guide will be happy to answer to all your questions and explain in detail any curiosity that you might have. One by one you will taste 6 different wines. The selection of wines we make for you is as follows: one white, one rosè, one basic red, two aged reds, 1 dessert wine. In this way you will enjoy a large spectrum of what is available in the region and you will be able to taste the several flavors and aromas. Each wine will be presented in detail with the help of a technical file for your reference. We offer two different option: a guided wine tasting accompanied by snacks (some local antipasti) or by a full meal (4 course meal + dessert). All food will be prepared onsite. We will open 1 bottle for each type of wine every 8-9 adults.

We will select wines made with both autochthonous grapes like Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino or Vermentino and international grape varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet, Viognier. You will have a variety of IGTs, DOCG Chianti of the Pisan hills and Supertuscan wines to enjoy.

Wonderful moments with your beloved people

As the wine tasting experience goes towards more structured and full-bodied wines, you will have the chance to share with your people wonderful moments of learning and amusement in a spectacular setting. Our local wine expert will make sure that all the participants enjoy the experience, even if their previous knowledge on wines differs a lot. Before leaving, our staff will also clean up the kitchen and the table for roughly another hour. If you finally want to buy some other bottles of wine, a provision will be available.

Make your wine day in Tuscany a comfortable one at your villa!

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MPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL MEAL SERVICES

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US

At Arianna & Friends, our cooks are not just culinary experts; they are friendly local individuals who bring the warmth of family cooking to your table. Rather than serving elaborate dishes, they craft meals using cherished traditional recipes, creating an experience reminiscent of home.
Our cooks arrive equipped with fresh ingredients, prepare the meal on-site, serve, and conduct a thorough cleanup, leaving your kitchen and dining space as they found it. Bread is always included, as well as a salad along with the second main courses when they don’t include vegetables already.

We provide in-home chef/cooking services and bring our own utensils and tools. However, we utilize the villa’s resources to set the table and serve the food. Tables, chairs, cutlery, glasses, or plates are not included. Additional arrangements can be made at an extra cost with an external provider.

WHAT WE ASK OF YOU

• Access and Timing: Please, ensure permission for our cooks to access the villa and kitchen. Please, ask the villa manager/owner BEFORE booking the service. Confirm that the villa is accessible at the agreed-upon time to avoid additional fees for waiting time. You find this information in the confirmation voucher.
• Preparation: Please, Leave the kitchen clean and free from personal items for prompt service. Additional cleaning time will incur an extra fee.
• Table Settings: Provide the correct number of table settings for your party size (chairs, cutlery, glasses, tableware). We will utilize only what is available.
• Punctuality: Please, be at the table on time; delays will result in extra charges.
• Service Gaps: if you book a full formula service, where the staff serves the food at the table, we plan for a 10-15 minute gap between the serving of one course and the serving of the next one. Delays from your side will be charged extra.
• Extended Services: Please, inform us in advance if you plan to have a long dinner with additional activities such as speeches, singing and dancing. We’ll provide a personalized quotation for extended service hours.
• Children’s Meals: If serving children first, expect an extra hour of service, charged accordingly.
• Menu choice: You are asked to choose a single menu for the entire group. Each course counts as one dish. For example, a three-course meal means choosing three dishes.
• Different menu choice: If you’d like to have different menus for different guests, this is possible at an additional cost. Please note that all food is prepared on-site, and a rental villa kitchen is not a restaurant kitchen, so additional preparation time will be required.
• Allergies and Restrictions: Communicate any food restrictions or allergies at the time of booking. Last-minute changes are not possible.

Extra Charges:
Delays result in a €15/half-hour (€30/hour) charge per staff member

If your party consists of 1 to 4 people, there will be 1 or 2 staff members, depending on the chosen menu. For parties of 5 to 15 people, 2 to 3 staff members will assist you. For groups of 16 to 30 people, the team will include 3 to 5 staff members.

This is a list of specialties that you are likely to sample during this experience. Please, note that these are just some examples of what can be prepared. Our booking staff will send you detailed information.

Bruschettas

Bruschettas

A plate of mixed bruschettas, topped with fresh tomatoes, cheese and sausage, arucola and lemon juice or simply extra virgin olive oil. Bruschettas are very common appetizers in all Italy and in Tuscany they are commonly called crostini. You can top grilled bread with almost anything that comes to your mind and served varied and […]

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Panzanella

Panzanella

One of the most delicious fresh Summer salads of Tuscany, based on bread and fresh vegetables like cucumbers, onion, tomatoes and basil and dressed with extra virgin olive oil and Tuscan vinegar. Originally a way to reuse old bread, it has recently become one of the most iconic super-foods of Tuscany.

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Pappa al pomodoro

Pappa al pomodoro

One of the most delicious specialties of Tuscany: a base of red tomato sauce and garlic and stale bread make a thick bread soup, dressed with extra virgin olive oil and finished with leaves of basil or sage. It is fundamental for the bread to be really hard and a fresh vegetable stock is ideal […]

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Insalata di farro

Insalata di farro

A great Super Food from Tuscany: the Farro. The spelt salad is a delicious salad based on boiled farro (Italian for a grain called “spelt”, similar to barley) and dressed with seasonal fresh vegetables like tomatoes, pickled artichokes and carrots, olives and capers.

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T-Bone Fiorentina Steak

T-Bone Fiorentina Steak

The focus of this tour is enjoying Fiorentina Steak, the most common steak from the renowned Chianina cow. The steak is typically very thick and shall be barbecued in a way to let the middle be very rare. Normally salted at the end of the barbecueing, it can be dressed by black pepper and extra […]

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Mixed Tuscan appetizers

Mixed Tuscan appetizers

A plate of local prosciutto, salami and pecorino cheese is a typical appetizer in the Tuscan cooking tradition. A plate of mixed cold meats and cheese can often accompany a guided tasting of Tuscan wines.

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Organic pecorino cheese

Organic pecorino cheese

Pecorino cheese is the most famous cheese from Tuscany. It derives from sheep milk, from which the name comes: in Italian sheep is “pecora”. It can be fresh or long-aged and its taste can vary from mild to very sharp.

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Tuscan red wine

Tuscan red wine

The Tuscan soil provides a wide variety of red wines, from easy-to-drink young table wines to full-body and robust riservas. Tuscan red wines are often based on Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo or Colorino grapes and sometimes on international grapes like Merlot, Cabernet or Syrah. The most curious experiements are recently involving Alicante and Tempranillo!

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Tuscan white wine

Tuscan white wine

Tuscan white wines are often based on a typical grape called Vermentino, which provides strong minerality and freshness to the wines made with it. The area of San Gimignano provides the one and only white wine DOCG in Tuscany: Vernaccia. Other very common grapes for white wines in Tuscany are Trebbiano and Malvasia.

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Tuscan Rose Wine

Tuscan Rose Wine

Even if it does not belong to a very old tradition, Tuscan Rose Wine has recently become a much desired kind of wine. Often it is based on Tuscan Sangiovese grapes, rose wine is a great match to most Tuscan foods, especially in the hot summers. Rose wine is very frequently served in our wine […]

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For this service you will meet some of the Tuscan friends involved in your wine tasting experience. Please, see below which friends you are likely to encounter.

Alessandro

guide

Alessandro

Tour leader at Arianna & Friends'

Ciao! My name is Alessandro and i'm 30 years old. I was born and raised in a charming village near San Miniato, I've spent my life immersed in the beauty of Tuscany. After traveling to England and Spain, I returned home to share my passion for my region. With years of experience in the hospitality industry, including roles in restaurants, hotels, and pubs, I've honed my skills in providing exceptional guest experiences. My sommelier training has deepened my knowledge of Tuscan wines and cuisine. Now, as a proud member of the Arianna & Friends team, I'm thrilled to share the stories and traditions of my homeland with visitors from around the world. Join me on a journey through the heart of Tuscany, where history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes come together.

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Arianna

guide

Arianna

Founder and owner at Arianna & Friends'

And that's me, Arianna. When I was a student at the univeristy together with Massimo, we had a dream. We knew already we wanted somehow to spread our culture, but we didn't know in which ways yet. And we knew we needed to first get more educated ourselves, to go deeper in what for us belonged to our everyday life, before making it avaiable to the others. We made a lot of researches, made many contacts, and we finally found a good way to become ambassadors of the Tuscan culture, taditions and lifestyle. Yes, I admit it, the power that moved everything was my passion for food! For good food, and in particular for the good food of my mamma and my nonna, hehehh! It was learning from them that I started thinking that I couldn't miss the opportunity to share all I knew with others. It couldn't be different because here where we live, food IS culture! And so we made up a name for our project, our future business, that had to give this message: spend time with us, your Tuscan friends and you'll feel like in a family and you'll experience Tuscany in a very authentic way. So the name Arianna & Friends was picked as the best choice. Personally, I love planning, making people happy, organizing, having crazy ideas .. so crazy that sometimes Massimo needs to bring me down to earth! I like making sure that people are more than satisfied when they come back home. I'm lucky to have Massimo, Consuelo, Moira, Luca with me along with all the other "boys and girls" that help us providing excellent services, all of us, always with a big smile on our faces :)

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Elisabetta

friend

Elisabetta

Hi everybody, ciao a tutti. I am Elisabetta and I am the youngest one among the chefs of Arianna & Friends. I have been working with the company for several years, initially just as a sous-chef and eventually as a proper chef. I have accumulated many years of experience while learning from all my other colleague chefs, but I also added my personal taste and knowledge to the whole. I am really happy to be part of this team and to be able to meet people from all over the world. In my free time I enjoy the company of my lovely puppy for long walks or just hanging around for shopping. Ciao a presto!

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Margherita

friend

Margherita

Eccomi! My name is Margherita, mother of 2, who lives in Santa Croce sull'Arno. I was born and raised in the fantastic wine region of Fiano, Greco and Taurasi, namely some the best wines from the South of Italy. I have been living in Tuscany for decades and I have always cooked both for my families and for several restaurants. My very mild and sweet personality is able to create a very relaxed working ambience and my guests really appreciate this atmosphere. I am a curious person who likes learning and I am ready to share my knowledge with all visitors who take on a cooking class or a chef service. Grazie a tutti!

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Ester

friend

Ester

Ciao, I'm Ester, one of the cooks of Arianna & Friends'. I've been working with them since the beginning of their adventure in 2007. I love cooking together with people from all over the world, especailly with young kids. What I prefer to cook is pasta dishes, pizza and desserts, like for example the stunning cake I made to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary. I live, like Davide (my nephew), in the little village of Lajatico, birthplace of Andrea Bocelli and from my home I can hear his voice and see something when Teatro del Silenzio takes place in July. I live on a farm and I have chickens, rabbits, a large vegetable garden. I make my own olive oil and wine together with my family. I hope to be able to cook with many of you in the years to come and teach you a lot of our typical Tuscan food.

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Silvia

friend

Silvia

Ciao, I'm Silvia, one of the youngest cooks at Arianna & Friends'. Cooking is my real passion and I like to prepare any traditional dish both for visitors and for my family. I also love baking pizza as well as trying innovative food and special contemporary techniques, especially in my kitchen at home. When I started working for this company in 2018, I met an incredible team of collaborators and with them I finally feel joy and serenity in what I do. Any time I work as a cook I can breath freedom and this makes me happy. As I really love the sea, in my free time I like being at the beach. I have a passion for travelling and being in the company of my friends. I could define myself as a "free spirit" with a big attraction to ... hats !!! Looking forward to meet you all!

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