Gourmet Tuscany: Food, Wine and the Italy We Hoped to Find
Winery and vineyard just outside of Greve
Some trips are easy to describe. You list the places you visited, share a few pictures and talk about what you saw.
Tuscany was different.
The scenery was beautiful, but what made this trip special was how we experienced the region. We visited historic towns, learned about local wine, ate meals prepared with fresh ingredients and spent time with people who welcomed us into their homes and businesses.
We spent a lot of time going through our footage and putting together our Gourmet Tuscany video. It does a much better job than I can of showing what the tour actually felt like, what stood out to us and the kind of traveler who would enjoy this experience.
Watch our complete Gourmet Tuscany tour video below.
Why I Chose This Tuscany Tour
I wanted to visit Tuscany because of the scenery, food and wine, but one particular experience in the tour description immediately caught my attention.
It mentioned visiting a farmhouse, walking through the garden, choosing vegetables and then using them to prepare a meal.
I was sold.
I knew that was the kind of experience I wanted from Italy. I did not just want to look at Tuscany through a bus window. I wanted to meet local people, taste the food and understand a little more about how they lived.
A guided tour also made it possible for us to visit several different towns without renting a car, navigating unfamiliar roads or planning every detail ourselves.
We could settle into one hotel, enjoy the scenery and arrive at each destination ready to explore.
The Best Night I Had in Italy
The farmhouse experience was the reason I chose the tour, but I had no idea how memorable it would become.
The farmhouse was home to Theresa and her two sons. They welcomed us into their home, showed us their gardens and demonstrated what it really means to create an Italian meal using fresh ingredients.
We helped chop vegetables from the garden to make zuppa toscana. Theresa’s sons showed us how to make pasta from scratch and then let us create our own. The pasta was cooked and became part of the meal we had helped prepare.
Theresa finished the evening by demonstrating her private tiramisu recipe, which we all enjoyed for dessert.
There was also plenty of delicious wine, conversation and laughter.
It was more than a cooking class. We were welcomed into an Italian family’s home and given the opportunity to experience their food, traditions and hospitality.
It was the best night I had in Italy.
Theresa making her delightful Tiramisu
The Tuscany We Hoped to Find
Before the trip, I wondered whether Tuscany would really look like the pictures. Would we actually see the rolling hills, vineyards, stone farmhouses and hilltop towns that you imagine when you think of the region?
The answer is yes. It really does look like that.
Each town also had something that made it memorable.
Lucca was one of my favorites. Its Old Town is completely surrounded by high medieval walls. The tops of those walls have been transformed into beautiful, tree-lined parks where we saw people walking, biking and rollerblading.
I also loved how dog-friendly Lucca felt. There seemed to be dogs everywhere, which added to the relaxed atmosphere of the city. I started taking pictures of all the dogs (and one cat..) - see some of them below.
Castagneto Carducci was another special stop. From the town, we had beautiful views that stretched across the countryside all the way to the ocean.
We also had the opportunity to dine in a family-owned restaurant. It was exactly the type of local experience I hoped to have in Tuscany. The setting, the meal and the hospitality made the visit feel personal rather than simply another sightseeing stop.
In Greve in Chianti, we learned more about Chianti Classico and explored the town. One of my favorite discoveries was a local butcher shop that was unlike any butcher shop I had ever visited.
These were not necessarily famous attractions that required hours of touring. They were smaller moments that helped us experience the personality of each place.
We stopped into a store in Lucca and had the chance to sample some wines, meats and cheeses
Come to Tuscany for the Food and Wine
You could visit Tuscany for the scenery alone, but the food and wine are reason enough to go.
The meals were simple, fresh and centered around local ingredients. We enjoyed pasta, meats, cheeses, olive oil, regional dishes and plenty of local wine.
Dining in Italy also has a much slower pace than we are accustomed to at home. When you sit down at a restaurant, the staff are not thinking about turning the table as quickly as possible. The table is yours, and the meal becomes part of the evening.
That slower approach to dining was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Tuscany was not simply a place we toured. It was a place we were able to taste and experience.
Is a Guided Tuscany Tour Right for You?
A guided Tuscany tour could be a good fit if you:
Want to visit several towns without renting a car
Enjoy food, wine and local cultural experiences
Prefer having transportation and sightseeing arranged
Like having some structure while still getting time to explore
Want to unpack and stay in one main location
Are visiting Tuscany for the first time and want an easy introduction to the region
A guided tour may not be right for someone who wants a completely independent trip with no schedule.
For travelers who want to see several parts of Tuscany without managing every logistical detail, this type of tour can be an excellent option.
Would We Recommend This Trip?
Yes, we would.
The trip gave us the Tuscany we hoped to experience. We saw the countryside, visited memorable towns, learned about the region and enjoyed incredible food and wine.
More importantly, we had experiences that made us feel connected to the places we visited.
The farmhouse dinner, the family-owned restaurant, the people enjoying the walls of Lucca and the views from Castagneto Carducci are the moments I remember most.
The trip also gave me valuable firsthand knowledge that I can now use when helping my clients plan Italy. I can explain what this style of tour feels like, who it is best suited for and how it compares with a more independent vacation.
Ready to Experience Tuscany?
There is no single right way to visit Italy.
You may prefer a guided tour like ours, a customized independent itinerary, a Mediterranean cruise with time in Italy or a combination of several travel styles.
The best choice depends on how you like to travel and what you want to experience.
I would love to help you find the version of Tuscany that is right for you.
Visit wandersbymelissa.com or email melissa@wandersbymelissa.com to begin planning.
Did I mention Gelato? Yes, you must eat the gelato in Italy. Every chance you get (and there are lots of chances… ;)
About Melissa
I’m Melissa Ragazzi, an independent concierge travel advisor with Trey Tracy Travel LLC based in Madison, Mississippi.
Through Wanders by Melissa Vacation Planning, I help travelers plan personalized cruises, European vacations, Alaska adventures, national park trips, all-inclusive resorts, Disney and Universal vacations, and hosted group travel.
My goal is to help you choose the right experience and take the stress out of planning it.
