Tours, tastings, private dinners, classes & poolside apartments

Residence Il Ciliegio are poolside apartments located at the doorstep of the beautiful medieval village of Roccatederighi, your base for this food adventure, in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma region.

Each apartment is furnished and presented in a traditional yet elegant Tuscan style, with terracotta floors and wooden beamed ceilings. They are equipped with kitchenette, bathroom with shower, bed linen and towels, independent heating, tv and wi-fi. The apartments have views over the hills, the Maremma valleys and the charming village of Roccatederighi.

If you choose the private accommodation option, you will have your own apartment, while those who choose to share have a double bed and an extra bed for use. Guests choosing shared apartments are asked to do so with friends, family or partners to ensure the comfort of our customers - if you are joining us on your own, we don't currently have a sharing option.

Your accommodation also has a swimming pool (open from June to September), with sunbeds and umbrellas, and an outdoor patio with chairs and tables to enjoy the view from. There is a washer and dryer, and if you choose to drive to us, there is private off-road parking.

From your apartment you will be just a few paces away from the magical old town of Roccatederighi, and a range of bars, restaurants and shops. Your kitchenette will be stocked with great local products for your breakfasts.

2:00pm - 5:00pm - Check-in

5:30pm -  Wine Tour, Tasting and Aperitivo 

Take in your stunning new surroundings as you wander around the grounds of our favourite local biodynamic vineyard. Learn about their methods and philosophy, then relax as you try their wonderful wines and prepare for your week with us!

7:30pm - Dinner

Relax whilst your personal chef cooks you an introductory 4 course feast under our private outdoor pergola/in the private dining room (depending on weather).

9:30am - Buffalo Mozzarella Farm Tour and Cheese Tasting

An insightful tour of a sustainable buffalo dairy farm and artisanal cheese producer. Make sure you wear mud-proof footwear! Taste a variety of freshly made buffalo products, there are even creamy buffalo milk cappuccinos and buffalo ice creams. Learn about how they use the buffalos' waste for renewable energy. Enjoy a brunch-style tasting of the farm’s cheeses and a little prosciutto to keep you going!

11:30am - Organic Tuscan Rice Farm Tour 

Walk in the rice fields and get a tour of a working seaside rice farm. The rice is organically grown and stone processed to ensure the highest quality. We’ll pick some up for our lesson later!

2.00pm - 5.00pm - Free Time

Lounge by the pool or go for wander around the beautiful old town of the village

5.00pm - Aperitivo, Risotto Masterclass, Dinner

After some tasty aperitivo snacks and a glass of prosecco, Oli will take you through all the essential skills and secrets to perfect risotto making with the rice we picked up earlier. We’ll cook together before eating our risottos, plus a few other treats prepared by your hosts, while enjoying a beautiful view outside (weather permitting).

7:00am - Fishing Boat Trip

A fishing trip like no other! We will set sail on a fishing boat early in the morning and pull in the nets with a charismatic fisherman who's on a mission to protect the marine life of the Tuscan coast. He will tell you about his battles against the trawler fishermen, and the importance of sustainable fishing. All of this against the backdrop of the stunning Maremma national park, with stops at beautiful bathing spots (depending on season) and food on board.

2:00pm - Free Time Back in the Village

5:00pm - Evening Cooking Lesson - Gnocchi and Biscotti, Dinner

A hands on cooking lesson with your private instructor in a professional kitchen in the beautiful old town of the local village. Together we will learn to make wonderful handmade gnocchi, and Oli will put together a delicious menu using something we picked up from the seas that morning. We will also teach you how to make traditional Tuscan almond biscotti for dessert! You can indulge in the meal we have cooked together by candlelight under the sycamore tree at the heart of the medieval village (weather permitting).

11.00am -  Olive Farm Tour

Stroll through the beautiful groves of a local organic family olive farm. Learn all about the olive trees and their fruits, the harvest, and how they create their wonderful extra-virgin liquid gold! Don't worry you won't leave without trying it either - usually generously poured all over crispy Tuscan bread with a little garlic - delicious! Sometimes the nonna of the family is even on hand to take you through a tasting of different oils, and help you understand how to tell really great oil from poor oil.

1.00pm Lunch, Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour 

A great experience at an award-winning vineyard, you will get a real understanding of the art form that is winemaking. Enjoy a Tuscan lunch and private tasting of their varieties, like Sangiovese, Viognier and Syrah.

6.00pm Fresh Pasta Workshop and Tiramisu Making

After an hour or two resting up after your daytime activities, professional fresh pasta maker and chef Oli will take you through all the basics of creating great artisan fresh pasta, including making the dough, using a pasta machine, and learning 3 shapes  - like farfalle, tagliatelle and garganelli. We'll also drum up the perfect Tiramisu together. We'll then let you enjoy your creations with a view of the Tuscan hills and plenty of good local wine!

11:00am - Stuffed Pasta Masterclass and Lunch

Down at the Cook Eat Discover HQ, using yesterday's newly acquired basic pasta skills, we'll take things a step further and learn to make different filled pasta shapes. With a delicious seasonal filling (eg spinach and ricotta or pumpkin) we'll learn to make ravioli, tortelloni and much more! You'll then enjoy your pasta as part of a delicious 3 course lunch.

3:00pm - Pizza Dough Preparation

After lunch we'll knead out some pizza dough ready to be used for the following day's dinner. Pizza dough has a much better texture and flavour when made the day before and allowed to develop!

5.00pm - Free evening

Relax at your apartment or enjoy one of the great local restaurants and a bit of time to yourselves on your free evening. 

11.00am: Honey and Brunello Wine Producer Tour, Tasting and Lunch 

About an hour away is the fairytale medieval town of Montalcino - gastronomically famous for Brunello wine, and honey. Learn all about organic honeymaking, study the hives, and listen to the beekeepers. This producer also makes the famous Brunello wine - you will get an insight into what makes this wine so sought after. To the soundtrack of the bees busying away, we will lunch with traditional Tuscan dishes and honey tastings, along with some delicious Brunello. 

2.00pm: Montalcino Visit

Spend an hour or two wandering the beautiful streets of Montalcino. Grab a gelato, enjoy the impressive churches, great views, and numerous wine bars!

6.00pm: Pizza Class and Farewell Dinner

Back in our village of Roccatederighi, we'll use the dough we made the day before to create real handmade Italian pizza and cook it together in our very own wood-fired oven. Sit down with the view for one last time and enjoy your delicious wood-fired pizza!

9:00am - 12:00pm - Check out

16:00 Check in and introduction

17:00 Gnocchi masterclass

19:00 Guided wine tasting and aperitif at local vineyard with panoramic views

20:00 Four-course feast, including the gnocchi prepared earlier, cooked by your private chef under the villa’s pergola

09:30 Buffalo mozzarella farm and producer tour and tasting brunch

12:00 Seaside organic Tuscan rice farm tour

17:00 Aperitif and risotto masterclass - you will learn to make perfect risotto with the rice you picked up that morning!

20:00 Dinner of the dishes made in the class, set in the square of our medieval village, plus extra treats prepared by your private chef

09:30 Fresh pasta workshop - learning to make cut fresh pasta like tagliatelle, and shapes like farfalle

12:00 Lunch of your handmade pasta!

18:00 Olive farm tour and oil tasting

19:00 Traditional dinner at local, organic family vineyard, with wine matching

09:30 Filled pasta workshop. Using your new pasta skills to create advanced filled pastas like tortelli, ravioli, and 'plin'

12:00 Farewell lunch including the filled pasta created in your lesson

14:30 Checkout