Accompanied by your chef from the Bon Appétit Culinary Center, you'll tour a traditional winery in the Tuscan countryside and then retire to the estate's kitchen, where you'll learn to cook two regional snacks in a wood oven: focaccia and cantucci, and sample Tuscan wines. Then return for a cooking class on Tuscan favorite dishes in the Bon Appetit Culinary Center.
Meet your Bon Appétit Culinary Center chef and then join a local guide for the short ride to Livorno's central town market. The market features many colorful stalls, brimming with seasonal vegetables, fresh fish, cured meats and fragrant cheeses. You'll stroll amongst family farmers and merchants, soak in market's vibrant atmosphere and perhaps take some photos of this genuine Tuscan experience. Your chef will purchase local bread, ham and cheese for the 'bus ride picnic' as you make your way through the picturesque Tuscan countryside.
You'll arrive at the pristine Torre a Cenaia winery via the stunning cyprus-lined lane, so classic in the fertile farmlands of Tuscany. Owned by the Pitti family, this quintessential property has been maintained to retain the look and feel of a traditional Tuscan winery.
As you drive along, you may see pheasant flushed from the fields or a wild hare scampering into the brush.
Once at the winery, you'll first visit the estate's cellars and discover how the wines are now produced. The Sangiovese grape thrives here, producing a fruity red varietal that's one of the favorites throughout Tuscany. The equally robust, amber-yellow Vermentino grape produces a fine, dry white wine that's often paired with fish dishes and vegetable stews of Tuscany.
For a real treat and a closer look at how the grapes are grown, you'll ride in a horse -drawn trolley into the vineyards and wind along past the estate's ponds and horse paddocks to the outdoor kitchen and ovens. You'll be greeted by the winery's friendly chef', from whom you'll learn how to prepare two traditional Tuscan snacks in a wood-fired oven. First, focaccia , the salty fluffy bread drizzled with Tuscan olive oil and second, cantucci, the almond-flavored biscuit known as biscotti. If time permits, you'll also make fresh pizza in the wood-fuelled brick and stone ovens. Hot from the oven, these Tuscan snacks taste even better when accompanied by a glass of wine.
Following your time at Torre a Cenaia, you'll transfer back to the ship and later, rejoin your tour group for a private cooking lesson in the Bon Appétit Culinary Center. During the 60-minute class you'll make a dish from the ingredients purchased at the local market earlier in the day. You'll also receive a recipe handout with our chef's favorite Tuscan dishes for you to take home as a memento of your tour.
Please note: This tour includes approximately 2-hours of easy to moderate walking/standing and participants must be able to enter and exit the horse cart with limited assistance. The tour is not available for wheelchair guests and those with mobility concerns are cautioned to carefully evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability. Weather appropriate clothing; sun cap; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The noted tour duration is approximate and includes your classroom session aboard the ship.