This is one corking holiday combination.
A stunning Tuscan villa on an organic wine estate is hosting a ‘wine retreat’, where guests learn the art of wine tasting and get a globally respected wine qualification – WSET 1 – at the end of it.
Not only that, but there are two top chefs on hand to rustle up exquisite fodder and daily yoga sessions. And the accommodation is ‘heavenly’.
Wine expert Emily O’Hare is running a wine retreat at the stunning Torre alle Tolfe villa in Tuscany at the end of June
The villa, Torre alle Tolfe, lies in the heart of the Chianti region just three kilometres from the medieval city of Siena and is centred on an 8th-century watchtower.
It has 17 bedrooms, a 17m by 6m swimming pool, beautifully landscaped gardens and offers views of rolling countryside smothered in vines, olive groves and forests.
The entire property is run as a certified organic farm, producing a variety of wines – so the perfect place to learn all about how to taste them.
Torre alle Tolfe, lies in the heart of the Chianti region just three kilometres from the medieval city of Siena and is centred on an 8th-century watchtower
And visitors will have a top teacher – the former head sommelier of London’s River Cafe, Emily O’Hare.
She told MailOnline Travel: ‘I am so excited about many elements of this wine holiday. Firstly that it is such a lazy, heavenly break for guests. I am sure most of us go too fast most of the time. And I cannot wait to bring people to this villa.
‘They will never believe they could be so close to the beautiful medieval city of Siena, and yet be in such tranquillity. The estate covers 100 hectares, of vineyards, olive groves and forest, extending over towards the city and out towards the Chianti region. The property is a certified organic farm, producing top Chianti colli senesi wines, premium olive oil and a variety of pulses and grains (all of which will appear in our lunches and dinners!).’
Torre alle Tolfe has 17 bedrooms, a 17m by 6m swimming pool, beautifully landscaped gardens and offers views of rolling countryside smothered in vines, olive groves and forests
Emily says: ‘I am so excited about many elements of this wine holiday. Firstly that it is such a lazy, heavenly break for guests. I am sure most of us go too fast most of the time. And I cannot wait to bring people to this villa’
Vine times ahead: Wine expert Emily O’Hare (left). Picture right is the Torre alle Tolfe estate
She continues: ‘The accommodation is heavenly. I love that guests can roll out of bed into the vineyards, or the winery (via breakfast) to learn on the spot about elements of wine – vine growing and winemaking that might seem rather hard-going just reading the study books… and likewise they can roll out of the winery and into bed! Perfect.’
The yoga sessions at the retreat will start at 10am, ‘so there’s time to sip coffee for a few hours and breakfast quietly before getting going’, explains Emily.
The wine classes will be ‘relaxed and interactive, starting at 11.30’.
the itinerary will be filled up with eating food cooked by renowned chefs Avinash Shashidhara and Zoe Donnely, both former River Cafe cooks, lazing by the pool, exploring the jaw-dropping gardens, designed by Italian landscape architect Pietro Porcinai, and quaffing yet more wine
The yoga sessions at the retreat will start at 10am, ‘so there’s time to sip coffee for a few hours and breakfast quietly before getting going’, explains Emily
The Torre alle Tolfe estate produces top Chianti colli senesi wines, premium olive oil and a variety of pulses and grains
Excursions include a trip to Siena (pictured), which Emily says ‘is like Hogwarts stretched across three hills’
Emily says: ‘I think the more relaxed you are the more receptive you are to the subtle qualities of good wine, hence why yoga is good, to encourage relaxation and our capacity to tune into wine.’
Guests will also go on some memorable excursions.
Emily reveals: ‘It would be a pity to miss the magical Siena. It is like Hogwarts stretched across three hills. And we will visit an excellent Chianti Classico producer nearby, Villa di Geggiano – a neoclassical style rural palace run by the friendliest family.’
The rest of the itinerary will be filled up with eating food cooked by renowned chefs Avinash Shashidhara and Zoe Donnely, both former River Cafe cooks, lazing by the pool, exploring the jaw-dropping gardens, designed by Italian landscape architect Pietro Porcinai, and quaffing more wine.
Emily adds: ‘At 7pm every evening we will enjoy aperitivo. Possibly this hour is my favourite part of the day, sitting under the loggia, looking south to Monte Amiata, the Etruscan’s Mount Olympus, and sipping some of the villa’s own excellent Rosato… or a Campari spritz!’