Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Learn all about the long and fascinating tradition of truffle hunting in Tuscany on your next vacation here! This delicious relative of the mushroom is a delicacy all over the world and can be very expensive to buy. Visitors wishing to book a truffle hunting tour should stay in the charming town of San Miniato in Pisa province where there is a nearby area in which they grow.

There are professional truffle hunters here who travel through the wooded area of San Miniato with their sniffer dogs in search of the elusive white truffle! The white truffle is the most expensive in the world because of its rarity and delicious pungent flavour. It is pale cream or light brown in colour with white marbling.

A truffle is the fruiting body of an underground fungus. Book a place on a fun truffle hunting trail with an expert guide who will lead through the woods where they grow close to the roots of trees.

They come out of the ground, half hidden under the dirt and could be easily missed without learning tips on how to find them by your expert guide!

There are different trail packages to choose from that include a delicious lunch made using truffles or a tasting along with some nice wine. Visit their website for more information on this exciting opportunity to engage in one of Tuscany’s oldest and most enjoyable traditions!

The hills of Montalbano are spread across the provinces of Florence, Prato and Pistoia. They have become famous over the years for their food, wine and olive oil production because of the rich fertile soil that exists here. Tourists who enjoy trying exquisite new flavours and textures would love a tour around some of the towns in the area for a few days where they can fully immerse themselves into a welcoming and gastronomic paradise!

Those wishing to rent an accommodation here for a few days have a lovely choice of vacation rentals in Borgo San Lorenzo, a beautiful town tucked into the Montalbano hills that’s within easy reach of other communes in the area.

If you’re planning to book a tuscan vacation rental, then why not visit the charming village of Piancastagnaio in Siena province whilst you’re here and take part in a famous chestnut festival that is celebrated here in late October every year! It is the oldest and most important festival in the Monte Amiata area and has been held in this lively little village since 1967!

There are some gorgeous luxury villas in Radicofani, a nearby town to Piancastagnaio if tourists want to stay close to the action! Radicofani is a beautiful Orange Flag awarded town that is well worth a visit in itself!

Held in the main square of Piazza Belvedere, the chestnut festival originated because of the importance surrounding this staple food in the area. High up in the mountains, the ground was fertile but the climate was too cold for some vegetables and grains to successfully grow.

Come and witness the most anticipated annual food and wine event in Pisa, the popular White Truffle Festival in the hill town of Volterra!

Why not plan to stay here for a few days and choose from some lavish villas in Volterra with swimming pools?

The Volterra festival takes place in late October and is packed full of food stalls and has lots of cookery demonstrations and entertainment to suit everyone.
Learn all about truffles and how they’re carefully harvested.


The courtyards and buildings of Volterra including the beautiful Palazzo de Luigi open their doors to the public and invite them engage in some truffle tasting as well as experiencing the delicious flavours and texture of other local foods like creamy cheeses, crsty breads and spicy home-made sausages! Also worth a visit is the fascinating ancient Roman stone theatre just outside the town where several music and theatre performances take place this time of year!

If you’ve ever wondered what the labels of DOCG, DOC, IGT AND VDT mean when you see them on Italian wine bottles, then you’re reading the right article to find out! During the late 20th century, Italy decided to create laws to protect the quality and uniqueness of their wines by implementing certain rules that had to be strictly obeyed to receive a certain category of quality label. Visitors staying in a tuscany villa rental are sure to see a selection of these labels which might help inform their choice of wine to enjoy.