Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Saffron is an ingredient and spice derived from the saffron crocus that is used to give incredible flavour and colour to dishes and for medicinal purposes. While its origins are debated, Iran, Greece, and Mesopotamia all have claims to the world’s costliest spice by weight. Italian varieties have since become famous for their quality and there is even a Tuscan area of production in the lands around the beautiful Medieval walled town of San Gimignano. In fact, some of the ancient towers for which San Gimignano is known were built by families who partially made their fortune through San Gimignano saffron and saffron was even grown on some of those same rooftops!

Certainly, for the discerning foodie who books a villa in San Gimignano, purchasing a little of this local luxury spice to add into your culinary exploits back home is a must. It really is a perfect souvenir to bring back with you – small, easily transportable, precious, and immediately evocative of wonderful memories with its scent and flavour!

Eating well is a big component of any vacation in Tuscany, no matter when you book your villa in Tuscany, but eating seasonally is the best way to ensure that everything is at its most delicious. Combining in-season products with Tuscan culinary tradition and expertise? Now, that’s a recipe for a foodie’s dream getaway!

Once you have found your vacation rental in Tuscany, you might be wondering what is in season and when so we have helped you out by putting a handy little guide together to have at hand throughout your holiday. Or, if there are foods you especially love, you might even consider booking your holiday rental in Tuscany around the time that that item is in season so that you can enjoy it at its peak tastiness… Either way, here is a calendar of the seasonal foodie gems to try during a getaway in Tuscany…

The stunning town of San Quirico d’Orcia is an exceptionally pretty and well-preserved historic gem surrounded by the lush greenery of the Orcia Valley, fertile lands where incredible wineries can be found. It should be no surprise, therefore, that this most beautiful swathe of the Tuscan landscape is where you will find one of the most exciting wine festivals in Italy each spring. Taking place from the 25th of April to the 28th of April 2024, the Orcia Wine Festival promotes the amazing wine of the UNESCO-awarded Val d’Orcia and introduces visitors to the most remarkable examples of wines from the region as well as hosting a vibrant schedule of all sorts of events for both adults and children. So, if you are a wine-lover considering a spring getaway in Tuscany, check out our vacation rentals in the Orcia Valley and pay a visit to the Orcia Wine Festival this April!

While there is an endless list of delicious things to be sampled and enjoyed if you book a villa in Florence and are spending time eating your way around the city, those with a sweet tooth are probably wondering about the unmissable desserts of the city. Without a doubt, the absolute must-try sweet treat that is on offer in Florence is the Zuccotto.

Said to have been born in the Renaissance and created by a famous chef of the time, Buonatalenti, this chilled dessert was then lost to time before being eventually rediscovered in the 1930s. Some alterations were made to suit a 20th century palate and the Florentine dessert became a local staple once more after centuries!