ACTIVITIES

Traditional Cooking Class

For this farm-to-table class you’ll start in Spannocchia’s vegetable garden, getting an overview of our production systems before heading into the kitchen to cook a traditional, multi-course lunch! While you’re cooking, you’ll learn about the history of Spannocchia as a working farm and the types of food typical to the Tuscan kitchen. Together with our cook, you will create a three-course meal using many products from our estate.

Your first course might be a handmade pasta, like potato gnocchi, hand-rolled pici, or fresh tagliatelle. Your second course may be a hearty vegetarian dish or a Tuscan recipe utilizing our farm-raised heritage breed beef or pork. To finish, a delicious dessert, like our famous chocolate “salame”, cantucci and vin santo, or tiramisù.

We will try to fulfill specific requests as long as they fall within the culinary traditions of this region. Please communicate any allergies or dietary restrictions in advance. (Unfortunately, this class cannot be fully adapted for a celiac/gluten-free diet.)

Each cooking class culminates with a convivial lunch, sharing the dishes we have created paired with Spannocchia’s organic wine.

Minimum 4 participants.
Under 4 participants may be possible at a fixed cost. Discounted pricing is also available for kids, student groups, and guests who would like to join for lunch only. 

Bambini in Cucina

Hands-on learning may be the best way to experience a new culture, especially for our youngest of guests! Our Bambini in Cucina is a cooking class designed for children ages 6 to 10. This experience will show them where their food comes from and how it can be transformed from the garden to a tasty lunch!

Our class will start with a trip to the Spannocchia veggie garden, where children have a chance to harvest an ingredient of their choice to be added to their meal. We’ll also meet our gardener, Yago, and learn about worms and compost and all the cool stuff that happens within the walls of our Orto.

In the kitchen, we’ll work together to make a fresh pasta, dessert, and a small snack in a fun and informative environment. Lunch will be served at 12:30. This class not only gives kids a fun way to learn about Italian food, but it also gives parents an opportunity to relax or perhaps check out a local winery or museum! Fantastico!

PASTA MAKING

Have you always wanted to learn how to make your own fresh pasta? We will explain all the details!

From different wheat varieties and special ingredients to countless shapes and fillings, you’ll learn all about the different tools and techniques to make your own pasta at home. As a group, you will prepare 3 different types of pasta and enjoy lunch together with your classmates at the end.

Minimum 4 participants.
Under 4 participants may be possible at a fixed cost. Discounted pricing is also available for kids, student groups, and guests who would like to join for lunch only.

Castello HISTORICAL Tour

Discover the history of the Castello and Tenuta di Spannocchia on this tour. Learn about this architectural history of the buildings on the property, the story of the Spannocchi and Cinelli familes, the land management under the mezzadria sharecropping system, and the current activities that take place at the Tenuta.

The tour also includes a visit to our chapel, library, cantina, and (weather permitting) a beautiful view of the area and our 1100 acres of forested hills and farmland from the top of our medieval tower.

We recommend this tour at the start of your visit, to give a better understanding of the history of this area and our philosophy for sustainable living.

Minimum 2 participants.
This tour is included for all educational program groups, and is an indispensable part of a group’s stay at Spannocchia.

Cinta Senese Tour & Tasting

 Meet Spannocchia’s most entertaining and popular dwellers, our Cinta Senese pigs. Named for their distinct white-belted band (cintura), they are a rare heritage breed that was at risk of extinction.  Now, under the proper care of the Spannocchia famiglia, you will see them foraging in their natural habitat of the Senese countryside. 

This unique tour includes a visit with the animals in their free-range (semi-brado) pastures. Afterwards, you’ll get an in-depth explanation of our organic artisanal cured meat production process, and finish with a guided tasting of some of our award-winning salumi. Magnifico! 

TASTE THE FARM Tour

This is a tour for anyone who wants to have the full Spannocchia experience.

We’ll discuss the history of the farm as we tour the Castello building, in order to contextualize in time and space what Spannocchia is today. After a visit to one of our organic vegetable gardens, we’ll then get into the details of our wine and olive oil production, and of course we’ll share all about our Cinta Senese pigs and our salumi (charcuterie) program.

Don’t worry, after all that talking you’ll get the chance to try our wines, olive oil, and a selection of six different house-made salumi.

This tour is the perfect chance to taste all the most delicious products raised and processed at Spannocchia, and to deep dive into what regenerative farming means to us. Join us!