April 13 to 17, 2026

Join us next year for our food and wine-centered trip at Tenuta di Spannocchia outside the city of Siena.

We’ll spend the week getting to know some of the lesser known food and wine innovators in Tuscany who are building upon the gastronomic and agriculture traditions of the region, from tasting natural wines made from indigenous grapes to visiting a rice farm along the Mediterranean coastline. In-between, we’ll also have plenty of time to soak in the natural beauty of Spannocchia, our home during our trip, complete with cyprus-dotted Tuscan landscapes and all. We’ll discover the magic of this working organic farm and learn about its active sustainability and conservation efforts while sipping wine on the terrace and indulging in family-style Italian feasts that make the most of what’s fresh from the garden and locally produced.

Whether this is your first time in Tuscany or your tenth, this trip will offer the chance to connect directly with producers and learn more about the region’s evolving cultural relationship with food and agriculture.

  • Day 1

    Arrive to Spannocchia and get settled in before gathering for a tour of the farm, where you’ll learn about it’s 800 year plus history, visit one of the organic vegetable gardens, and learn about (and taste!) their own production of wines, olive oil, and salumi. In the evening, gather for aperitivo a fuori — outside — to catch your first Tuscan sunset. Then dig into your first dinner at the farm, full of seasonal produce and of course, pasta.

    Day 2

    Sleep in before slipping downstairs from your room to enjoy a breakfast spread of fresh fruit, yogurt, homemade cakes and jams, and more. After breakfast, we’ll head out on our first excursion, to visit an organic rice producer in the Maremma, the agricultural-rich coastal corner of Tuscany that’s all too often overlooked. We’ll return to Spannocchia for a leisurely riposo — rest — before wine on the terrace and dinner family-style.

    Day 3

    Take it easy after breakfast before we take a quick drive to the medieval town of Colle di Val d’Elsa, where you’ll visit a very special biodynamic wine producer and sit down to a tasting amid the vineyards. The afternoon is yours to explore the over 1000 acres of natural reserve that surround Spannocchia’s property or simply find a sunny corner to snooze or read a book.

    Day 4

    After breakfast, roll your sleeves up for a morning foraging adventure following by a hands-on cooking class. Learn to make fresh pasta as well as a few other lesser known Tuscan specialities then enjoy your well-deserved lunch. After lunch we’ll drive over to Siena and traverse the city, visiting its striking cathedral and famous piazza, as well as discover a few things that are a bit more unexpected. We’ll cap off the day with one last aperitivo and family-style feast.

    Day 5

    Buon viaggio! Enjoy your final Tuscan breakfast before packing up and heading home (or wherever your next adventure takes you).

    **Please note that this itinerary is tentative and subject to change. We’re adjusting the schedule and adding more fun as we get closer, so this is just a sampling of what you’re in store for.

  • Per participant: $3,200 + $60 Friends of Spannocchia membership fee.

    Pricing includes a four-night stay at Spannocchia, all meals and drinks, programming and excursions.

    The Friends of Spannocchia membership fee supports the farm’s educational programming — including underwriting some of the costs of the internship and apprenticeship programs, through which the three of us all first came to Spannocchia. It is a tax deductible donation paid by all who visit Spannocchia as part of an educational group. To learn more about the work of the non-profit, visit the website.

    Pricing does not include transportation, though we are happy to help arrange it.

    We cap our trip at six participants in order to keep it intimate and more hands on. For those who may be interested in reserving all six spots, a per person discount is available. Please reach out to us directly to inquiry.

  • Registration closes on October 31, 2025. Please wait to book flights until your registration is confirmed.

Register now