Taste holidays in Tuscany

Cultural events on one hand and the extraordinary geographical position on the other have given rise to an extraordinary food and wine reality.

Amiata and its surroundings are the place for a holiday of taste in Tuscany.

Within a radius of 25 km you cross 4 completely different landscapes.

We start from the vineyards that cover the valleys up to the edge of the villages. They alternate with the olive groves that imperiously reach up to 700 meters in height. Then follow the chestnut groves that surround the mountain up to 1000 meters and finally the beech forest that reaches the summit.

Wine and Oil

This is the Montecucco area, one of the youngest Tuscan wine-growing areas. The ideal place for a food and wine holiday in Tuscany.
It is the kingdom of Sangiovese that gives life to very fine wines. Numerous small agricultural companies offer wines of great interest.
But this is also the habitat of a very particular native olive tree, the olivastra seggianese. They are beautiful plants that produce a very small olive, but with a very high yield.
The characteristic of this olive tree is that it can grow up to very high altitudes for this type of plant.
Today we have a consortium that protects its production.

Mushrooms and chestnuts

Higher up, the chestnut grove belt gives rise to a production of very high quality chestnuts.
The most important varieties are Cecio, Marrone and Bastarda Rossa. These are part of the IGP quality denomination Castagna del Monte Amiata.
Walking through the chestnut grove during the production period truly has a magical flavour.
The incredible colors, the scents of the forest and the beautiful chestnuts that cover the ground make everything unique and incredible.
But this is also the kingdom of mushrooms, which with different varieties reach the top of the mountain.
The undisputed king is undoubtedly the Porcino. On Amiata we find as many as 4 different varieties: boletus edulis, the beech mushroom, boletus aereus, pinucula and reticulatus which instead we find in the chestnut grove and in the scrub.
In addition to these, there are an infinite number of other types such as giallarello, cucchi, pinaroli, famigliole, etc... from which one of the most important dishes of the area comes to life, mushroom soup.

Cold cuts and cheeses

The norcina culture of Monte Amiata is lost in time.
In a small reality like ours, numerous artisans create top-level productions.
In addition to the classic Tuscan ham, there is capocollo, finocchiona, buristo, soppressata, salami and many other special and tasty products.
Of course, this is also the home of Cinta Senese. The characteristic pigs with the white band that are raised in the wild in the woods. Productions of great interest.
Then the Tuscan Pecorinos with producers among the most awarded in the world. Different maturations with extraordinary aromas and flavors.
It is possible to visit the companies and do tastings during your food and wine holiday in Tuscany.

Beer, honey and medicinal herbs

Craft beer production has also been proving its worth for many years now.
Beer varieties that rely on some typical productions:
Bastarda Rossa and Bastarda Doppia, beers produced with IGP chestnuts from Monte Amiata, Crocus with Maremma saffron pistils.
And then Contessa, Cinabro, Drago della Selva, all names that have a particular meaning for the territory.
There are also numerous beekeepers in the area.
Obviously here it is chestnut honey that is the most characteristic production.
Medicinal herbs are also of great interest.
Amiata is an extinct volcano located 50 km from the sea. Particular climatic conditions combined with particularly rich soils give life to a vast production of undergrowth herbs, which end in the production of alcoholic macerations. Low-alcohol products, for after-meal or meditation.
There are numerous visits to local companies.
You will have the opportunity to participate in many different experiences to live on Mount Amiata.

A world of experiences

Taste experiences