A PERFET DAY OF CHEESE AND WINE IN TUSCANY
If you would like to discover a less touristic area of Tuscany, rich in authentic food and excellent wines, this experience is perfect for you.
Join us for a beautiful journey through the Pisan Hills, close to the Tuscan coast, in the charming area of the Santa Luce Nature Reserve.
A Family Tradition of Cheese making Excellence
Our private tour begins with a guided visit to a local cheese factory, one of the most important producers of high-quality cheese in the region. This former family-run business has been active for generations and has built its reputation on passion, dedication, and respect for tradition.
The story started in 1955, when Alessandro and Remo, father and son, shepherds by profession, opened a small production facility near their village, where the company is still located today. Today Remo’s son Stefano and his family proudly continue this tradition, combining ancient cheese-making methods with modern innovation to create outstanding products.
During the visit, you will learn how a wide variety of cheeses are produced using 3 different types of milk: cow's, goat's, and sheep's milk. The selection is incredibly wide, up to 73 different types, offering a great diversity of flavors and textures.
Traditional techniques are carefully preserved and supported by modern technology. You will then enjoy a tasting of their best cheeses, freshly made on site.
After the visit, you will enjoy a delicious cheese tasting, including 5 types of their finest cheeses and their freshest ricotta cheese served with jams as dessert, water and a glass of wine.
To make it a richer lunch, you are free to choose one main dish among: potato gnocchi, stuffed ravioli, mini meatballs, or a selection of bruschettas with 6 different toppings.
The visit to a panoramic winery and terroir wines
In the afternoon, the tour continues with a visit to a panoramic winery, well known for its terroir-driven wines. The winery is located in Northern Maremma, at about 180 meters above sea level, in an area strongly influenced by the nearby sea.
The soils here are very diverse: from calcareous and marine-origin soils to stony and dry lands with magmatic-volcanic origins, mixed with ancient deep-sea sedimentary clays. This unique combination of elements gives the wines a strong identity and a deep connection to the land.
Here, wine is the pure expression of the terroir. Nature plays the main role, while the winemaker carefully observes and works in harmony with it, guiding the grapes without forcing them. The result is elegant, expressive wines that truly reflect the territory.
You will walk through the vineyards and visit the wine cellar, learning about the winemaking process, followed by a tasting of 4 their most representative wines with a little tray of focaccia, tomatoes bruschettas, and local salami.
Surrounded by breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside, this experience is a perfect combination of flavors, tradition, landscape, and authenticity, a truly unforgettable day in Tuscany.
This is a list of specialties that you are likely to sample as part of the program of this tour. Please, note that the specialties of the tasting session and/or lunch may vary according to the season and the availability of the products in the day of the tour.
Pecorino cheese is the most famous cheese from Tuscany. It derives from sheep milk, from which the name comes: in Italian sheep is “pecora”. It can be fresh or long-aged and its taste can vary from mild to very sharp.
A plate of local prosciutto, salami and pecorino cheese is a typical appetizer in the Tuscan cooking tradition. A plate of mixed cold meats and cheese can often accompany a guided tasting of Tuscan wines.
The Tuscan soil provides a wide variety of red wines, from easy-to-drink young table wines to full-body and robust riservas. Tuscan red wines are often based on Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo or Colorino grapes and sometimes on international grapes like Merlot, Cabernet or Syrah. The most curious experiements are recently involving Alicante and Tempranillo!
Tuscan white wines are often based on a typical grape called Vermentino, which provides strong minerality and freshness to the wines made with it. The area of San Gimignano provides the one and only white wine DOCG in Tuscany: Vernaccia. Other very common grapes for white wines in Tuscany are Trebbiano and Malvasia.
Even if it does not belong to a very old tradition, Tuscan Rose Wine has recently become a much desired kind of wine. Often it is based on Tuscan Sangiovese grapes, rose wine is a great match to most Tuscan foods, especially in the hot summers. Rose wine is very frequently served in our wine […]
In our tour we like showing you places off the beaten track and introducing you to Tuscan people with their personal stories, careers and characters.
You will have one of our guides with your party during the whole tour. Please, see below all the guides who can be with you.
During this experience you can also meet some of the Tuscan friends involved in the events. Please, see below which friends you are likely to encounter.
Yvonne
guide
Yvonne
Tour leader and wine expert at Arianna & Friends'
Dé – people smile at me, when I say it
But this is what Livorno, my beloved port town at the Tuscan sea, did to me – it placed itself into my heart. My name is Yvonne, and I have been living in several places on the world, but Tuscany kept calling me …
and here I am.
I love the wind, the sea, good wine and nature. In one word: Tuscany.
I love to share my passion and expertise about wine as a gift of nature with people. It makes me happy, when I hear people laugh while they enjoy a stunning E-bike ride through the rolling Tuscan contryside. And I love seeing their eyes shine when they discover the fascinating transformation of olives into delicious extra virgin olive oil.
Let’s enjoy it together – as your travel companion and tour guide, I am happy to make you discover the hidden gems and dive into the vibes of Tuscany.
Alessandro
guide
Alessandro
Tour leader at Arianna & Friends'
Buongiorno! My name is Alessandro. I was born and raised in a charming village near San Miniato, and I’ve spent my life immersed in the beauty of Tuscany. After traveling to England and Spain, I returned home to share my passion for my region. With years of experience in the hospitality industry, including roles in restaurants, hotels, and pubs, I’ve honed my skills in providing exceptional guest experiences. My sommelier training has deepened my knowledge of Tuscan wines and cuisine.
I am a thoughtful and patient person, always ready to solve problems and ensure every guest feels cared for and well looked after. Now, as a proud member of the Arianna & Friends team, I’m thrilled to share the stories and traditions of my homeland with visitors from around the world. Join me on a journey through the heart of Tuscany, where history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes come together.
Cristiano
guide
Cristiano
Tour leader at Arianna & Friends'
My name is Cristiano, and I live just outside the walls of Pisa, not far from the Leaning Tower. When I was a child, I lived in Mexico with my family, where I attended an international school in English. I graduated from a linguistic high school and speak English, Spanish, and French. I also worked for many years as a travel agent and managed tourist reception activities in Morocco.
Since 2024, I have been part of the Arianna & Friends team. Passionate about traveling the world, I love meeting new people and exchanging experiences and stories with them. I’ve been told I am a very charming and fun person, and many of the cooking classes where I act as the story-teller end with me singing traditional Italian songs alongside the chef, and sometimes even with our guests! I’m energetic, love sharing entertaining stories, and enjoy laughing with our guests while introducing them to Tuscan recipes, culture, and lifestyle.
My role here also includes being a tour leader for e-bike and Vespa tours, and my favorite activity to lead, beyond cooking classes, is the hands-on cheese-making experience
In my free time, I play tennis, love traveling to Asia, and enjoy hiking through the Tuscan hills with my friends and my dog, Ciccio.
I look forward to welcoming you in Tuscany and sharing unforgettable moments together!
Moira
guide
Moira
Pisa city tour guide & and tour leader at Arianna & Friends'
Ciao a tutti! My name is Moira, and I originally come from the north-west of Italy, from the city of Turin. I moved to Tuscany in 2012, immediately falling in love with the culture, the arts and history, the food, and of course, my favourite!, the wines of this beautiful region.
I started working with Arianna & Friends back in 2013 as an assistant at the Tourist Information Office of a small hilltop village, where our office was initially located. Later, I obtained my city guide license, and today I am the city tour guide on the team for the main towns of Pisa, Volterra, and San Miniato, as well as for some of our less famous tiny villages, which hide many secrets and have such a loooong history, such as Lari, Lajatico, and Peccioli.
I also obtained a license as an official truffle hunter, but I’m still mainly a truffle eater! My enthusiasm for learning new things never stops. I even learned how to become a professional olive tree pruner. When I’m not on tour, walking around our amazing places talking about art, culture, and history, or discovering local specialties together with our guests, you’ll find me in the office, taking care of bookings and reservations. I specialize in organizing active and fun weekends for groups of girlfriends.
I really hope to meet you soon to show you around our beautiful land, and since I come from another region, I can also reveal some secrets that Tuscan people will never confess!!
Luca
guide
Luca
Tour leader and websites content manager at Arianna & Friends'
Ciao Amici!! My name is Luca. I’m in my 40s and I’m probably one of the most energetic and fun-loving guides at Arianna & Friends
Like some of my colleagues, I have a multi-tasking role in the company. I am one of the content managers of our websites, especially during the winter, and when the season starts, I work as a tour leader.
Sometimes I also take care of bookings directly, and I often carry out site inspections to meet new collaborators and service providers, so we can be sure that every year the company offers new and interesting tours. From March to October, I lead almost all types of wine & food tours and cooking classes at Arianna & Friends. My favorites are truffle, olive oil, e-bike, and Vespa tours. Riding a Vespa through our wonderful hills is a must-do while in Tuscany, of course, only if you know how to ride a scooter!
When I started working for Arianna & Friends back in 2011, I was only able to prepare a very simple pasta al pomodoro (pasta with tomato sauce). Now, after so many years of cooking classes and thanks to our wonderful cooks, I am a very good chef (but please, don’t tell my wife!).
My motto is “Smile, you are in Tuscany.” I’m happy and very proud when I see people enjoying my country and having fun in Tuscany. Join us! Join me! Let’s have fun together!!
ACCESSIBILITY:
This tour includes some stairs and a few more challenging stretches. If you have any accessibility needs — whether mobility-related, sensory, cognitive, or any other requirements — please let us know in advance and we will do our best to adapt the itinerary for you. LOCATION OF ATTRACTIONS:
This tour takes place in the rural area of San Luce natural reserve, about 30 minutes from Pisa and 1 hour from Volterra and Lucca. MEET-UP LOCATION:
The tour guide meets you at an agreed meeting point which might vary due to the position of your accommodation. Meeting point and time will be specified during the booking process. DURATION:
This program takes 6 hours. Time for transportation not included. AVAILABILITY:
Available all the year through, from Mondays through Fridays. LANGUAGE:
This tour is available in English language. German, French, Spanish or Italian are also available with no surcharge. DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
Easy CHILD FRIENDLY:
Ideal for children. CLOTHING:
No particular clothing required. FOOD RESTRICTIONS:
The foods served during this tour might contain gluten, lactose, nuts and alcohol. If you have any food restriction, please inform our personnel during the enquiry process. TRANSPORTATION:
This program and its rates do not include transportation and are set on a self-driving base. For further information see the box "transportation options".
The destinations reached during this activity are in the Tuscan countryside, in areas off the beaten track that cannot be reached by public transport. We highly recommend renting a car or a scooter in order to reach them. As an alternative, we can offer a valued service by chauffeured car, van or minibus. Any cost of transportation is to be added to the rates displayed on the rate table of this page.
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