A CREATIVE DAY AT GIUSEPPE’S
Get ready for a truly special experience, one of those days you will remember long after your trip to Tuscany.
You will meet Giuseppe (Beppe), a passionate winemaker, and his wife Rosalba, a talented painter. They will welcome you into their beautiful private Tuscan home, close to the charming village of Terricciola, one of the most famous wine areas in the province of Pisa.
He makes wine, she paints, and together they love to share their world with curious travelers. This experience is all about creativity, good food, good wine, and warm human connections.
Two Very Special Activities
With your private guide and the family, you will start with a hands-on fresh pasta class. Together you will prepare traditional ravioli from scratch, filled with ricotta and spinach and served with a tasty vegetable sauce made with seasonal ingredients. While cooking, you will already start enjoying one of Giuseppe's wines.
After cooking, it's time to sit at the table and taste the wines. Beppe will open several bottles of his own production, white and red wines, each one with its own story and personality. The wines will be paired with local appetizers and, of course, with the ravioli you prepared together.
Giuseppe's main goal is to produce wines that truly represent the territory and respect nature. His vineyards cover about 4 hectares and have an average age of 45 years. He works with traditional local grape varieties: Red grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino and White grapes: Trebbiano, Colombana These wines are a real expression of the land and local tradition.
Paint Yout Own Wine Label
After the tasting, the fun continues. You will choose your favorite wine, take brushes and colors, and paint the front label of that bottle yourself.
This will be your personal souvenir: a unique bottle of wine with a label created by you, inspired by the experience, the wines, and the time spent with Giuseppe and Rosalba.
We include 1 bottle and 1 painted label per adult.
If adults, kids, or teens want to paint extra labels, it is possible. Extra bottles are paid on site and €10 per label is required for materials.
A relaxed, creative, and delicious experience, perfect for adventurous travelers who love to do something different and truly local.
This is a list of specialties that you are likely to sample as part of the program of this class. Please, note that the specialties of the menu prepared at the class may vary according to the season and the availability of the products in the day of the class.
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.
Fresh hand-made ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta, topped with butter and sage and finished with parmesan cheese and black pepper! A masterpiece of Tuscan cuisine with the simplest and yet so delicious ingredients.
A free sampling of Tuscan cold meats, cheeses and other delicacies along with a small glass of wine is served at the end of the Peccioli free guided tour.
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.
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!
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 cooking class we like telling you a lot about Tuscan farms and farmers' cooking traditions, introducing you to Tuscan people with their personal stories, careers and characters.
You will have one of our guides as a language assistants and coordinator with you during the whole class. Please, see below all the guides and language assistants who can be with you.
During this experience you will also meet one of our Tuscan cooks who give you the cooking class. Please, see below which cooks you are likely to encounter.
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!
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!!
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.
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.
Anna
friend
Anna
Chef Services and Cooking Classes Coordinator
Buongiorno a tutti! My name is Anna, and I come from San Miniato, a historic Tuscan town also famous for its delicious white truffles. I first met Arianna in early 2000s, when I was working at a local agriturismo and she was organizing her very first cooking classes there. At the time, I was working at the reception, witnessing the early steps of what would later become Arianna & Friends as event organizers and food tour operators. I had the chance to see the company grow from the very beginning.
As Arianna & Friends continued to expand, we had several opportunities to collaborate over the years, until I officially joined the team on a more permanent basis in 2022. Today, I take care of the company’s accounting and coordinate all the chefs involved in our in-home chef services and cooking classes.
I especially enjoy organizing small weddings and private celebrations, helping our guests create intimate and authentic experiences they will always remember.
I am a patient and creative person, and I enjoy taking care of projects with calm and dedication. When I’m not working, I love spending time by the sea, as I now live in Livorno, a beautiful harbor town.
See you soon in Tuscany
Ester
friend
Ester
Ciao, I'm Ester, one of the cooks of Arianna & Friends'. I've been working with them since the beginning of their adventure in 2007.
I love cooking together with people from all over the world, especially with young kids.
What I prefer to cook is pasta dishes, pizza and desserts, like for example the stunning cake I made to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary.
I live, like Davide (my nephew), in the little village of Lajatico, birthplace of Andrea Bocelli and from my home I can hear his voice and see something when Teatro del Silenzio takes place in July.
I live on a farm and I have chickens, rabbits, a large vegetable garden. I make my own olive oil and wine together with my family.
I hope to be able to cook with many of you in the years to come and teach you a lot of our typical Tuscan food.
Silvia
friend
Silvia
Ciao, I'm Silvia, one of the youngest cooks at Arianna & Friends'. Cooking is my real passion and I like to prepare any traditional dish both for visitors and for my family. I also love baking pizza as well as trying innovative food and special contemporary techniques, especially in my kitchen at home. When I started working for this company in 2018, I met an incredible team of collaborators and with them I finally feel joy and serenity in what I do. Any time I work as a cook I can breath freedom and this makes me happy.
As I really love the sea, in my free time I like being at the beach. I have a passion for travelling and being in the company of my friends. I could define myself as a "free spirit" with a big attraction to ... hats !!!
Looking forward to meet you all!
ACCESSIBILITY:
This activity does not present any particular physical challenges. However, 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 accommodate you. LOCATION OF THE COOKING VENUE:
This cooking class takes place in the rural area of central Tuscany, among Pisa, San Gimignano and Volterra, 10 km from Selvatelle MEET-UP LOCATION:
Unless differently specified, the meeting point with the guide is at our office in La Rosa or at an agreed meeting point DURATION:
This program takes 5 hours. Time for transportation not included. AVAILABILITY:
Available all the year through, from Mondays through Fridays. Timing is flexible. After a morning class lunch is served. After an afternoon class dinner is served. LANGUAGE:
This class is available in English, German, French, Spanish or Italian with no surcharge. DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
Easy CHILD FRIENDLY:
Ideal for children CLOTHING:
No particular clothing required. FOOD RESTRICTIONS:
The foods served during this cooking class 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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