Things to do in Tuscany
There really is something for everyone in Tuscany. Explore nature, play sports, make a splash at a waterpark, or give your tastebuds the ride of their life in the world-famous Chianti region.
This section of the guide will give you all the information and resources you need to fill each day with memories. Whether you’d like our team of specialists to help you every step of the way, or if you need just a few recommendations to help you plot your own course, there is a wealth of information here at your disposal.
Find the best local ice cream parlours, plot your biking route, discover historic landmarks and cultural spectacles; try your hand at being a chef, hire one to teach you, or just lie back and stare at the view while they do all the work. Here at To Tuscany, we take leisure very seriously.
Take a look at our guides below and start curating your personal experience.
Things to do in Tuscany
To Tuscany Experiences
We are the To Tuscany Experience specialists and we want to share our passion and extensive local knowledge of Tuscany and its hidden gems. Let us help you make your trip to Tuscany an unforgettable experience.
How it works
Whether you are travelling alone or organising a mega trip for family and friends, let us know your plans, dreams and ideas and we’ll give you some personalised suggestions to choose from.
Contact us to request a price quotation
Tuscany for children
Tuscany is a great choice for families looking for a fun and relaxing break. There are plenty of attractions here for kids – large and small – enough to fill every day of a villa holiday in Tuscany.
Get their adrenalin going with the thrills and spills of white-water rafting or shooting down the region’s highest slide. Take them to meet the wilder residents of Tuscany at one of Italy’s top nature parks. Help them learn to make ice cream and get crafty at a top museum. Explore cool caverns together beneath Tuscany’s mountains or take a boat out to see the village drowned in a lake. And introduce them to Pinnochio or Tyrannosaurus Rex.
You’ll have no problem keeping boredom at bay on a family holiday in Tuscany.
Wild Swimming in Tuscany
Come on in, the water's great!
Ever since Michele Tameni's 'Wild Swimming Italy' hit the book shelves in 2014, swimming in lakes, pools, rivers, springs and waterfalls has soared in popularity across Italy. With its abundance of natural parks, countryside paths and wild beaches, Tuscany offers a host of opportunities for discovering excellent swimming spots.
Why do people love wild swimming?
Tameni shared that he loves "to walk into the woods in early morning while the mist rises from the water, find a nice pool, sit down awaiting the sunrise and jump in the fresh water as soon as the first ray of the sun reaches" and cannot resist "the feeling of exploring a new place, and the never-ending curiosity about what comes on top of a waterfall, or around the next bend of the river."
Where to go wild swimming in Tuscany?
Here are some of the top wild swimming spots in Tuscany:
The river Farma is one of Tameni's favourites, which flows along beautiful hill landscapes, you can explore a small canyon of volcanic rock at the Canaloni or relax under the shade of the bush in two natural pools near Solaia.
In northern Tuscany, between the Alps and Apennines, in the historic regions of Lunigiana and Garfagnana, you will find the jewel of Candalla. Among ruins and fig-scented woodlands, a walking trail follows the stream from the old mill through an enchanted valley, over waterfalls and between natural pools - great for relaxing, swimming and diving (from the top of the waterfall)
It would be impossible to recommend wild swimming spots in Tuscany without mentioning the hot springs. Fosso Biano, in Bagni San Filippo is the perfect place to relax in both summer or winter. Hidden in the woods, the spring flows down the huge white rock face into the magical hot pools.
Top advice for first-time wild swimmers
Now it’s time to grab a towel and make a splash in Tuscany! Before you jump in though, consider these top tips from experienced wild swimmers:
As some water is cleaner than others (like anywhere), choose somewhere upstream from a large village and ask locals for tips, if you are unsure
Check the water depth and quality before you dive in and choose a bend where the water is calm
Go as a group - not only is it safer but you'll have more fun
Enjoy the wilderness, embrace the sense of freedom it offers and revel in the peace and tranquillity
Local Events & Festivals In Tuscany
Don’t miss out on the chance to experience some of the festivals and wonderful local events that Tuscany has to offer. Tuscany is home to many historic towns and charismatic cities, both of which hold exciting and fascinating events throughout the year.
Attending a local festival or event will give you a true feel for the real Tuscany and enable you to immerse yourself in the local culture. You will learn more about the history and culture of this artistic and visually stunning region.
Tuscany hosts a wide variety of different events to suit every taste. Attend events such as local markets, food and wine festivals, theatre shows, carnivals, live music concerts and colourful parades.
We have put together a selection of some of the best events in Tuscany that are a stone's throw away from our luxurious private villas. Browse through the events below or check the Italian tourist board for more information.
Shopping in Tuscany
Love shopping? Then you’ve chosen a great place to book your holiday villa. In Tuscany, you’ll find a mix of shopping experiences, whether you want to buy the latest designer clothes or a chunk of tasty local cheese.
Tuscany is well known for its wine, olive oil, and fresh local produce. It’s also a good place to pick up leather goods, lace and terracotta. Visit a local market early in the morning to purchase the freshest produce. And check out the markets across the region that specialise in artisanal crafts and antiques. The quaint traditional shops found in smaller villages are also a good place to seek out lovely hand-crafted products for a fabulous souvenir to take home.
There are fantastic factory outlets here, too, with many of the top Italian design houses selling luxury items at bargain prices, including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci. While Tuscany’s cities – Siena, Arezzo, Florence and Pisa among them – have some great high-street shopping, too.
Check out our suggestions below on where to enjoy a shopping trip during your villa holiday in Tuscany.
Tuscany Wines
Tuscany has a rich history of viticulture. Its rolling hills and Mediterranean climate provide the perfect conditions for the production of good-quality wines. The region is particularly renowned for its red wines, most of which are produced from Sangiovese grapes. These reds are generally spicy, with good acid levels, smooth texture and medium body.
The most exclusive Sangiovese wine is the high-quality Brunello di Montalcino, from a fortress town south of Siena. It is one of Italy’s most expensive wines and is now issued under more than 100 different labels. This wine is produced solely from Sangiovese grapes and takes at least 10 years to reach maturity. Other Sangiovese wines include Chianti and Chianti Classico. But unlike Brunello di Montalcino, these also contain a small amount (between 10 and 15 per cent) of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah grapes.
Chianti Classico comes from the vineyards that lie between Florence and Siena, with the towns of Greve, Radda and Castellina forming a triangle in the very heart of the Chianti area. Most of these wines belong to the Classico’s marketing consortium and bear the Gallo Nero symbol, a black rooster, the symbol of an authentic bottle of Chianti Classico. Two kinds of Chianti Classico are available, Standard and Riserva. Standard is labelled with a Gallo Nero surrounded by a red border, whereas Riserva is labelled with a Gallo Nero surrounded by a gold border. Riservas are produced from some of the finest grapes and aged for a minimum of 27 months to provide an additional full-bodied flavour.
Many Chianti wines also hold the DOC/DOCG (Dominazione di Origine Controllato/ Dominazione di Origine Controllato e Guarantita) status. This Italian quality-assurance label was introduced in 1963 by the Italian government and amended in 1992 by the EU law for the Protected Designation of Origin. To meet the DOC/DOCG requirements wines must be produced within the specified region using defined methods and must also meet a defined quality standard.
Since the 1970s more modern wines have emerged, made from international grape varieties and using French barriques, or barrels. These are the Super Tuscans. Grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were introduced and mixed with the classic Sangiovese to produce other high-quality wines but at a much lower cost due to modern techniques. But these avant garde methods did not fit the new DOC/DOCG laws and the wines were forced to take the humble label of Vini da Tavola, or table wine. Over time, these wines have gained a reputation as some of the finest ever made in Italy and their prices are well above those charged for an ordinary table wine.
And last, but not least, there’s Grappa.Grappa, or grape stalk, is a grape-based pomace brandy (between 37.5 and 60 per cent alcohol) made from grape seeds, stalks and stems left over from winemaking after pressing. This by-product of Italian wine can either be taken on its own or added as a shot to an espresso coffee, generally taken after meals to aid digestion.
Fishing in Tuscany
Tuscans love to fish and in most towns, you’ll find a fishing and hunting shop. Call in and tap into their knowledge about good local places to fish and the licences you’ll need.
Sea Fishing
Paolo Fanciulli is an experienced fisherman and hiking guide who offers fishing trips that adhere to sustainable practices in the seas off the Maremma Regional Park. Book one of his morning or full-day tours, for up to 12 people, which depart early from the port of Talamone.
Web: www.paoloilpescatore.it
Fly fishing
The best place to go fly fishing in Tuscany is in the river Alto Tevere at Sansepolcro, west of Arezzo, about 1 hour 40 minutes by car from Siena.
In the Lucca area, the natural basin created by Serchio, the river that crosses Garfagnana from north to south, from Sillano to beyond Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, is a good choice of location, too.
Web: Fly Dreamers https://tinyurl.com/2sth874p
Lake fishing
Lake Vallechiara, at Quornia, on the road between Castellina in Chianti and Monteriggioni, is a good spot for fishing. Follow the signs for Ristorante Vallechiara, where the owners hire out tackle, then settle down by the lakeside and cast your rod in the hope of reeling in carp, sturgeon and trout.
Web: https://lagovallechiara.it/en/homepage/#fishing
Lago di Chiusi and Lago di Montepulciano, near Chiusi and Montepulciano respectively, are by far the two of the best places to go lake fishing in Siena province. (Ristorante Pesce d'Oro, near Labo di Chiusi, is a good spot for lunch, too.) Seek permission to fish from the contacts below.
Lago di Chiusi
Web: www.lenzaetrusca.it
Lago di Montepulciano
Web: www.amicilagodimontepulciano.it
Golf in Tuscany
Rich in art, history, culture and traditions, Tuscany also has fabulous scenery, great food and superb wine - all the ingredients of a relaxing holiday destination. Add the fact that it has some of Italy's finest golf courses and it makes the region an excellent target for discovery.
Until the arrival of Costantino Rocca, Italy hardly figured as a top golf nation but the emergence of 2009 Open Championship silver medallist Matteo Mannasero and World Cup-winning brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, has sparked many people's interest in the country's golfing future.
Tuscany is widely known for its picturesque landscape of rolling hills and intriguing history and with golf stirring and added passion it seems the perfect place to be. I didn't know what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised.
Tuscany has some of Italy’s finest golf courses; below we have listed a few of them with some tips from Grant Leggate – Assistant Secretary at Royal St Georges, Sandwich.
Cycling in Tuscany
Castellina in Chianti (578m) – Castagnoli (427 m) – Bivio Talciona (150m) – Church of Sant’ Agnese (410m) – Castellina in Chianti
Distance: 41km
Time: 4 hours
Road surface: Unpaved for about half the ride, then on quiet asphalt roads.
Difficulty: Requires average athletic preparation. Several steep ascents of medium intensity in the re-ascent to Castellina.
Route: This mountain-bike ride starts and finishes at Castellina in Chianti via the State Road for Poggibonsi. After 2km turn off for the castle at Castagnoli. When the asphalt ends, the wide dirt road descends into lovely countryside, with views across the Staggia and Elsa valleys.
Soon, you’ll come upon several hairpin bends; take great care because it’s easy to lose your balance on the very steep slope and gravel roadbed. Close to Villa Rosa and Gretole, the route appears to follow flat ground yet crosses a ridge with views across the fields. Continue on asphalt until reaching a crossroads signposted for Talciona.
After looking around Talciona, return to the crossroads and head uphill to admire the little presbytery of Santa Maria, which has an architrave sculpted in 1234, bearing a rough but charming Adoration of the Magi. Continue uphill along the little asphalt road that soon becomes a track, in the direction of Villore. The unpaved road meets the State Road from Poggibonsi on a bend. Here, head towards Castellina to finish the ride.
L’Eroica vintage bike event Gaiole Tuscany
L'Eroica is a vintage bike race which takes place at the beginning of October in Gaiole in Chianti in Tuscany, normally the first Sunday. It started in 1997 and aims to reenact historical cycling. It is open to everyone as long as a vintage bicycle is used. The bicycle is considered vintage if it is from before the 1980s and has a metal frame, gears on the frame and cage pedals.
There are various routes that can be done, from 38km to 205km, over both paved and the famous Tuscan 'white roads' (unpaved).
The event is not competitive. During the weekend there is a fantastic historical bicycle market and along the route there are various 'aid' stations which have local products ranging from bread and honey or salami to the traditional Tuscan bread soup (Ribolita). Many participates and volunteers are dressed in historical costumes making the event very colourful.
The route is completely permanently signed and is ideal for avid cyclists to follow throughout the year. For information about this visit: http://www.eroicagaiole.com/
For more information visit the L'Eroica website click here: http://www.eroicagaiole.com/
Our blog: tuscanguru.to-tuscany.com/get-pedaling-theres-an-ice-cream-waiting-at-the-top-of-the-hill/
Have a look at our villas within 10km of the start of the L'Eroica.
Please note that some of the villas have unpaved access roads, check carefully the approach road description if you are planning on biking to the start.
Self guided walks
We have chosen some of our favourite self-guided walks with the best restaurants to help make your Tuscan walk dreams a reality, the walks are designed for experienced walkers who enjoy being independent. As there's no strict schedule to follow all you need to do is show up.
Following our suggested routes is a great way to slow the pace and opens your eyes to hidden treasures offered up time and again at every turn. We have designed these walks for you, and hope they help to bring you closer to the contemporarily wild and tamed landscape that is iconic and admired across the world.
Our walks are updated from time to time to match your requests, so let us know if you have any questions or suggestions that we can add to our guides.
Email experiences@to-tuscany.com with your ideas.
Tennis in Tuscany
While on holiday you might want to continue to partake in your favorite sport especially if you have some extra time for yourself. The following are the tennis courts in Tuscany, Orvieto and Perugia where you can go and play even if you are not a club member. Please note that you should book in advance since they allow club members first and they have tennis lessons all year.
Read moreChianti Sculpture Park
The Chianti Sculpture Park is located in Pievasciata, about 10km north of Siena and is the perfect place to sniff out some art in Tuscany while still enjoying its glorious sunshine. It’s a permanent exhibition of 26 contemporary installations and sculptures by artists from all over the world, including a labyrinth, a rainbow, a huge keel and more - all beautifully set within the surrounding woodland. Visitors to the park will enjoy the typical landscape and art in Tuscany at the same time, along a 1 km walking trail. It really is a pleasant walk through art and nature!
The exhibits are weird, wonderful and thought-provoking – among our favourites is The Labyrinth, a maze made from aquamarine glass bricks by UK artist Jeff Saward. This is also the location of La Fornace Art Gallery, a collection of more than 200 contemporary works by Asian, African, South American and European artists, housed in a former pottery.
The park is also home to an amphitheatre, where concerts and other cultural events take place from May to September in a magical atmosphere.
Chianti Sculpture Park opening hours
Every day from 10am to sunset.
If you intend to visit the Park we suggest you to download the free application ChiantiPark either from Apple Store or Google Play.
How to get to the Chianti Sculpture Park
From the Superstrada Firenze-Siena: Siena Nord exit.
Turn left onto SS222, towards Castellina and then take a right turn after 1.5km towards Vagliagli. Drive for about 8km and then turn right towards PIEVASCIATA. This is a country road and you will find the park on your right after about 4km.
GPS: Long. E. 11° 22' 53" – Lat. N. 43° 23' 36"
Star-gazing in Tuscany
When you think of Tuscany, one of the first things that come to mind is probably the stunning landscapes of vineyards and olive groves. But if at night, you look up above the beautiful countryside into the night sky, you will soon learn why Tuscany is popular among those interested in stargazing.Southern Tuscany Stargazing
Southern Tuscany, in particular, has a very dark area, covering Maremma, Monte Amiata, the Farma and Merse Valleys and the Tuscan Archipelago. Thanks to its low population density and distance from large urban areas, Southern Tuscany offers wonderfully dark skies. Plus, unlike other popular dark stargazing spots in Italy, Tuscany is very accessible.The BuioMetria Partecipativa project
Not only is the low light pollution admired among stargazers and poets for inspiration, it is linked to a positive impact on the environment and people’s health. The BuioMetria Partecipativa http://www.buiometriapartecipativa.org/ project was set up in the Farma Valley in 2008 to gather more data about Tuscany’s dark sky areas. As well as being run in other parts of Italy, the project is now part of European initiatives related to light and night. Events and activities for all age groups are organised to raise awareness.Star-gazing at Osservatorio Chianti
If stargazing in Tuscany has sparked your interest, you can explore the stars at Chianti’s observatory From June to August, the research centre hosts special star-gazing nights, with English-speaking astronomers on hand to help you discover the constellations through their telescopes. This could be a wonderful way to introduce children to the mysteries of the sky.
Follow the 10 Chianti Classics trail >
Thermal Springs
Tuscany has many natural thermal baths which make for excellent day-trips. Although none of them are technically in Chianti, we still deemed them worthy of inclusion in our list of 10 Chianti Classics. Some are very easily accessible from the region. The nearest to the Chianti area Sangiovanni Terme and Antica Quercialaia, both of which are in the beautiful town of Rapolano Terme. Some of the thermal springs run into rock pools which are free to use and situated in authentic countryside environments, one of these, located close to Chianti is the Terme di Petriolo, where there is also a wellness centre. Here, the water runs into river pools, providing an idyllic place to lounge in the hot water and swim in the cool river.
Follow the 10 Chianti Classics trail >
Hunting Truffles in Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany’s lush green hills, interlaced with vineyards, olive groves and pine forests, bears many culinary fruits. The most treasured of all is the truffle – and we’re not talking about the chocolate variety.
The Romans adored truffles for their aphrodisiac qualities. Today, cooks across the world use their distinctive flavours to add a touch of class to their dishes. These gourmet delicacies are so precious some are even worth their weight in gold.
Why are truffles so popular?
The most famous white truffle is found in the Piedmont region of Italy, near the city of Alba. Every autumn the warty treats are plucked from between the roots of oak, hazel, poplar and beech trees and sold at the truffle markets during the International White Truffle Festival of Alba. It is partly thanks to this festival – and partly due to clever marketing – that Alba truffle has become the most revered truffle worldwide.
However, many believe the Tuscan white truffle, found around Siena and Pisa, is just as flavoursome and much better value for money. For this reason, an increasing number of truffle lovers make a beeline for Tuscany during the autumn months for a truffle experience in a more intimate and less commercial atmosphere, to try, buy and even hunt for truffles.
How does truffle hunting work?
The truffle hunters, or Trifolau, keep their finds and locations a closely guarded secret and generally hunt for truffles at night. But these covert operations aren’t just timed to cover the hunter’s movements, it’s said the scent of the truffle is stronger at night, making it easier for the truffle dogs to find.
Truffle-hunting dogs
Originally, truffles were hunted with female pigs because it was thought that the scent from the truffles resembled the pheromone of the male pig. Unfortunately, pigs are partial to truffles, so many of these fungi never got as far as the kitchen. Also, as one hunter told us: “It’s much easier to get a dog in the back of the car!”
The dogs are trained from a young age with pieces of strong-smelling cheese, which are buried for them to find. Eventually, the cheese is swapped for small truffles to sniff out. Alternatively, a promising dog will be sent to truffle-hunting school. It’s a long process, taking around four years for a dog to become fully trained.
A good hunting dog is invaluable, and each year there are reports of experienced hounds being poisoned by rival hunters. Once the dog indicates a possible find, the Trifolau uses a narrow spade to dig up the truffle without damaging it, and then returns the earth to the hole so that truffles can regrow for another year. All attempts to grow truffles in artificial environments or from seed have so far failed. It would seem Mother Nature knows her stuff and is not prepared to give up her secrets so easily.
All attempts to grow truffles in artificial environments or from seed have so far failed. It would seem Mother Nature knows her stuff and is not prepared to give up her secrets so easily.
When is the best time of year for truffle-hunting?
The dedicated hunt for truffles almost all year round. From January to March, they seek out the dark winter truffles. From March to April they hunt for the tan truffle or bianchetto (which have been known to fool the inexperienced into thinking they are the more expensive prized white truffles). From June to November the more common black or summer truffle can be unearthed, and in September the first of the prized tartufo bianco, or white truffles, can be found.
White Truffle Festivals & Events
This is the high point in the truffle hunters’ year, and there are a number of festivals in Tuscany that celebrate this expensive delicacy. Among the most important are the festivals at San Giovanni d’Asso and San Miniato, where the quality of the truffles is on a par with those sold in Alba but the prices are not as high. San Giovanni d’Asso also has a museum dedicated to the truffle.
To get a sense of the atmosphere watch this video by Graeme Robertson of The Guardian:
Truffle-hunting Experiences
We previously hosted CNN journalist Maureen O’Hare on a truffle-hunt in San Miniato. She and To Tuscany’s proprietor Sean Caulfield were offered a glimpse of the truffle-hunter’s skill by Massimo Cucchiara, whose family has been involved with the precious tuber for many years.
You can read Maureen’s article here If you want to meet Massimo and try this ancient and fascinating hunt for yourself, visit Truffle in TuscanyAnd one of the best places to taste this delicacy is at chef and TV personality Gilberto Rossi’s restaurant, Pepenero, in San Miniato. Check out Truffle in Tuscany for special packages combining the hunt, a cooking class and the tasting experience with Gilberto and his team
Tuscany Villas close to good truffle-hunting spots
To Tuscany has plenty of villas ideally located to make the most of the truffle season, such as Villa Fonte Rinaldi, situated on its own private hilltop with 360-degree picturesque views, or Casa Torcicoda, immersed in the abundant countryside. For larger groups, Il Piano is a beautiful stone house with plenty of facilities for the whole family. Alternatively, take a look at all of our villa collections near Pisa
What can you do with truffles?
If you have purchased a tartufo blanco (white truffle), eat it as soon as possible because it won’t keep for very long. Slice it very finely or grate it over baked or fried eggs, or plain pasta. Avoid cooking a white truffle, which will dull its taste. However, the opposite is true of the black truffle, which needs to be sautéed in butter to bring out the flavour. It’s best served with plain pasta to bring out the best flavour.
Finally, if you think you have found a truffle but are not entirely sure it is one, check with someone who knows. Remember it is also the mushroom season and if you’re inexperienced it’s easy to get them confused.
For further information about truffle hunters and truffle hunting, contact: Association of Truffle Hunters of Siena
Via XX Settembre 17, 53024 San Giovanni d’Asso (SI)
Tel: +39 0577 803213
Associazione Tartufai delle Colline Sanminiatesi
Piazza del Popolo, 19, 56028 San Miniato (PI)
Tel. +39 0571 42014
Truffle in Tuscany
Via Covina, 44/C, 56028 San Miniato (PI)
Tel. +39 3479030371
https://www.truffleintuscany.com/index.html
Local Wildlife In Tuscany
The hot sun and long, warm days have encouraged a surprising diversity of wildlife to inhabit Tuscany. Tuscany’s national parks, wildlife reserves, mountains and vast woodland areas provide a habitat for wildlife to flourish.
Not many people realise that Tuscany has some fantastic local wildlife to see. Deep in the Tuscan countryside you may come across European animals such as hare, deer, porcupines, badgers, dormice, red foxes, pheasants, wolves, and even wild boar.
Tuscany is also a great place to go bird watching. A wide range of beautiful birds can be spotted throughout the region. Birdwatching enthusiasts should head to the mountains and marshlands to see birds such as the tawny owl, herons, ring ouzel and the rare glossy ibis.
Read about some of the most common animals found in Tuscany by clicking on the links below and book your Tuscan wildlife adventure.
Coffee in Italy
Coffee! Most of us start our day with an aromatic cup of coffee at breakfast to wake up, regular coffee that is. No misunderstanding here, we order a cappuccino when out for a nice dinner or when we are on holiday in Italy. Sometimes we drink an espresso, or a caffe latte. When we drink coffee or what kind of coffee we drink, all is fine, we just enjoy!
This is different in Tuscany and the rest of Italy. Coffee is an important part of the Italian culture.
Tuscany’s Olive Oil
Italy is renowned for the high quality of its olive oil, and rightly so. Some of the best comes from Tuscany, with single-estate bottled oil being the most highly prized ¬– and the most expensive.
The soil, type of tree, amount of sunshine and the amount of rain that falls during the growing season all play their part in determining the flavour of the oil. A variety of olive trees are grown in Italy, each of which has its own particular characteristics. Most of the olive trees grown in Tuscany are Frantoio, Leccino, Pendolio, Maurino, Moraiolo and Taggiasca.
The best type of soil to plant the trees in is clay or good loamy soil with plenty of drainage. Although olive trees can thrive in difficult conditions, there is no guarantee of a reliable crop each year. It is essential that the trees have good irrigation throughout the growing season to maximise their yield. Olives are produced on the previous year's growth; therefore, annual pruning is essential for maintaining the health of the tree, ensuring an annual crop and encouraging an even fruit set.
Olives are picked by hand to minimise damage to the fruit and then washed to remove any dirt and dust. Within 24 to 48 hours of being harvested, the olives, including the skin and stones, are crushed into a pulp by a stone mill or metal grinder. This pulp is then pressed using a traditional wooden or modern hydraulic press. This is the first pressing and strict guidelines must be adhered to during this process. In order to label a bottle “first cold pressing”, or in the case of an industrial process “cold extraction”, EU guidelines state that the olives must be pressed at a temperature below 27C.
Perhaps the most skilled part of the process, is deciding when to harvest the olives, because this determines the flavour and taste. Pick too soon or too late and the acidity of the fruit will affect the quality and flavour of the oil detrimentally. Extra-virgin olive oil must have an acidity level of less than 1 per cent. The Italian government has introduced protected designation of origin labels for its olive oils’ DOP. In addition, olive oil from the Chianti region has a special quality-assurance label of denomination of controlled origin DOC.
It is quite normal for an extra-virgin olive oil to have some sediment at the bottom of the bottle; this is because many of the oils are not filtered after pressing to retain maximum flavour. Once bottled, the oil should be stored away from direct sunlight and should not be exposed to extremes of temperature – a cool pantry or cellar is ideal. Once opened, the oil should be used within a year or by the consume-by date on the label– it’s so delicious it is unlikely to last that long anyway.
Olive oil, in particular the pure extra-virgin olive oil, is a powerful antioxidant, containing monounsaturated fats, beneficial fats that help reduce cholesterol levels, good for our hearts and our general wellbeing. Olive oil is also widely used in cosmetics, mixed with essential oils in moisturisers and used in high-quality soaps.
Fancy joining in the olive harvest or witnessing it first hand? Ask when booking where this is possible and we’ll be happy to advise. The harvest takes place on your doorstep, if you stay in a villa at Montebuoni or Montefiorile. We pick the olives growing in and around both of these hamlets, then take them to our neighbours at the vineyard Casanuova di Ama, who have them cold pressed in Volterra, after which the oil is bottled.
