Puglia, Italy
Available March to December

Come to Puglia and learn why everybody is talking about the wines and food of this beautiful and sunny region. Visit beautiful wineries and meet local winemakers who focus on preserving indigenous grapes that the Greeks first brought to Puglia thousands of years ago. Taste excellent wines from Primitivo (which has the same DNA of the Zinfandel) to Negroamaro, Malvasia, Fiano Minutolo and Sussumaniello.

Learn the secrets of the traditional home made cuisine of Puglia which is based on lots of durum wheat, vegetables, seafood and a fantastic extra virgin olive oil. All recipes are simple but tasty because all the ingredients are very fresh, seasonal and local.

Cookery classes and wine tours are organized by the two sisters, Cinzia & Marika who speak fluent English. Cinzia is a wine sommelier and extra virgin olive oil taster. Marika is also a Cardiologist and will tell you why the Mediterranean cuisine of Puglia is so healthy.Classes and tours last from one day to one week.

One-Day cooking classes and wine tastings may be provided at the Cooking School which is in a beautiful historical palace located in a small village off the tourist tracks and just outside Lecce (the baroque capital of Puglia).

The palace has been recently restored and has a beautiful terrace where you can enjoy the sun or read your book. The underground floor of the palace was used in the past as an oil mill.

The palace is walking distance from the historical centre of this little village where artisans still produce their products in a traditional way. The village gives his name to a D.O.C. (Denomination of Origin) wine area and his famous for its excellent extra virgin olive oil as well. The whole area around Lecce, known as Salento, is surrounded by a beautiful countryside with millenary olive trees and vineyards. Some of the best wine makers from Puglia are located close to the cooking school, producing famous Negroamaro and Primitivo wines as well as famous extra virgin olive oil producers. The sea is 3 miles away.

Cinzia and Marika provide excellent city bikes and organize on request private bike or walking tours to explore the countryside and to visit the many local artisans and wine makers. They also give private Italian lessons - please inquire.

Cinzia and Marika discovered their passions about food and wines at a young age when their grandmother taught them the secrets of how to make hand-made “orecchiette” pasta; or when their grandfather allowed them to squeeze the grapes with their feet during the harvest season. They have since loved to host family and friends, cooking great food, trying new recipes, tasting fantastic wines!

Having earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in Boston and worked for many years in Marketing and Finance roles in primary international companies in New York and London, Cinzia got exposure to and learned about the most diverse and international cultures, tastes and cuisine. Eager to contribute to her home-land, and passionate about the wine, food and hospitality sectors she decided to move back to Puglia. Marika is a clinical cardiologist at Lecce's main hospital. During the cooking classes she explains all the benefits of a true Mediterranean cuisine.

Equipped with their intimate knowledge of Southern Italy, Cinzia and Marika started their business so that the authentic style and life of Puglia and Italy could be truly experienced, with the real local people, in a true Italian home and family. They have both taken many cooking and wine tasting classes. However they only teach what they learned from their grandmother.

One Day Cooking Classes in Puglia

We specialize in hands on cooking classes, in English and for small groups (min 4, max 6 people). On request, we also provide 1 day cooking classes to larger groups up to 18 people and private classes to couples. Classes are provided at an Italian Cooking School located outside Lecce, the beautiful baroque capital of Puglia. As an alternative private cooking classes can be organized at your place, anywhere around Puglia.

A typical whole day cooking class starts in the morning with a visit to the food market in Lecce to buy the ingredients followed by a walk in the old town where you’ll have a chance to explore the local artisans and gourmet shops. At lunch you will taste some of the typical local products: from artisan mozzarella and cheese, to delicious bread and focaccia.

In the afternoon you will prepare 3 traditional and home based recipes from the Puglia cuisine. Dinner will be served on the terrace and you will have a chance to taste some of the best local wines from Puglia.

Market visit, walk in the Lecce old town visit, light lunch, cooking class, dinner, wines, transfer

half Day Wine Tours in Puglia

A typical half-day wine tour includes the visit of two select wine makers in the Salice Salentino DOC wine area, near Lecce and one of the best in Puglia. During the wine tour you have a chance to meet the wine producers and learn about their indigenous wines and production. You will also taste some of their best wines made from the famous local grapes, Primitivo and Negroamaro.During the grape harvest season (from August to October) we may also organize private harvest and wine making tours.

On request, wine tours may also be organized in the Northern part of Puglia, where other excellent wine producers produce Malvasia, Nero di Troia, Castel del Monte wines ; or in the famous Primitivo di Manduria DOC wine area.

Visits of two wine makers; wine tastings; lunch; transfer

**On request, wine tours and tastings may be combined with olive harvests and olive oil tastings.

*Schedule or contents of the itineraries may change due to prevailing local conditions without advance notice

GROUP SIZE

A minimum of 4 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 6 participants. On request classes can be provided for up to 25 participants.

HOW TO ARRIVE

The cooking school is located in the Lecce area.

CLOSEST AIRPORT: Brindisi. You can rent a car at the airport or a private transfer may be organized for you. For domestic flight connections from Rome or Milan to Brindisi please check: www.alitalia.com; www.flyairone.it

TRAIN: Fast trains stop in Lecce. A private transfer may be organized for you from Lecce train station. It is a 5 hour train ride from Rome to Brindisi train station.

*These details are provided as additional information. Please check below to see if transfers are included in this tour.

BOOKING INFORMATION

For further inquiries or to register, click here.

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CANCELLATION POLICY

Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

CLIENT REMARKS

MAP*

This exciting region is depicted below. You can also access Google MapsTM by clicking HERE. 

*In some cases mapping may give clients a general sense of location due to changes in venue. Please inquire about specific location.

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