The Akaroa Cooking School

Another fabulous day cooking up a storm at Podere Il Casale with this awesome crew!

It was so special to catch up with Ulisse, who, together with his lovely wife Sandra, founded this incredible place back in 1991. Their passion and vision have created something truly extraordinary.

Today we were in the capable hands of the gorgeous Francesca, who led us through a fantastic cooking class filled with plenty of laughter, great stories, delicious wine, and of course, some seriously good food. The best part? Everything we cooked came straight from the farm — olive oil, wine, flour, vegetables, and even the pork.

After lunch, we wandered through the beautiful hilltop village of Pienza, squeezed in a little shopping, those that had room enjoyed a gelato, and then headed home for a refreshing swim and a well-earned siesta.

Another perfect Tuscan day in paradise. 🇮🇹✨

Here are two incredible products we never leave home without - even if we’re travelling to the other side of the world. They can make any meal incredible and both can be bought at our fabulous Akaroa Butchery & Deli!!
No1: Peninsula Preserved lemons 🍋
No2: Mandy’s Horseradish

Yesterday we welcomed a wonderful new group of guests to the villa, and it was clear from the moment they arrived that they were going to get on famously throughout the week ahead.

We kicked things off with a beautiful welcome dinner filled with great conversation, plenty of laughter, and, as it turns out, a few mutual friends. You’ve got to love that about Kiwis — no matter where you are in the world, there’s always a connection!

Today, Ant headed into Umbria with the group for a truffle hunt, and what a fantastic start to the week it was. With the help of the talented Pecca, the team unearthed just under a kilo of fresh truffles — an incredible haul and a memorable first adventure together.

Here’s to a week of great food, new friendships, and unforgettable experiences in Italy.

Today we said arrivederci to our wonderful friends after a fun-filled week together exploring some of our favourite places in Tuscany and Umbria. We’ve shared incredible experiences, introduced them to some of our trusted local suppliers, and enjoyed an abundance of sensational food along the way.

We’ve created so many special memories, eaten far more than we probably should have, and loved every minute of it!

Last night in the beautiful hilltop town of Cortona was the perfect way to end the week. We stopped by the former home of Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun, for a photo before heading into town for a memorable farewell dinner.

Of course, no final evening would have been complete without a gelato for the menfolk, followed by the obligatory limoncello back at the villa to toast an unforgettable week.

What a fabulous time we’ve had. Now we’re ready to do it all again next week!

Today was market day in our nearby village, and the whole town seemed to come alive. Locals gathered to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables, artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and all manner of seasonal produce. The irresistible aroma of porchetta drifted through the market stalls, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

The market was a feast for the senses — colourful, bustling, and overflowing with exceptional produce. We shopped up a storm before returning to the villa with our bounty to prepare a delicious lunch together.

The afternoon has been blissfully relaxed, spent enjoying the pool and soaking up the beauty of the gardens. Next on the agenda are drinks and canapés before we head up to Cortona for our farewell dinner and a wonderful finale to our time together.

Today we were sipping some of Tuscany’s most superb wines well before midday. We returned to the beautiful La Braccesca winery, near Montepulciano, and caught up with our gorgeous friend Elisa, who has been hosting us since 2018.

La Braccesca is owned by the renowned Antinori family, whose winemaking heritage spans an incredible 26 generations and more than 600 years. After a stroll through the vineyards and a tour of the impressive underground wine “cathedral,” we enjoyed a tasting of four exceptional Syrah and Sangiovese wines.

What makes La Braccesca so unique is that the estate straddles two prestigious wine regions. One part lies within the Cortona appellation, where Syrah thrives, while the other sits in the Montepulciano region, renowned for its Sangiovese. The result is a stunning collection of wines that beautifully showcase the character of both regions.

Every wine we tasted was outstanding, but my favourite remains the Bramasole—an elegant, aged Syrah that is a perfect match for a great steak and pairs surprisingly well with dark chocolate.

After our tasting, we headed up to the spectacular hilltop village of Montepulciano for a wonderful lunch, a little shopping, and breathtaking views across the Tuscan countryside.

We had another fabulous day in paradise today. We headed to the stunning Val d’Orcia, a place that feels as though you’ve stepped straight onto a movie set. The scenery is simply breathtaking, with rolling hills and picture-perfect landscapes at every turn.

Today we returned to the wonderful Podere Il Casale pecorino farm, a place we’ve been visiting since 2018, back when Sandra, Ulisse and their sons ran the farm tours and tastings. It has been incredible to watch their growth over the years—they now employ 55 staff—but their commitment to organic farming, sustainability and a true zero food miles philosophy remains at the heart of everything they do.

We spent a delightful morning in the kitchen with Martha, whose classroom overlooks the valley, learning to make traditional pici pasta with fresh tomato sauce. We also prepared roasted pork loin (from the farm, of course!) served with garden vegetables, and finished with delicious homemade biscotti.

Lunch included a tasting platter featuring six of their outstanding pecorino cheeses, ranging from ricotta made fresh this morning through to a beautifully aged 12-month pecorino that was wonderfully nutty and sweet.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a visit to nearby Pienza, soaking up yet more extraordinary views of this remarkable region. Then it was back home for a well-earned rest and some relaxing pool time. ❤️

Such a great start to the trip with our truffle hunting tour. The day starts with a beautiful drive to the hilltop village of Citerna in Umbria for a quick caffeine top up. Then off to the forest to hunt for black summer truffles with owner Filippo and his trusty truffle pooch Pecca. Within moments Pecca had sniffed out an absolute beauty weighing in around 200g. The forest is full of hazelnut and oak trees with a few fig and pear trees dotted about and also a gorgeous olive grove where the white spring truffles grow. The haul today was around 500g which was great for 45 minutes meandering through a beautiful forest - good job Pecca!! Then it was back to the farmhouse for the best part - getting to feast on a decadent lunch of truffle infused goodness!