Cooking or culinary holidays, vacations, tours in Italy:

Cooking Class in Umbria
. . . cooking holidays in the heart of Umbria

• Cooking school:
  
  Spend a fabulous holiday week at the country house "La volpe e l'uva" in the heart of Umbria (Perugia). The farm is surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards, olive trees and Etruscan and Medieval history.

• Cooking lessons:
  
  Learn to cook authentic Italian dishes in an informal and friendly environment where you will learn the passion of the Italian kitchen and have fun doing it. A comprehensive hands-on cookery course given by a women who will teach you to make splendid Italian three course dinners covering all the basic Italian cooking techniques. The cooking lessons are given in your apartment at the country farm "La volpe e l'uva".

• Cooking holiday:
  
  Take day trips to taste extra virgin olive oils, pecorino cheese, Umbrian wines and to visit the some artistic umbrian cities.

My husband and I chose to stay at "La Volpe e l'Uva" specifically because of the opportunity to take some cooking lessons. We took two days of lessons and had a marvelous time. Alberta is a wonderful teacher with a great background knowledge and an instinct for teaching. Having Raffaella there to translate when necessary was a big help too - even though we managed somewhat with our combination of Spanish, beginning Italian and pantomime. We had fun, learned some wonderful typical Italian recipes and had two evenings of delicious dinners - along with the magnificent farm bottled wine. We couldn't wait to come home and impress our friends!
~ Tahoe, Virginia and Norm, California, USA

I highly recommend the cooking classes at Agriturismo "la volpe e l'uva". Our wonderful teacher, Alberta was kind and warm. We took three days of lessons and the variety of the food we cooked was remarkable, Alberta provided recipes for everything we made, so I can now cook the meals for my family in California. We felt like we learned Italian family cooking from a superb mamma who had learned from her mother. The three afternoons we spent in Alberta's kitchen chatting and laughing were the best memories of my trip to Italy. We also thoroughly enjoyed the stay at "la volpe e l'uva" which is so well run by helpful Raffaella and her family.
~ Kimie Nebrig, Portola Valley, California, USA

The cooking class was great. Learning authentic native cooking is something everyone should experience in an old farmhouse with the lady of the house, Alberta. We made Gnocchi, Guinea Fowl with Crostini and Tiramisu. This Gnocchi was so light that I now consider myself an expert when I taste other gnocchi. I have made Tiramisu several times for guests and get rave reviews. It was a very fun way to spend an afternoon and then have what we made for our dinner that night. You should also try Alberta's jams, wine and olive oil. Our stay at La Volpe E L'uva was the high light of our trip.
~ Doug & Mickey Madden, South Lake Tahoe, California

CHRISTMAS COOKING IN UMBRIA ~ from 8 December to 6 January

4-day Christmas Cooking

Includes:

• 4 breakfasts
• 3 lunchs
• 3 dinners
• 3 cooking lessons of approximately 4 hours each
• 3 day excursions
• 4 nights accommodations and use of all facilities at the farm

OLIVE HARVEST IN UMBRIA ~ from 15 November to 15 December

Olive oil production, as wine production, has been an important economic resource since Etruscan Times. The Umbrian region with its hills, soil and climate allow the olive trees to grow and produce superior quality olives with low acidity. The extra virgin olive oil from this region suits the simple genuine and delicious Umbrian gastronomy.

The olive oil is obtained through a simple process of pressing chilled olives that are found in the foot hills of Umbria. The picking of these olives is undertaken entirely by hand. This oil has an intense green color, a soft olive fragrance and full rich flavors. A suggested use of this oil is in the seasoning of uncooked breads, soups, vegetables, salads, meat and fish.

4-day Olive Harvest

Includes:

• 4 breakfasts
• 3 lunchs
• 3 dinners
• 3 cooking lessons of approximately 4 hours each
• 2 days of olive harvest
• 1 day excursion
• 4 nights accommodations and use of all facilities at the farm (i.e. pool, hot tub, etc)

7-day Olive Harvest

Includes:

• 7 breakfasts
• 5 lunchs
• 3 dinners
• 3 cooking lessons of approximately 4 hours each,
• 2 days of olive harvest
• 3 day excursions
• 7 nights accommodations and use of all facilities at the farm (i.e. pool, hot tub, etc)

Your week in Italy

The cookery courses are from Saturday to Saturday and include:

• Three dinners

• Seven breakfasts*

• Two lunches

• Three cooking lessons of approximately 4 hours each in your apartment

• Seven nights accommodations and use of all facilities at the farm (i.e. pool, hot tub, etc)

• Two day excursions

. . . with enough time to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Tea, coffee, house wine during cooking lessons.

* in your apartment you will find coffee, milk, biscuits, jams, butter and sugar.

Your four days in Italy

The cookery courses are from Tuesday to Saturday (but this can be changed if you have different needs) and include:

• Three dinners

• Three lunches

• Four breakfasts*

• Three cooking lessons of approximately 4 hours each

• Four nights accommodations and use of all facilities at the farm (i.e. pool, hot tub, etc)

• Three day excursions

. . . with enough time to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Tea, coffee, house wine during cooking lessons.

* in your apartment you will find coffee, milk, biscuits, jams, butter and sugar.

La Volpe e l'Uva is a farmhouse in the beautiful heart of the Umbria valley in Italy. Surrounded by ten hectares of olive groves, vineyards and fruit trees, and with its own swimming pool, the property consists of six sympathetically restored independent apartments located around the ancient stone farmhouse, which dates back to the Seventeenth century. It is only 4km far from the historic centre of Perugia and offers a suggestive view of the Umbrian hills. The proximity to Perugia , makes the farm's position ideal for visiting other historic towns in Umbria such as Assisi, Gubbio, Todi and Orvieto as well as the Trasimeno Lake. The farmhouse is open all year round and produces and sells wine, olive oil, jams, fruit syrups and dried fruit. The farmhouse is north of Perugia, just outside the ancient medieval walls.

All the apartments have been comfortably furnished in farm-style teak furniture with great attention to detail. The farm lies on a hill and offers absolute peace and quiet with spectacular views of the surrounding hills and Perugia.