Tignanello

Wonderful Week-long Stay We spent a week in the Tignanello cottage, which is a couple of miles from the Il Fontanaro farm, but joined Alina, her brother Giovanni and their mother, Lucia, at the farm for activities most of those days. The cottage was lovely and fully outfitted, and the best surprise was that they stocked the kitchen with fresh produce, milk, pasta, tomato sauce and other edibles before we arrived so we didn't have to rush to shop - incredibly thoughtful. Alina and her family are so warm and welcoming. We joined her for a presentation and tasting of olive oil, for a great cooking class, and were invited to participate in the grape harvest. The best part of that was an invitation to lunch afterward, for which we gathered in the kitchen drinking wine as Alina whipped up a pasta dish with fresh tomatoes and cheese. We joined some other guests and Alina and her mother for a wonderful leisurely lunch under beautiful skies, with lots of food, chatter, people coming and going - an atmosphere that seemed quintessentially Italian. The family is so welcoming, and they can't do enough to make you feel welcome -- it was a great experience!