Montalcino: Brunello Cooking Class & Winery Tour with Lunch

Summary

Cooking pasta by hand in Montalcino’s vineyards with Brunello lunch

You’ll cook classic Tuscan dishes outdoors above Montalcino’s vineyards, guided by Chef Alexandra in her family’s ancient estate. Taste your handmade pasta paired with Brunello wines on a sunny terrace, then tour the castle cellars where these bottles are born. Expect laughter, floury hands, and views you’ll carry home long after lunch ends.

What’s the experience like?

I still remember the first thing that hit me—how quiet it was outside the XV-century castle, just birds and the low hum of someone pruning vines. We’d barely stepped out of the car near Montalcino when Chef Alexandra waved us over, apron already dusted with flour. She had this easy way about her, like you could mess up the dough and she’d just laugh and show you again. I tried to say “pici” properly (Li laughed at my accent), and we all ended up rolling pasta under the open sky, hands sticky, sun warming our backs.

The kitchen was outdoors—honestly didn’t expect that—and you could smell rosemary from somewhere nearby mixing with the yeastiness of fresh dough. Alexandra told us her family’s been here for seventeen generations; she pointed out a hill where her grandfather used to hide wine during the war. I kept glancing at those vineyards stretching out below us, thinking how weirdly peaceful it felt to be making ravioli while swallows darted overhead.

Lunch was what we made ourselves—ravioli stuffed with ricotta and sage (mine slightly lopsided), tagliatelle tossed in this slow-cooked sauce that tasted like autumn somehow, and cantucci for dessert. Every dish came with its own glass of Brunello or Rosso di Montalcino. The wine was deep and earthy; Alexandra poured it like she was sharing a secret. We ate on a terrace overlooking those endless green hills—honestly, I still think about that view sometimes when I’m stuck in city traffic.

Afterwards, we wandered through cool stone corridors of the old castle cellar. Our guide explained how they age Brunello—oak barrels lined up like sentinels in the half-light—and let us taste straight from the cask. It wasn’t rushed; nobody seemed in a hurry here. Even leaving felt slow, like you wanted to drag your feet just a bit longer before heading back toward Siena or Florence.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Brunello cooking class and vineyard tour

• Meet chef Alexandra at 10:00 am
• Learn to prepare filled pasta
• Make handmade pasta with sauces
• Prepare typical Tuscan dessert
• Enjoy lunch with Brunello wine pairing
• Tour the 13th-century Tuscan castle
• Visit the Tricerchi wine cellar
• Relax on terrace overlooking vineyards

Top questions

How long does the Brunello cooking class & winery tour last?

The full experience lasts around 4 hours including cooking class and lunch.

Is transportation from Siena or Florence included?

Pickup can be arranged for an extra fee if requested in advance; it’s not included by default.

What time does the cooking class start?

The meeting time is 10:00 am at the venue near Montalcino.

Are children or infants allowed on this tour?

Infants and small children are welcome; prams or strollers are allowed and infant seats are available.

Is this private or group-based?

The standard tour is small-group; a private option is available upon request for sunset sessions.

What dishes will we prepare during the class?

You’ll make filled pasta (like ravioli), hand-rolled pici or tagliatelle, plus a Tuscan dessert such as cantucci or tiramisu.

Are wine tastings included?

Yes, lunch includes pairings with Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Rosso di Montalcino wines from the estate.

Is there a tour of the winery included?

Yes, after lunch you’ll visit both the vineyards and historic castle cellars for a guided tasting.

What’s included

Your day includes hands-on cooking instruction from Chef Alexandra in an outdoor kitchen above Montalcino’s vineyards, all ingredients for preparing classic Tuscan dishes, a guided tour of both winery grounds and medieval castle cellars, multiple wine pairings during your homemade lunch on the terrace—and if needed, optional pickup from Siena or Florence can be arranged separately before your return journey.