Organic cooking class with wine tasting: Siena farm

Hand-rolled pasta, homemade sauces, and the wines that go with them

An organic cooking class at Il Fontanaro farm near Siena where you make four kinds of pasta by hand, prepare sauces and a tiramisu, and taste the farm's own wines and extra virgin olive oils. The class runs three hours with a professional sommelier guide who speaks English or Italian, and lunch is included. Gluten-free and kids' classes are available on request, and childcare can be arranged.

The Experience

You'll meet at Il Fontanaro Organic Farm in Paciano, about fifteen minutes from Chiusi Chianciano train station. The morning starts with coffee and a tasting of the farm's own olive oils and wines—a sommelier leads this part and explains what makes each one work. Then you move into the kitchen to cook the lunch together, making everything by hand: tagliatelle, spaghetti alla chitarra, gnocchi or orecchiette, each one rolled and cut and sauced from scratch. The menu shifts with the season and what's growing on the property, so you're working with vegetables picked days before, not shipped in.

The first dish is frisella served with fresh organic tomatoes and basil, eaten after the olive oil tasting so you taste the oil on its own. Then come the pastas—you'll make the dough, shape it, prepare the ragout or mushroom sauce (vegetarian versions available), and cook it all together. The sommelier shares what he knows about pairing wines with each course as you eat. Tiramisu closes the meal, made the same way, and kids get a version with wild berries instead of the traditional one.

The farm uses only organic, locally grown produce and extra virgin organic olive oil in everything. If you need gluten-free cooking, a kids' class, or childcare during the session—high chairs and babysitting are available—ask when you book. Bottled water and all beverages are included.

What’s included

• Olive oil and wine tasting.
• lunch you cook together (four pasta dishes, tiramisu, frisella).
• wine and beverages throughout.
• bottled water.
• a sommelier guide in English or Italian.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Slow Cooking experience

Is this one for you?You do the cooking yourself with hands-on instruction from a sommelier, so this suits anyone who wants to learn the technique and take the skill home—not a demonstration, but a working kitchen where you make the meal and eat it. The sommelier focus is what sets this apart if wine and oil knowledge matter to you; if you're mainly after a cooking lesson, other classes in the region skip the tasting.

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Top questions

What kinds of pasta will I actually make during the class?

You'll make four kinds: tagliatelle, spaghetti alla chitarra, gnocchi, and either orecchiette or another shape the farm chooses that day. Each one is rolled and cut by hand, then you prepare the sauce and cook it together.

Is the wine tasting separate from lunch, or does it happen while we eat?

The tasting happens first, before cooking, so you taste the farm's oils and wines on their own. Then the sommelier guide pairs wines with each course as you eat the lunch you've made.

How far is the farm from Siena, and how do I get there?

Il Fontanaro is in Paciano, about fifteen minutes from Chiusi Chianciano train station. The station is the nearest public transport hub; confirm pickup or directions when you book.

Can I do this class if I'm vegetarian or need gluten-free food?

Yes. The regular menu includes vegetarian pasta options (porcini mushrooms instead of meat ragout), and gluten-free classes are available on request—just ask when you book.

Is this class suitable for children?

Yes, kids' cooking classes are offered on request. High chairs are available for infants, and babysitting can be arranged during the class if needed. Children must be accompanied by an adult.