Parma: Family Pasta Cooking, Truffle & Wine in Calestano Home

Cook pasta with locals in a Parma hilltop home, share wine and stories

You’ll join Virginia and her family in their Calestano home near Parma for hands-on pasta making with fresh ingredients from their garden. Share stories over local wine on their panoramic terrace, taste cured meats and Parmigiano Reggiano, and finish with homemade tiramisù. Cats may appear underfoot, but you’ll leave feeling more like a guest than a tourist.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hands-on pasta and Italian meal

• Arrive at family home in Calestano
• Meet hosts Virginia and Mamma Nadia
• Greet cats Cesare and Cindy
• Pick seasonal organic ingredients
• Make ricotta ravioli and tagliatelle
• Optional black truffle add-on
• Enjoy tasting of Parma meats and cheese
• Eat freshly made pasta with homemade sauce
• Have family tiramisù dessert
• Drink local wine on panoramic terrace

The experience

I’ll be honest. I almost missed the turn to Calestano. Google Maps got confused by these twisty Parma hills, and for a second I thought I was lost. But then Virginia waved from her gate, apron already on, and I knew I was in the right place. Their family kitchen smelled like simmering tomatoes and something earthy, maybe the truffle? Mamma Nadia was rolling dough at the table, flour everywhere (including on Cesare the cat), laughing at my pronunciation of “tagliatelle.” It felt more like visiting cousins than joining a class.

We started making ricotta ravioli first: Virginia showed me how to press the edges just so, not too tight or they burst. The eggs were still warm from their hens that morning. There was this moment when she handed me basil from their garden. It smelled sharp and green, nothing like supermarket stuff back home. The light outside kept shifting across their terrace as we worked. Cindy (the other cat) kept trying to steal cheese when no one looked.

Lunch happened out on their panoramic terrace. You could see fields rolling away forever, little stone houses tucked into the hills. We had slices of cured meats and two kinds of Parmigiano Reggiano (I never knew there were vintages). My ravioli actually held together! The local wine tasted bright and a bit wild: Virginia poured more before I could finish my glass. If you want black truffle shaved over your pasta, they’ll do it right there. It’s from these very hills. And tiramisù at the end… well, I still think about that creamy spoonful sometimes.

It wasn’t rushed or formal. Just stories, laughter, cats underfoot, and food that tasted like someone cared about every ingredient. Leaving felt weirdly hard for such a short visit. Maybe it’s something about sharing a table with strangers who don’t feel like strangers anymore.

What’s included

• Your day includes hands-on fresh pasta making in Virginia’s family kitchen in Calestano near Parma, aperitif with local cured meats and two vintages of Parmigiano Reggiano paired with local wine, lunch or dinner featuring your handmade pasta topped with homemade sauce (and optional black truffle), plus homemade tiramisù for dessert.
• Bottled water, coffee or tea are included too.
• Private transfer from Parma is available upon request when booking, no car required.

Options for this experience

3 options

Classic Experience pasta classGuide in English · 11:00 and 17:00Truffle and premium wine, not included. Three-hour cooking class plus full meal: a fresh pasta cooking class with a full meal, including a special aperitivo and a glass of local wine, the pasta we made together, and a dessert. Transport service is not included.

Black Truffle ExperienceGuide in English · 11:00 and 17:00Three-hour black truffle menu: we will prepare a meal built around local black truffle, the Fragno black truffle, and I will show you all the secrets so you can recreate it at home. Visit to the center of Calestano; transport is not included.

PREMIUM EXPERIENCEGuide in English · 11:00 and 17:00Premium experience: this option includes a pasta-making lesson with truffle and a pairing of two premium Italian wines, one red and one sparkling. Three hours long. Full meal: for those looking for the best of our gastronomy, a homemade aperitivo with truffle, fresh pasta, a special dessert, and premium wine.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00 and 17:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (under 1)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Pets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Pasta Special Cooking Class

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 1).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Is this pasta cooking class in Parma city?

No, it takes place in Calestano, a medieval village in the Parma hills about 30 minutes from Parma city.

Do I need my own car to get there?

No car is needed. Private transfer from central Parma can be arranged if requested when booking.

How many people are in each group?

The experience is limited to 8 guests maximum for an intimate atmosphere.

Are black truffles included?

Local black truffle is available as an optional add-on during booking or on site.

What dishes will we make?

You’ll make two traditional pastas: ricotta ravioli and tagliatelle with seasonal homemade sauce.

Is this suitable for vegetarians?

The main pasta dishes can be vegetarian. Let your hosts know dietary needs when booking.

Will there be other guests?

You may share the table with up to 7 other guests unless you book privately for your group only.