Radda in Chianti: Private Cooking Class & Wine Tasting

Handmade Pasta and Generations of Family Recipes in a Tuscan Kitchen

You arrive at a working farmhouse in Radda in Chianti, taste Giorgia's olive oil and local wine on the patio, then spend two hours learning to make three traditional dishes using her family's recipes. You cook the meal yourself, then eat it together at the outdoor table with Giorgia and Luigi. The whole experience is private, lasts about half a day, and includes everything: wine, food, instruction, and the kind of conversation that only happens when you're sitting down together after cooking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tuscan cooking class and tasting

• Meet hosts Giorgia and Luigi
• Enjoy wine and olive oil tasting
• Learn to make panzanella salad
• Prepare homemade pasta and ragu
• Cook roasted seasonal vegetables
• Make tiramisu dessert
• Share meal with hosts outdoors

The experience

The smell of olive oil warming on the stove reaches you before you step into Giorgia's kitchen. It's pressed from her own trees, the ones you can see from the outdoor patio where the class begins with a wine and olive oil tasting, not a rushed introduction, but a real one, the kind where you taste the difference between oils and understand why it matters. Giorgia and her husband Luigi run this private cooking class from their farmhouse in Radda in Chianti, in the countryside where the recipes came from Giorgia's grandmother and have stayed in the family ever since.

The hands-on part lasts about two hours. You'll make three dishes from scratch: panzanella (the Tuscan tomato, cucumber and bread salad that tastes better than it sounds), handmade pasta (tagliatelli, ravioli or maltagliati, whichever appeals to you) with a proper Bolognese ragu, and tiramisu for dessert. Giorgia teaches you the movements, the timing, the small adjustments that separate a dish that works from one that doesn't. There's no performance in it. She's cooking in her own home, and you're learning the way someone learns when they're actually going to make this food again at home.

After you finish cooking, you sit down at the outdoor dining table with what you've made, with wine, with Giorgia and Luigi. The conversation turns to how things work in Italy, how families eat, what the seasons mean to the food. The experience stays private: Giorgia occasionally has other guests in the house, but your class and your meal are yours alone. If you're bringing children under twelve, she'll adjust the class in advance based on their age, so they're doing something real, not something watered down.

Morning classes run year-round. Evening classes only happen June through September, when the Tuscan nights are warm enough to sit outside. The house doesn't have air conditioning, which is typical for homes in this part of Italy and part of why the patio matters so much. Vegetarian and vegan options are available if you need them. Just mention it when you book.

What’s included

• Private cooking lesson with hosts Giorgia and Luigi at their Radda in Chianti farmhouse.
• wine and olive oil tasting on the patio.
• hands-on instruction in making three traditional Italian dishes including handmade pasta.
• the three-course meal you prepare, eaten together at their outdoor dining table.
• local wine throughout the experience.
• gratuities.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, Italian and Portuguese

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to learn real Italian cooking in a home kitchen rather than a commercial class, and who values time with local hosts over a polished performance. The private format means Giorgia can adjust the pace and the menu to what you actually want to learn.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What dishes do you learn to make?

Panzanella (Tuscan tomato and bread salad), handmade pasta with ragu (tagliatelli, ravioli or maltagliati), roasted seasonal vegetables, and tiramisu. You make three of these from scratch during the two-hour class.

Is the olive oil and wine included?

Yes. You taste Giorgia's own pressed olive oil at the start, cook with it, and drink local wine throughout the meal. Both are included in the price.

When are classes available?

Morning classes run year-round. Evening classes only run June through September, when it's warm enough to dine outside.

Is this a group class or private?

100% private. You and your group have Giorgia's full attention. Other guests may be in the house, but your cooking class and meal are yours alone.

How long does the whole experience take?

The cooking lesson itself is about two hours. Add time for the wine and olive oil tasting beforehand and the meal afterward. Plan for a half-day experience.

What if I'm vegetarian or vegan?

Vegetarian and vegan options are available. Let the organizer know when you book so Giorgia can prepare accordingly.

Does the house have air conditioning?

No. It's a traditional Tuscan farmhouse without air conditioning, which is typical for homes in this region. Classes take place on the outdoor patio and in the kitchen.