Experience Italy’s Legacy Through The Iconic L’Eroica Bike Race
Envision this:
Despite the world’s recent travel changes, Tuscany remains one of our favorite destinations for its authentic hospitality and timeless beauty, especially when experienced from the comfort of your own luxurious private Cuvée villa. From the golden light and rolling hills to the landscaped patchwork of vineyards and age-old olive groves, the Chianti region is the true heart of Tuscany, a place to live and breathe the genuine Italian life, where everyone is famiglia.
Day One: Welcome
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Your arrival is met with true hospitality by Francesco, who will help you get settled and share the history of the non-competitive L’Eroica, one of the most popular celebratory cycling events in the world, that you get to experience first-hand during your stay.
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Evening:
Enjoy dinner at your private villa, surrounded by cedar tree-lined paths and fragrant olive groves. Prepared by our private chef, this healthful and exquisitely fresh meal includes regional specialties that draw upon Tuscany’s agricultural bounty.
Day Two: Leisure, Fiat Adventure & Pizza
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On your first full day in Tuscany, sleep in a bit and enjoy guided morning yoga overlooking the Chianti countryside. Fully rejuvenate with a traditional Tuscan breakfast and round out the morning with spa treatments from our Cuvée-approved massage therapists.
Before lunch, you’ll hit the road in your very own sporty Vintage Fiat 500, known as the cinquecento. Compact enough from narrow cobblestone streets as well as cypress tree-lined roads, you’ll spend the afternoon winding your way through the Tuscan hillside and stop for a late lunch and wine at Il Cellese Boutique Winery, another family vineyard with a love for local cuisine.
- Evening:
Gather together on the farmhouse outdoor terrace for pizza crafted with toppings straight from the estate’s organic garden. When finished in the wood burning oven, your pizzas emerge lightly charred and perfectly chewy with that unique smoky flavor.
Day Three: Wine Tastings and More
Now that you’ve settled in a bit, it’s time to experience the best of Tuscany in the autumn, as early October marks the last of harvest season with late blooming grapes prime for picking. Autumn also signals the arrival of a variety of other Tuscan delights, including earthy porcini mushrooms, chestnuts, and white truffles, the crown jewels of regional cooking.
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After a departure from Villa Veduta di Vertine Helipad, where you’ll get a sensational helicopter view of the Italian landscape, arrive at Podere Le Ripi for a private tour of the biodynamic vineyards. Explore the fabled Golden Cellar, designed on ancient principles to be a “Cathedral of Wine,” before tasting five different varieties: 100% Sangiovese IGT Bonsai, Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, plus two Brunello Reserves.
- From there, take flight to Altesino, housing an elegant 14th century Palazzo in the eastern hills of Montalcino near Siena. Following a private visit, experience an unparalleled tasting of White IGT, Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Cru Montosoli, and Super Tuscan IGT. These delightful selections are paired with bruschetta, extra virgin olive oil, ham, lombatella (tender hanger steak), as well as semi-aged pecorino cheese and fresh bread.
- Depart from Altesino, soaking in the helicopter views, and return to Villa Veduta di Vertine, our Tuscan farmhouse, for a relaxing evening accentuated with an Italian feast and wine pairing.
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Evening:
The grand dinner experience takes place in nearby Gaiole. Sit down to an Italian feast of fresh-made Tuscan pasta, light flaky fish, and of course, Chianti. Relax to this private-chef prepared meal after a full day of wine tasting.
Day Four: Cycling in Style
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L’Eroica Race Day (Saturday October 2 and Sunday, October 3, 2022):
Reconnect to the authentic roots of cycling, riding retro bikes (prior 1987) in the same period clothing through the Italian hillsides with routes that start and finish in the village of Gaiole, named by Forbes as one of “Europe’s Most Idyllic Places to Live.” Depending on your cycling aspirations, participate in the 46 KM short race or the 209 KM long race (available for ages 16-64), and Cuvée will supply the vintage bikes and costumes (or bianchis).
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Evening:
Following the big race, retreat to Cuvée’s gorgeously restored Farmhouse Estate for a celebratory meal with a Tuscan feast from one of our favorite regional Michelin-starred chefs, Filippo Saporito (La Leggenda dei Frati) or Senio Venturi (L’Asinello).
Day Five: Vineyards and Vintage Vehicles
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Back on a vineyard voyage, but this time in your own vintage Land Rover, for a personal wine excursion. Navigating through the Tuscan hills, you’ll stop at famed winery Colle Bereto for an exquisite lunch with wine pairings, followed by a drive to Castello di Ama, a unique place where wine, art, architecture and landscape perfectly mix, for another round of wine tastings.
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Evening:
Savor the most classic of Italian cuisine with a fresh-made pasta dinner, crafted zealously right before your eyes by your private chef. Enjoy every bite, al fresco on the terrace, in the company of winding vineyards, with the perfect wine pairing for your relaxing evening.
Day Six: Truffle Hunting & Tuscan History
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Spend the morning investigating the ideal habitat of Tuscany’s woodlands on a seasonal truffle hunt with your foraging guide and his intelligent canine. After gathering your underground gems, give them culinary life with a cooking class at a local, organic farm. The farm owner will guide you through the most immaculate ways to use truffle in the kitchen, sharing her culinary family secrets along the way. Enjoy your handiwork with select wine pairings from local wineries. On the way home, stop for another wine tasting at Tenuta Casanova, a family-run winery full of character.
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Evening:
Reflect on your adventures and favorite wines from the last few days over a memorable dinner at Ristorante Le Contrade. Nestled in the Chianti hills, surrounded by vineyards, enjoy unique twists on classic Italian dishes, for a gourmet meal in the most picturesque of places. The local, seasonal ingredients, work-of-art presentation and incredibly comprehensive wine list make this the perfect place to round out a journey of cultural immersion for the memory books.
Day Seven: Farewell
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Savor final sips and panoramic vineyard views before we say “Ciao!”
Experience Curator: Francesco
We love to travel the regional vineyard and villages with our experience curator Francesco Barone, an authentic insider who can share everything about la dolce vita, especially during autumn, his favorite season. There’s Tuscany, which is wonderful. And then there’s Francesco’s Tuscany, which is spectacular.
