Cookery holidays at the Villa di Monte Solare, Umbria

Unlock the secrets of Umbria's delicious food and wine during this 4 night cookery holiday. Umbria’s gastronomy is very much a product of its earth and waters, and the Villa di Monte Solare is a perfect place for you to improve your cookery skills and tantalise your tastebuds.

The cookery
Cookery courses at the Villa di Monte Solare involve learning about both the food and wine of the region. Local specialities such as truffles, porcini, walnuts, salamis and game, all feature heavily in the regional cuisine and are married perfectly with the rich red wines of Torgiano or the region’s famous white chardonnay-based Orvieto.
Where you stay
The Villa di Monte Solare is a delightful 25-room hotel exuding warmth, character and charm and provides you with superb quality of service and a very high standard of accommodation for your cookery holiday in Italy. The small, privately owned Villa di Monte Solare is set in its own grounds of formal gardens, wooded hills, vines and olive groves. It affords magnificent views across the rolling landscapes of northern Umbria and Lake Trasimeno a few miles away.

Day by day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at the Villa di Monte Solare and dinner in their restaurant.
Day 2: Your first cookery class starts after breakfast on your first full day. This hands-on lesson provides an excellent insight into the preparation of regional dishes as well as traditional cooking methods. The class lasts about 3 hours and will be followed by a joint meal.
Day 3: This day is dedicated to great Umbrian wines. After breakfast drive to Torgiano and visit the Lungarotti Foundation’s wine museum, one of the best in the world. Giorgio Lungarotti was the first wine producer to export Umbrian wine all over the world. After the museum, enjoy a tasting close by. In the afternoon you should explore Montefalco home to the Sagrantino wine and Bevagna. Transport is provided for this day. Enjoy dinner this evening back at the hotel.
Day 4: This morning you take part in the second of the cookery classes involving Italian recipes. Again this lasts for about three 3 hours and is followed by a joint meal. At the end of the course you’ll share a toast with the chef and receive a recipe booklet.
Day 5: Departure after breakfast

This course at the Villa di Monte Solare in Umbria takes place throughout the year for a minimum of 2 persons and a maximum of 8. Price includes return flights from London to Rome with British Airways, basic group hire-car, shared double room, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, 2 cooking lessons lasting 3 hours each, plus all supporting material necessary.
Prices from about £1220 per person