Castello Sonnino

"Overlooking the gracious Florentine hills, Castello Sonnino is the family home of the de Renzis Sonnino family. With its eclectic charm and heritage, the historical wine estate and the International Education Center, it embodies the essence of the Italian culture."

- Gucci.com

5 Days

4 nights

3 wineries

2 guided tours

1 cooking class

1/4

"Join the Dinner Life for a 4 Night stay at a world-class Tuscan winery.
All transportation, lodging, tour, and culinary experiences are included to provide an authentic Italian experience in a country full of surprises."

--Ashleigh & Micheal Giustiniani

Living History to Sustain the Future

Castello Sonnino is a perfectly preserved historic wine estate that overlooks the Chianti Hills. Just 20 minutes from Florence, Volterra and San Gimignano on the road to Pisa and Livorno.

It is composed by a 16th century mansion which date back to the 13th century, medieval, fortified tower. It is part of ADSI (Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane) and Case della Memoria. Today the property is the result of the commitment of the Baron Alessandro and Baroness Caterina de Renzis Sonnino. They have restored the mansion which also contains the Sidney Sonnino Historic Archive and they founded the “Castello Sonnino International Education Centre” which collaborates with American and Canadian Universities organizing study abroad programs. Castello Sonnino is one of the leading producers of Chianti Montespertoli D.O.C.G. and high quality olive oil.

itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival and introductions

Buongiorno/Benvenuti! Welcome to The Dinner Life Tuscan Tour! Upon arrival in Florence, you will be met by your private shuttle bus at the train station entrance. They will wait for you outside of baggage claim, holding a sign with your name for transfer to our home for the week, Sonnino Estate. Here, the group will unite and you will meet your group manager. Check in and relax from your long day of travel. Please note the official check in time is 4:00-5:00 pm. In the late afternoon, we will meet in the lobby to partake in a refreshing aperitivo before dinner. This is a great way to meet the rest of the guests and get to know the itinerary a little better! The remainder of the evening is at your own pace. In your free time, you can wander through the estate, a true Tuscan farm filled with olive trees, vineyards, and production facilities. The small town next door is within walking distance. There, you will find small antique markets and shops. Dinner will be served in the villa courtyard at 7:00 pm for those interested. Overnight in the villa.

DAY 3

Cooking Class and Dinner at PoderNuovo Winery

Breakfast will be served at the winery’s kitchen. At 11 a.m. your cooking class will begin. This crash course in traditional Italian cooking will be set up by the vineyard in their historic medieval kitchen. There, a trained professional will guide you through every step, all while sipping on some phenomenal wine.

After the cooking class and a little R&R our private shuttle bus will once again greet us by the entrance of the vineyard ready to take us to the PoderNuovo a Palazzone, a beautiful brand new, state-of-the-art winery in southern Tuscany owned by the Bulgari family. Here we will be met by their very knowledgeable staff who will give us a full tour of the property and tell the story of their history. After the tour a wine tasting will be set up in the main lobby followed up by a private dinner in their main dining room cooked by a private chef using only the freshest local ingredients.

Along with the wine tasting and dinner you can sign up for additional activities like a private helicopter tour and/or take our one of their classic sports mobiles for a joy ride through the Tuscan hills.

DAY 5

"Goodbye" or "Arrivederci" Breakfast

As always, breakfast will be served at the vineyard’s kitchen where we will greet you one last time before taking you back to the Florence train station.

DAY 2

Sonnino Vineyard Tasting, Lunch and Tour of Florence

Breakfast at the villa. This morning, meet our private bilingual guide in the lobby for a walking tour of the winery. Begin with an overview of the vineyard by understanding how the estate works and how climate and technology work together to make the magic happen. Learn about Tuscany’s history as an important merchant city and the famous Sangiovese grape. Continue the tour over to the kitchen and cooking area where a farm to table Tuscan lunch will be ready for you served alongside the winery’s best wines. After lunch, a few hours of leisurely free time will allow you to re-charge for the afternoon activities planned.

At 4pm, our private shuttle bus will take us to Florence where our private bilingual tour guide will be eagerly awaiting to help you discover the long and wonderful history of this ancient city.

After the tour we will sit down at one of Florence's best restaurants and prepare for another great local meal. After eating you will have a few hours or free time before the shuttle bus will take us back to the winery.

DAY 4

Tour of Cortona & Bacci Winery.

Breakfast at the villa. After breakfast, for your last day with us, we set up a private guided tour of the small city of Cortona, another very old medieval town tucked at the very top of a large hill where you’ll be able to look out and see the beautiful rolling hills of Tuscany and nearby Umbria.

After the guided tour, we have arranged a great lunch at one of their little restaurants where local dishes are a must try!

The shuttle bus will take us back to the Sonnino Estate where you’ll get the chance to refresh and change clothes before going out one last time, this time to the Bacci Winery.

After dinner, the shuttle bus will take everyone back to the Sonnino where you will settle in for your last night with us.