This is an ideal day program for visitors to Tuscany who really want to enjoy extra virgin olive oil and wine and who are looking for destinations off the beaten track. A day focused on two iconic products of Tuscany with an expert local guide who will teach you how to taste and appreciate them.

The day starts in the morning when you meet your private English speaking guide who will give you a detailed introduction to the marvellous territory of Monte Pisano, famous for a top quality production of extra virgin olive oil, and to the wine region of Montecarlo, the best wine district in the Northern Tuscany.

The day starts with a guided visit to an authentic family run farm on the slopes of Monte Pisano. The farm is in an enchanting olive grove, surrounded by woods, with a very charming view of the medieval town Vicopisano. You will enjoy a guided visit to the farm assisted by a farmer/agronomer who will explain in full detail what the cultivations on the property are: they range from olives to vegetables and from fruits to grapes. You will learn what are the best methods for farming olives in the most efficient way and you will discover a lot of interesting facts about the local millenial growth of olive trees.

The visit to the farm has its main focus during the visit to their oil mill. The premises of the farm have been hosting an ancient oil mill which was run for centuries in the region. Still today, it is possible to see the structure of the ancient mill and there are a lot of old tools and equipment from the traditional milling plant. Yet, today the oil mill of this farm is the most advanced milling plant in the area, with such an advanced technology that the olive oil currently produced achieved top quality levels unseen before in history. You will be able to learn all about the old techinques as well as the most updated methods used today for obtaining the most genuine and pure extra virgin olive oil.

The visit to the farm is completed by a technical sampling of extra virgin olive oils, which includes explanations on how to taste it and what to detect during the tasting. You will accommodate in their patio or garden and enjoy the sampling of all the produce from the farm. We begin with the tasting of the best award winning extra virgin olive oils, accompanied by a surprising series of 5 special oils only produced by the farm that will make your day! The oil tasting session is finally integrated with a buffet lunch made of plenty of products from the farm: home-made bruschettas, cheeses, cold meats, a local vegetable soup, jam and wine of their production. It’s a real feast! After lunch you will have a great opportunity for shopping at the little store of the farm.

In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a short walk in the little village just opposite the farm: Vicopisano. It is a perfectly preserved medieval town with a series of ancient towers dominated by a fortress built by Florence and designed by Brunelleschi. The walk in town is a great occasion for your guide to integrate some historical context into the program of the day.

After walking in town, you will drive about 30 minutes following your guide to reach the scenic and famous wine district of Montecarlo di Lucca. Even if this wine district is small, it is well renowned among wine experts as the best terroir in the north of Tuscany. Your guide will lead you to one of the most historical wineries of the area and you will enjoy a guided tour before tasting wines. The tour includes plenty of information on the local area, a walk into some of the vineyards of the estate and a visit to their cellar with a detailed explanation of the wine making methods. The visit to the winery is followed by a guided tasting of 6 different wines, accompanied by some snacks.

In the end of the day it will be very convenient for you to reach Lucca for dinner as the drive to Lucca from the winery is only 25 minutes.