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Italy Gourmet food and wine information - Index | Aosta Valley | Piedmont | Lombardy | Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol | Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Venetia (Veneto) | Liguria | Emilia Romagna | Tuscany | Umbria | Marche | Abruzzo | Lazio | Campania | Molise | Basilicata | Apulia | Calabria | Sicily | Sardinia

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The capital of Tuscany is Florence. Other cities / regions are Arezzo, Florence (Firenze), Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena. Tuscany is renowned for its wines (i.e. Chianti, Morellino di Scansano and Brunello di Montalcino) and olive oils. The 'Cities of Art' of Tuscany (Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano) are also important gastronomic centres. Many of the tours suggested by A La Carte Italy Tours feature Tuscany, Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano. On your gourmet tour to Tuscany, your tour guide will introduce you to the following culinary specialties and recipes, and to the following wines and liqueurs:

Ribollita is one of the most popular Florentine recipes, a vegetable minestrone with black cabbage

Bistecca Fiorentina a t-bone steak from a specific cow from the Florentine hills

Pecorino and Raveggiolo cheeses are made from sheep's milk from the Siena hills

Bianco di Pitigliano - (DOC) white

Vernaccia di San Gimignano - (DOC) white

Chianti - (DOC AND DOCG) red

Brunello di Montalcino - (DOC) red

Tours to the celebrated wine towns of Montalcino and Montepulciano, with wine-tastings in ancient and prestigious wine cellars can be included in your private tour with A La Carte Italy Tours. This land is rich in agriculture and food markets and you will develop a greater sensitivity to what is a fresh ingredient (basil, rosemary, sage, porcini mushrooms, red peppers, olive oil, wine, etc.). You will learn the basic culinary elements and how the Tuscan farmers have used them over the centuries - and why this Cucina Povera Toscana (translated literally: 'poor Tuscan cuisine') occurred, spreading around the world to places that appreciate excellent cuisine! If you wish a private Italy tour customised to include Tuscany gourmet foods and wines, please enquire; at A La Carte Italy Tours we will be delighted to design a special itinerary for your privately guided tour.