Wine, cookery, art and music at Albergo Villa Casanova
Tutored wine tasting & canapés
Euros 60 pp for one hour tuition. Wednesdays and Saturday 6pm.
To really understand the culture of the local people in Tuscany, it is essential to try some of the excellent wines from the region which have a natural affinity for the olive oils, cheeses, fish, meats and vegetables so prolific in the area.
Cold Tuscan white wines suit the classic soups, breads, tomatoes, prosciutto, olive oils and fish dishes while the classic reds, so associated with Tuscany, pair perfectly with the more mature cheeses and game dishes such as wild boar. Dessert is not forgotten with the sweet and fragrant VIN Santo to accompany the almond biscotti or the affogato. Enjoy tasting 4 different wines with canapés while our resident sommelier talks about the characteristics of the wines, the wine producers, their techniques and the different soils where the vines grow.
Basic and advanced cookery courses
2 hour basic course Euros 150 4 hour advanced course Euros 300.
At Albergo Casanova, we offer very popular cooking classes for Adults, Singles, Families as well as Children. The classes are either hosted by our resident chef or with a guest chef who specialises in, for example, chocolate and uses local flavours such as lavender or rosemary in the classes. We have a wide variety of courses from 2 hours to 3 days. You can learn to make pizza or pasta in 2 hours, then enjoy the fruits of your labours with wine at lunch or you can choose a 4 hour course covering several types of pasta and risottos.
A 3 day course with a focus on pasta and pizza on the first day, meats and fish on the second and dessert on the third day can be organised on request with a minimum of 4 participants. Visits to local fish market and to cheese and sausage makers as well as to the local chocolate maker Amedei can be included in the experience. Price varies on the time of year and the individual requests of the guests but please ask and we can tailor make a course to suit.
Please enquire about all our cooking classes to info@albergocasanova.com
The price includes a glass of wine and all the ingredients for the participant. Hotel guests will receive a 15% reduction.
Art
We have an extensive gallery in the main villa at Albergo Casanova and we will have several dedicated artists resident art at Albergo Casanova for the summer. Guests will be able to watch the progress of their work and chat to them over drinks and antipasti. Painting classes will be available and commissions will be accepted for favourite scenes of Lucca or in Tuscany generally. Portraiture may also be organised. What better way to take home a lasting memento of a special celebration or holiday. Please enquire to info@albergocasanova.com
Music
Albergo Casanova is an ideal setting for music recitals either in our beautiful private chapel or in the open air in the garden. We will be publishing details of some regular music events shortly and we can arrange events on request. We have access to a number of noted artists, both operatic and modern as well as harpists, violinists and keyboard players. Please enquire by email to info@albergocasanova.com