Pasta Making Class bij een wijnmakerij uit de 12e eeuw op het Toscaanse platteland

De gastheren voor deze evenementorganiserende groep (Tuscany Cycle), we zijn zo aardig, grappig en meegaand. Ze werkten met ons samen toen een aantal onvoorziene problemen ervoor zorgden dat onze oorspronkelijke plannen veranderden. Al met al een geweldige ervaring met geweldige mensen, ik zou absoluut aanraden om iets bij Tuscany Cycle te boeken!

Dit was een fantastische ervaring! We hadden nog nooit zoiets gedaan en konden er niet over ophouden. Beide gidsen waren geweldig omdat we ongeveer 30 minuten naar het pand reden. Francisco sprak over het wijnbereidingsproces en liep met ons door de wijnkelder. We hadden wijn en leerden hoe we met Alexa helemaal opnieuw pasta konden maken in een oude landelijke keuken. We genoten van meer wijn en onze eigen gekookte pasta voor de lunch. Zou dit opnieuw doen!

From start to finish this was the worst tour ever experienced and we are seasoned travellers. Check-in 9.30am - had to hang around and didn't leave until 10.15am. The American receptionist, Alexa (who also drove a bus and led the pasta making) was rude and defensive. Dangerous drive to Tuscany in a dirty van - our driver couldn't drive manual, I had to help him. On arrival one family told Dan, the Serbian owner how scared they were, he verbally abused them and threw them off the tour, leaving them to find their own way home. We should have left too. For 30 mins we listened to the winery owner, ok but not what we had booked. First glass of wine offered some 3 hours later. Pasta making was nothing like the promotional image. The kitchen and utensils were dirty, no attention to hygiene. Total health risk. Just one bowl which we took in turns to stir and kneed. Pasta making more like a primary school class, just dull (tagliatelle and a tomato sauce were the only options ). All this, led by Alexa - nothing Italian about this cooking experience. Bored, we went outside to view the beautiful setting. 4 hours later we sat down to eat the tasteless pasta. Incidentally, only one wine and one olive oil were available despite the tour information promising a variety of tastings. Whilst the other participants ate cheese and meat slices, there was nothing for us (I had notified in advance we were lactose intolerant). I politely told Dan, the owner. He became rude, aggressive and intimidating and told me to leave. He turned on my companion after she told him his behaviour was unprofessional and inappropriate. We went outside to wait for the bus. Dan and Alexa contained the tirade outside, shaming us in front of the rest of the guests becoming more angry and confrontational when I suggested I would be writing an honest review on Trip Advisor. Dan screamed he didn't care. Some 6 hours later we were returned to Florence, desperately upset and regretting the loss of an entire day. I reported the experience to my credit card company and the tour operator. Do not make the same horrible mistake. Do not book this tour.