A popular choice in our Wine & Food UnTours, truffle hunting stands out as a highlight. Wine lovers come together on this unique UnTour, where independent time traveling is combined with group tastings of distinctive wines and experiences.
Tuscany’s soul is intertwined with its culinary heritage—a place where food and wine aren’t just sustenance but a way of life that has shaped the region’s history, economy, and daily rhythms. Our Wine & Food UnTour celebrates this deep connection, with the treasure hunt for truffles serving as the crowning jewel of our fall experience.
In the wooded thickets of Val d’Orcia, south of Siena and at the heart of our Tuscany UnTour, these prized fungi grow hidden beneath the earth’s surface, waiting to be discovered by those who know their secrets.
Since 2018, our fall Wine & Food UnTour in Tuscany has featured an expert-led truffle hunt alongside other immersive experiences—a hands-on cooking class where you’ll create regional specialties and a guided afternoon touring local wineries with a knowledgeable driver at your service.
The Hunt for White Gold
Our truffle hunts take place in a private reserve near San Giovanni D’Asso, just a short drive from our Tuscan homebase of Montalcino. Here, we search for the region’s delicate white truffles—aromatic treasures that, though small in size, command impressive prices for their exquisite flavor.
Tracy, our UnTours host in Tuscany, explains the delicate dance of the hunt: “We walked behind the guide and his dog. This was very important because the dog would have picked up the people’s scent if we were walking in front of him.”
The trained dogs are the true stars of the experience—only they can detect the earthy aroma of truffles hiding beneath the soil. When they catch the scent, the excitement is palpable. “When the dog found them, he got very excited and started digging frantically with his front paws,” Tracy shares. “At that point he needed to be held back, otherwise he would just have eaten the truffle himself!”
After a successful forage, imagine the satisfaction of settling into a leisurely lunch at a nearby farm, where your freshly unearthed treasures are transformed into a sublime pasta dish that celebrates their delicate flavor. These are the moments that transform a trip into a story you’ll tell for years to come.
Culinary Adventures Beyond Truffles
The Food & Wine UnTour weaves together multiple threads of Tuscany’s culinary tapestry. Beyond the thrill of the truffle hunt, you’ll find yourself in a traditional kitchen learning the secrets of Tuscan cooking, then savoring your creations alongside perfectly paired local wines.
Your journey also winds through the storied vineyards of the region, where expert guides share their knowledge of winemaking traditions that stretch back generations, all while you sample the fruits of their labor.
Join Us This Fall
Our Tuscany Food & Wine UnTour returns this October, featuring the beloved truffle hunt, cooking classes, and wine tastings. For those particularly interested in the truffle experience, it will also be included as an activity in our late October UnTour.
The sensory delights of Tuscany await—not just to be visited, but to be lived, breathed, and tasted. Will you join us to write your own chapter in this timeless story of food, wine, and discovery?
Buon appetito, and happy planning.