Picture the end of a long Tuscan afternoon. The light is going gold, the table is set outside, and a glass of wine is waiting for you. Nobody has to find a designated driver or book a table at a crowded cellar door. The tasting comes to you.
I come to your villa with the wines and everything the evening needs. For about 90 minutes I pour four or five wines, tell you the story behind each one, and answer every question, from the silly to the serious.
It feels like a tasting in a cellar, only you stay exactly where you are: at your own table, with your own view, in good company.
What the experience is
I am Claudia, a DipWSET sommelier based in Piombino, Tuscany. I come to your holiday villa and host a private wine tasting for you and your group, right at your own table. It is not a lecture and it is not a sales pitch. It is an unhurried evening of good wine and good stories, shaped around the people sitting at the table.
Every wine comes with the story behind it: the place, the people who made it, and why it tastes the way it does. You will learn something, laugh a little, and probably find a new favourite.
I have worked in wine communication and marketing for over 18 years, and I love helping people discover new labels among the many appellations Italy has to offer.
How it works
- I come to you. I arrive at your villa with everything needed, so nobody has to drive anywhere.
- Wines chosen for your group. Before the evening, we talk about your tastes, who is coming and what you would like to explore. I choose the wines to match.
- About 90 minutes. A relaxed pace, with time for questions and conversation.
- 4 or 5 wines. Poured and explained one by one, at your own table.
- Everything included. I bring the glasses, tasting placemats, buckets and information material.
- Take the wines home. If you fall for a wine, you can buy it: small quantities to take away on the evening, or I can arrange shipping to your home country.
Choose your tasting
Every evening is shaped around your group. If you would like a theme, here are four tastings to choose from:
- Bolgheri DOC: one terroir, different expressions. Four wines to discover Bolgheri in its many personalities: a rosé, a Vermentino, a Rosso and a Superiore.
- Around Montalcino: the land of Sangiovese. Four wines, all 100% Sangiovese, each with a different expression: a Sangiovese Toscana IGT, a Rosso di Montalcino DOC, a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and a Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG.
- Supertuscan Experience: simply the best. Four Bolgheri DOC reds to compare side by side: a Rosso, a Rosso Single Vineyard, a Superiore and a Superiore Single Vineyard.
- Under the Tuscan Sun: a journey through the best wine spots in Tuscany. Five wines from the most interesting appellations: a Maremma DOC white, a Toscana IGT red, a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, a Montecucco Riserva DOCG and a Bolgheri DOC Superiore.
Who it is for
Anyone staying in a villa in Tuscany who would like to taste properly without leaving the house. It works well for:
- Families and friends sharing a villa for a week
- Celebrations, anniversaries and reunions
- Retreats and small groups who want an evening of wine in the programme
- Curious beginners and seasoned wine lovers alike, since the tasting is shaped around your group
Travel designers and villa managers: you are very welcome to get in touch. I am happy to talk about how a private tasting can fit into your guests’ stay.
Your questions, answered
Where in Tuscany can you come?
I offer private wine tastings at villas throughout Tuscany. Tell me the location of your villa when you get in touch, so we can plan the evening.
What do you bring?
I bring the wines, glasses, tasting placemats and information materials. The tasting lasts about 90 minutes and includes four or five wines, chosen with your group in mind.
Is food included?
I bring taralli. If you would like something different to accompany the wines, we can discuss it when we plan your tasting.
What happens if it rains?
We move indoors and taste around a table in your villa.
Can non-drinkers join?
Yes. They can join the conversation and learn about Italian wine culture without tasting the wines. Tell me about your group when we plan the evening.
Read how a private villa wine tasting works
Let’s plan your tasting
Tell me where you are staying, the dates, and how many of you there will be, and I will come back to you with a proposal. The quickest way to reach me is on WhatsApp at +39 339 4708113. You can also write to claudia@callegari.wine or use the contact form just below.