Celebrate
the Olive Harvest
at
Villa del Barbaro
Villa Cardinale
Vera 1 and Vera 2 in Lucca,
Tuscany, October 15– Dec. 16 , 2004
The
owners of Villa del Barbaro, Villa Cardinale and Vera 1 and 2 apartments
are pleased to offer a special package during the olive harvest on
their own olive and wine estate in Tuscany near Lucca, the wonderful
city that is the birthplace of Puccini.
Starting
each Saturday for weekly periods from October 15—December 16th, this
enticing program will introduce you to the ancient tradition of olive
pressing. Learn about different qualities of olives and olive trees,
enjoy olive oil tasting and discover how best to use different varieties
of olive oil for cooking and preserving. This is a unique experience,
interlacing tradition, well-being, gourmet food and...lots of fun!
One
week program (Saturday to Saturday, mininimum of 8-10 people)
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The True Olive
Oil Test:
How to tell if it's the real thing
Authentic extra-virgin
olive oil is expensive because of the time-consuming manufacturing
process and limited volume of production. If the price seems
too good to be true, it's likely to be chemically refined oil
with some first-pressed oil added to it.
Here's
how to tell the difference: Place a small quantity in a glass
bowl
and refrigerate it for a few days. If it turns crystalline,
it's true extra-virgin olive oil but if it forms a block, it's
not the real thing.
|
Day 1: pick up at Pisa airport, arrival at Villa del Barbaro,
welcome cocktail and dinner at the owner’s villa.
Day 2: walk through the olive groves - snack - wine tasting
- visit to an old olive mill - oil tasting - dinner in a typical farmer's
restaurant.
Day 3: cooking class - visit to historical villas and olive
groves.
Day 4: class with an oil tasting expert - lunch in an olive
mill.
Day 5: seminar on how to preserve food with olive oil - visit
to Lucca.
Day 6: visit the mountains of Garfagnana - lunch in a typical
"trattoria" - seminar on oil cosmetics.
The
price is $1,500 per person based on double occupancy. This includes:
accommodation in one of the villas or apartments above mentioned,
meals, local transportation, seminars, olive oil gift box, certificate
of attendance, cocktail party in the historical villa. Click
here to print
