aCasa

aCasa
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I TA L I A
Villa di Trefiano at
Tenuta di Capezzana
Carmignano,Tuscany
Sept 28 - Oct 5, 2013
A Personal Note From Paul...
I’m standing with The Contessa in front of a small
orange tree. We’re at a Renaissance era villa in
the hills of Tuscany, and it’s my first day as the
Estate Chef. I’m supposed to be picking the oranges
off the tree to make marmalade, but my senses are
overwhelmed with the scene around me. The lemon
trees, olive groves and grape vines sprawl out in
every direction as far as the eye can see. There’s a
Romanian gardener yelling at me from behind a
gigantic rosemary bush. The butler rushes by with a
newly hung leg of prosciutto. Cantina workers and
family members are in constant motion preparing
for the season’s olive harvest. The smell of freshly
crushed grapes wafts over everything and I know,
in this instant, that this is a magical place that will
always live within me.
For ten years I have brought my passion, experiences,
and lessons from my time in Italy to your homes with
my company a Casa. Now I want to bring you to the
source of those inspirations. For seven days, I will host
a small group of invited guests at Villa Trefiano on
the Capezzana Estate in Tuscany, the extraordinary
place where I truly honed my skills as a chef and
sommelier. We’ll feast on some of the most delicious
food and wine you’ve ever tasted–in the very place
where they were grown. We’ll sample local delicacies
unknown to most outsiders, and learn the special
secret tips and tricks that make the local food taste so
vibrant and distinctive. And maybe we’ll get to make
some marmalade!
We’ll have a Spa Day, exploring the thermal caves
and naturally heated mineral pools of the Grotta Giusti
resort, nestled in the nearby Apennine mountains. In
Florence’s Uffizi gallery, we’ll tour the Contini
Bonacossi family’s private art collection– rooms that
are usually inaccessible to the general public. We’ll
venture into the Capezzana cantina, winding
through Etruscan tunnels lined with barrels and
bottles of Carmignano wine. We’ll visit and have
lunch at the world famous Tignanello winery. Finally,
on our last night at the villa, we’ll have a grand
farewell wine dinner, followed by a concert featuring
the exceptionally talented Blythe Gruda Lang, singing
with local musicians. Most importantly, throughout
your journey you will relax, explore, and be inspired.
The Capezzana Estate is very old and wonderfully
peaceful. In this peacefulness you will find a balance of
rusticity and elegance that make you feel right at home.
So I invite you to join me for one week in this very
special place–one that I’m happy to call my home away
from home. It’s a journey that you won’t soon forget.
aCasa in Italia : September 28 - October 5, 2013
An old farmhouse view from the Capezzana Estate
Our House, In The Middle Of The Olive Groves and Grape Vines
The Trefiano Villa
The Villa di Trefiano will be our home for the
week. It is one of a few villas and farmhouses
located on the Capezzana estate, located in the
commune of Carmignano, about 14 miles northwest
of Florence. Trefiano is a grand, rustic, classicallystyled villa, with simple adornments and a homey
feeling. Expect rustic charm and beauty, rather than
a contemporary villa with every modern amenity.
The Capezzana estate has a long and storied
past. Wine jars and tasting cups found in Etruscan
tombs dating to approximately 1000 BC show
that vines have been cultivated in the area since preRoman times. More specifically, a parchment rent
contract conserved in the Florence State Archives,
dated 804 AD, was found by the Bonacossi family. This
parchment reveals that vines and olives were cultivated
at Capezzana for the production of oil and wine as
far back as 1200 years ago. Capezzana is among
very few estates in the world that can boast such an
ancient historical and viticultural tradition.
The view from the Estate
aCasa in Italia : September 28 - October 5, 2013
After the harvest.
Your Personal Renaissance
The R enaissa nce bega n in Florence and the
surrounding hills near Capezzana. In fact, the town
of Vinci, where Leonardo da Vinci was born, is just
over the hill from your Trefiano villa. The Renaissance
influenced everything we all love: food, wine, music
and much more. With a Casa in Italia, you’ll be able
to create a personal Renaissance of your own. Food
Tuscany always begins with food. We’ll be dining at
the area’s best restaurants as well as learning ancient
local recipes in our own Trefiano kitchen.
The Cantina di Toia is completely off the beaten path.
It is located in its own antique villa, which stands on
what used to be Leonardo da Vinci’s grandmother’s
house. Legend has it that the wood burning oven is
original to the house. Here is local food at its very
best...tastings of different Pecorino cheeses with
various sauces, sliced locally cured meats, and of
course the Bistecca Fiorentina.
Another night, we’ll visit Ristorante Da Delfina,
which sits high up in the hills in the small town of
Artimino. It overlooks the Medici family “Villa
of 100 Chimneys.” The restaurant was started by
Delfina Cioni as a place for local hunters and caretakers
of the villa to eat simple local food. Many years
later, Da Delfina has become a destination for food
lovers from around the world. It is most famous
for its view, but equally impressive is the sumptuous
variety of meats, game and fowl that come off of
the restaurant’s famous spit roaster. It is fueled by
local sweet Tuscan oak, and can hold as many as 40
chickens. In our own Trefiano kitchen, we’ll dive into cooking
classes teaching what sets Carmignano apart from
the rest of Tuscany.
Wine
The wines of Carmignano are completely unique to
the Tuscan region. The late patriarch of the family,
Ugo Bonacossi, led the charge, in the 1970’s, for
Carmignano to be recognized as its own wine denomination.
He won, and Carmignano today is recognized as one of
Tuscany’s real gems. Not only will we taste a library selection
of vintage Capezzana wine, we’ll also learn about all of the
other wines that make Tuscany a distinctive and special place–
Classic Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Morellino di
Scansano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and the mythical
super Tuscans...many of which have become some of the
most collectible wines in the world.
The Trefiano pool in the Summer
aCasa in Italia : September 28 - October 5, 2013
Beautiful Florence
Your Personal Renaissance . . . Continued
Education
The best way to learn about food and wine is in
the kitchen and at the table. I will guide the group
through a variety of hands-on cooking and pasta
making classes. You’ll learn how to make local dishes
like “Stracotto,” Carmignano’s version of red wine
braised beef, “Arista,” the classic pork roast with wild
fennel pollen, and my personal favorite, “Ribollita,”
the aftermath of white bean and vegetable stew, pan
fried in Capezzana’s olive oil. The electric green olive
oil of Capezzana is legendary, and we’ll use it in every
facet of the kitchen, from sweet to savory. You’ll even
get to take a bottle with you when you leave.
Art
The Contini Bonacossi family, who own the Capezzana
Estate where we’ll be staying, has a large private
art collection at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The
collection is considered to be among the Uffizi’s
most important acquisitions of the 20th century. The
private rooms contain furnishings, ceramics,
sculptures and masterpieces of European painting,
dating from the 14th to 18th Centuries, and include
works by Andrea del Castagno, Giovanni Bellini,
Girolamo Savoldo, El Greco and Zurbaran. We’ll
have a private tour of the collection, as well as of the
Uffizi Gallery itself.
Music
During the Renaissance, music was increasingly
freed from medieval constraints. Evolution in range,
rhythm, harmony, form and notation became a
vehicle for personal expression. We’ll pay homage to
this evolution with a private concert in our Tuscan
villa by Blythe Gruda Lang. She’ll collaborate with
local musicians to bring you a night of music ranging
from Verdi to Bowie.
Relaxation
The Grotta Giusti Resort is about 30 minutes from
Trefiano. You will spend the day in the heated mineral
pool, set in the stunning Tuscan hills, and venture into
the world famous thermal grotto deep underground.
The composer Giuseppe, who visited often, called
Grotta Giusti “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” If
you’d like, book a massage or a luxurious wellness
treatment from a menu selected especially for us. This
is all included with your a Casa in Italia package.
An aCasa cheese board
aCasa in Italia : September 28 - October 5, 2013
Foraged fennel risotto with roasted sardines
Your Hosts
Paul Lang
Blythe Gruda Lang
Paul traveled through Italy, developing an in-depth
knowledge of the foods, wines and culture as he
moved from adventure to adventure, town to town. Paul’s time in Italy culminated with his tenure at the
Capezzana estate, where he served as personal chef
to the Count and Contessa Contini Bonacossi. In
New York, Paul worked as sommelier at Babbo
Restaurant, where he helped to guide a James Beard
Award-winning wine program. Paul is currently
at the helm of his own successful business, a Casa,
specializing in the traditions of the Italian
table. He is also currently Wine Director of il Buco
Restaurant in new York City. Paul and a Casa have
been featured in The New York Times, The New York
Post, Time Out New York, Bene Magazine and Food
& Wine Magazine. a Casa has also been praised by
Boston Magazine, Daily Candy, Men’s Health, Boca
Magazine, and Japan’s Cuisine Kingdom.
Bly the Gruda is known for making music you
may know into something new, and has been
called “a voice that will someday move public
monuments.” She performs and records with
various composers, bands, writers and regularly
with the New York institution The Losers Lounge.
She has also worked all over with world with
bands, symphonies, and orchestras. She toured
Europe as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar,
won awards for performances in A merican Regional productions of Floyd C ollins and Songs
For A New World and graced both The Royal
A lbert Hall and Carnegie Hall stages, performing in the A merican premieres of Benny A ndersson and Bjorn Ulveus’s pop opera, K ristina. A fter a decade in theatre, she still enjoys
performing, song writing, and helping create
unforgettable a Casa in Italia experiences.
aCasa in Italia : September 28 - October 5, 2013
Grapes drying for Capezzana’s Vin Santo
Accomodations and Pricing
The 16th-Century villa has six beautiful and distinctive
bedrooms, tucked at the ends of hidden passages and
at the top of winding staircases. All are decorated in
the classic Tuscan country style and furnished with
antiques; windows offer views of the property from
all sides. Three double bedrooms each have their own
private bath, while two other double bedrooms and a
single bedroom share a bath. Some of the rooms are
furnished with twin beds that can either be joined or
separated, to suit the convenience of guests.
Please contact us for further information about
availability of specific rooms.
PRICING PER PERSON
(includes all taxes and fees):
What is most important to us is that, during your visit,
you will not have a care in the world. That’s why
we’ve made the trip truly all-inclusive. Your only
responsibility is your airfare.
The largest bedroom, which has a private loft,
seating area, and a private bathroom, is $8,000
per person with double occupancy.
The two other bedrooms with private bathrooms
are $7,500 per person with double occupancy.
The two bedrooms with shared bathrooms are
$7,000 per person with double occupancy.
T he one si n gle bed room w ith a sha red
bathroom is $7,000 per person.
All-inclusive prices above include:
• Seven nights’ accommodation at Villa di Trefiano,
an historic, 16th-Century Renaissance villa
• All meals at Trefiano and select restaurants
• H a nd s- on cook i n g cla sses cent ered on the
secrets of authentic Tuscan cuisine, with focused
workshops on pasta and other specialties of the
Carmignano region
• Wine and olive oil tastings
• Tour of the Capezzana wine estate, vineyards, olive
oil groves and cellars, and lunch with the Contini
Bonacossi family
• A VIP tour and lunch at the world renowned
Tignanello Estate
• A full day at Grotto Giusti, which includes thermal
spa caves, mineral pools, and a full body massage
or comparable spa treatment
• A tour of the private Contini Bonacossi Collection
at the Uffizi Gallery, guided by renowned artist
Leone Contini Bonacossi
• A final grand wine dinner and private concert with
singer Blythe Gruda Lang and local musicians
• Transportation to and from Peretola Airport in
Florence (please let us know if you are considering
arrival by train, or if you have an alternate point
of arrival or departure), and transportation to all
group outings
• A farewell package including wine, olive oil and
local products whose producers we’ll encounter
during the week. And finally: a flash drive pre-loaded
with every recipe you’ve learned during your stay.
Some of Trefiano’s bedrooms
aCasa in Italia : September 28 - October 5, 2013
The thermal spa caves and pool at Grotta Giusti
Terms and Conditions
A 30% deposit is required to secure the booking.
The remaining balance is due no later than July 1,
2013 (approximately 90 days before arrival). If you’d
prefer you can also pay in full at the time of booking.
In order to book your stay with a Casa in Italia, please
contact Paul Lang by email at [email protected],
or by telephone: (646) 851-8166. Deposit and/or remaining balance checks may be
mailed to a Casa, payable to A Casa in Italia, at 191
Bond Street Brooklyn, NY 11217. Major credit
cards are also accepted.
Cancellation Policy...Please Read Carefully
The deposit is a com m it ment by a Casa in Italia
to hold your place, and a commitment by you to
participate. The deposit should be considered
non-refundable. (Under special circumstances, we may
refund the deposit if you cancel more than 120 days
before the class begins, and we are able to find another
traveler to take your place). All refunds are subject to
a $250 service charge to cover any bank fees incurred by
a Casa in Italia.
For any cancellations made by the participant after
August 28th, 2013, no refunds will be made. Your
trip can be considered transferable under special
circumstances.
Responsibility
a Casa in Italia, or any of its affiliated staff, sales
representatives, agents or persons acting on their
behalf, shall not be or become liable or responsible
for any loss, injury, or damage to person or property
in connection with the program, or any means of
transportation or other services connected therewith
and whether resulting directly or indirectly from
acts of God, dangers, incident to the sea or air, fire,
breakdown in any type of equipment, riots, war,
theft, pilferage, quarantine, or from any other cause.
a Casa in Italia reserves the right to accept or decline or
retain any person as a participant, whether before
or during the program. Any expenses incurred by
delays or events beyond a Casa in Italia’s control shall
be borne by the participant. Low enrollment may cause
cancellation of the program by a Casa in Italia. Registrants will receive no less than a forty day
notice and a full refund. As with most things in
Italy, it is important to be flexible when it comes
to the daily routine. We’ll do our best to stay on
schedule but sometimes Italy takes over...
One of the many sitting rooms at Trefiano
aCasa in Italia : September 28 - October 5, 2013
Blythe inspecting a cellar of older vintages
Some Questions and Answers
Group Size?
in the sitting areas or in your room, day and night.
We’re going to be a small group of no more than 10 people.
Is there maid service?
Can you tell me more about the Villa?
The Villa di Trefiano is an amazing, 16th-Century
property. It was commissioned by the Medici for the
powerful Rucellai family of Florence, and designed by
the architect Buontalenti in the classical Renaissance
style. At the time, Giovanni Rucellai served the Medici
family as secretary, but when he fell out of favor of the
Grand Duke, the family was exiled and the villa was
left uncompleted. You will notice the protruding bricks
if you look closely at the façade. There are two distinct
halves to the house, and the bedrooms are split among
them. We’ll be cooking in two main kitchens, one of
which includes an open wood-burning hearth. There
are numerous breakfast and sitting rooms with comfy
chairs and sofas. To give you a sense how old Trefiano
is, construction began only 50 years after Leonardo
da Vinci died.
Trefiano sits amidst 5 hectares of vines that produce
the distinctive Trefiano Carmignano DOCG wine. In
October, the colors of fall will be exploding through
the valley. The view from villa overlooks the plains of
Prato, Pistoia and Florence.
There is a washing machine at the villa, and plenty
of storage space for luggage. There is also an entertainment room with a flat-screen television and DVD
player. Antiques and family photographs adorn every
room, and the bathrooms feature hand stenciling and
painted details. The kitchen will be stocked with coffee, tea and fresh fruit,
and there will always be plenty of Capezzana wines to enjoy
A maid service will clean the kitchen and bathrooms,
and change the linens during the week. However, there
is no in-house maid or cleaning service. As such, we
will all need to do our part to retain the integrity and
beauty of the villa. Can I access the Internet?
In theory, there is WiFi in Trefiano. But this is a
very, very old place, so it is important to realize that a
constant, strong connection may not always be available.
Cell phone reception is fine, so you can use an iPhone
with active service to access the internet. You can
also look into using your phone as a mobile “hotspot”
for a laptop. Internet points may be available at the
Capezzana office or local some small towns. We’ll
make time here and there if needed. Should I worry about my cooking skill level?
Absolutely not! We’re there to learn about Tuscan
cuisine and wine, and there are tasks in the kitchen for
every skill level. You’ll be able to replicate many of the
recipes and techniques you’ll learn during our stay in
your own kitchen at home, and our only goal is to have
a relaxed and fun atmosphere in the kitchen and at the
dining table.
Are children allowed?
The age minimum for this particular trip 18 years
old. Subsequent trips may have different a ge
minimums. (More questions and answers on the following page.)
The road to the estate
Some Questions and Answers . . . Continued
Weather?
Smoking?
find the grand Medici country villa, which contains
some the greatest frescoes of the Mannerist movement,
as well as splendid Italian gardens. You can hike to tiny
medieval hamlets, frozen in time and tucked into the hills,
or observe daily life in a small Tuscan town like Seano. The villa is a strictly non-smoking environment.
Any special things we should bring with us?
Think of the weather being the same as it is in New
York during the fall. Definitely bring a coat.
What if I want to rent my own car?
We’ll have a large van when travelling to and from all
activities. We don’t mind, however, if you want to rent
your own car privately. AutoEurope is a good option. Can I opt out of any of the activities?
Opting out of any of the activities is fine; we just ask
that you tell us in advance of your plans. We aren’t able
to offer any reductions in the package price for missed
activities. We’d be happy to pick you up or drop you
off at a taxi or bus stop around the rest of the group
schedule.
Do you recommend we purchase travel insurance?
It is definitely a personal decision, and we recommend
that you research your options to determine if you
want any sort of coverage. Insure My Trip is a good
resource for obtaining quotes.
What is the surrounding area like?
Trefiano is on a hilltop that overlooks the Arno River
valley, and there are many charming sites to discover in
the immediate area. Carmignano is home to Pontormo’s
“The Visitation of the Virgin and St. Elizabeth” in the
church of San Michele, and in Poggio a Caiano you’ll
If you are bringing small appliances such as hair
dryers, phone or camera chargers, you’ll want to bring
plug adapters.
We’ll provide you with a local information sheet should
you want to explore. We’ll be sure to have extra toiletries on hand, but please
be sure to bring along anything special you normally
like to travel with.
Cell Phones?
Check with your cell phone service provider to
see if they offer international roaming and/or data
plans. Many people prefer to rent or purchase an
unlocked phone and Italian SIM card, which you can
easily fill and refill with pre-paid credit.
...and Beyond?
We’re happy to help you with recommendations on
what to do if you want to stay in Italy. We have many
friends and connections all over the country and would
love if you’d like to visit them.
If you are not able to attend this Fall’s trip, we’re already
planning another for Spring 2014. Please let us know if
you’d be interested...we’d love to have you join us!
The Cappezzana cellar
aCasa in Italia : September 28 - October 5, 2013
Contemplation under a beautiful painting
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