What you can do at Villa di Moriolo
Truffle hunting
The truffle is a tuber of very ancient origins that lives in symbiosis with the roots of certain plants such as linden, oak and poplar and prefers very humid soil. It cannot be cultivated and is therefore a rare fruit, of great value and difficult to find.
Truffle hunting is an exciting two-hour tour through the estate’s forest, accompanied by an expert truffle hunter and his dog, who will be the undisputed star of the adventure. The truffle hunter will explain the history of this “fruit of the gods” and the various types according to the time of year, in the hope that the dog will sniff something and start digging.
Wine tasting at local wineries
Tuscany is undoubtedly one of Italy’s most important wine-growing regions thanks to famous labels such as Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Bolgheri. The territory of San Miniato boasts a very ancient wine-growing history, marked by small family-run businesses that with great commitment and passion have preserved native vines such as Sangiovese, Malvasia nera, Canaiolo, Colorino and Trebbiano.
We are able to organise tastings at some of the local wineries with which we collaborate regularly: the tour starts with a walk through the vineyards and then moves to the winery where the winemaking techniques and the different ageing methods adopted will be illustrated. The last stop is the tasting room, where you can taste up to 10 different red and white wines, accompanied by local cold cuts and cheeses.
Cooking school
Professional chefs with a strong connection to the local cuisine will accompany you on a journey to discover the flavours and recipes of the Tuscan tradition, suitable for all ages. You will be able to experiment with various baking techniques or learn how to make pasta, cakes or simple meat and fish recipes, followed step by step by the expert hand and advice of the chef. All vegetables are sourced from the farm’s own garden, while meat and flour are sourced from local farms in accordance with the regional short supply chain.
Olive harvest
The olive harvest is carried out in autumn, from the second half of October until the end of November. Temperatures gradually begin to fall and the olive reaches full maturity. If the summer period has not been too dry, a good harvest and a high quality extra virgin olive oil are expected.
There are various harvesting methods, but the most common is called brucatura, or picking the olives directly from the tree to preserve the integrity of the fruit. This activity, which dates back to the dawn of time, was done entirely by hand until the 1980s, while now it is done from the ground using compressed air or electric tools that “comb” the trees, saving a great deal of time and effort. The olives fall to the ground on large nets previously laid on the ground and are then placed in boxes to be taken to the oil mill.
You can take part in this exciting activity in full contact with nature and then continue to the oil mill with the farmer to see from close up the whole process that turns olives into extra virgin olive oil.
Horse riding
The San Goro Equestrian Centre borders the farm’s woodland and has a masonry stable with 26 boxes, large paddocks and a clubhouse with bathrooms and changing rooms. The centre’s main activities include horse training, riding lessons and tours for all ages to discover the San Miniato area. Pony club for children aged between 3 and 12.
