For golfers with a love of gastronomy, Argentario Golf Resort & Spa in south west Tuscany is offering a ‘Golf & Taste’ experience this autumn as the region celebrates the grape and olive harvests with a series of food festivals.
After a round of golf over Argentario’s stunning layout overlooking the Orbetello Lagoon, foodies can indulge themselves in culinary delights created by chef Riccardo Cappelli in the Resort’s stylish Dama Dama Restaurant, named after the fallow deer that occasionally roam the resort.
Based on the flavours and colours of the local terrain, Cappelli’s cuisine is prepared using authentic produce from small, carefully-selected local farms and, at this time of the year, with some ingredients coming directly from the hotel’s organic vegetable garden and orchard.
During October, for example, Argentario will be harvesting its own olives from the ancient groves that border the back nine of the golf course. The olive oil produced from the crop will be used in the preparation of the Tuscan specialties in the Restaurant and can also be sampled by guests in its pure form, simply with bread.
The back nine of the Argentario golf course meanders between ancient olive groves; the olive harvest at Frantoio Franci
The design hotel near Porto Ercole on the Monte Argentario peninsula has also teamed up with a number of wineries and olive oil mills in the Maremma and runs tasting tours to the Le Mortelle Winery, for example, which is owned by the historic wine family of Antinori. Guests can visit the winery, complete with wine tasting, as part of the ‘Golf & Taste’ package or as an independent excursion during a stay in this stunning part of Tuscany.
Another interesting foodie option is a visit to Frantoio Franci, a charming olive oil mill in the idyllic landscape of Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Frantoio Franci produces a range of top quality extra virgin olive oils which can be tasted during a visit alongside a small aperitif of honey, cheese and red wine. It’s just a pleasant one-hour drive from coastal Monte Argentario, across the Tuscan countryside and to the medieval hamlet of Montenero d’Orcia.
Whilst Tuscan cuisine is delicious year-round, for many visitors there is something special about the seasonal dishes that are produced in the autumn. Added to which, at this time of the year, many of the nearby villages honour the harvest with festivals where visitors can taste seasonal produce such as chestnuts and savour local wines. For the foodie foragers, there are also opportunities to go hunting for mushrooms and truffles.
Between late October and early November, a host of festivals take place around the Argentario Promontory like the unique Gustatus Wine & Food Festival (31 October to 4 November) in the nearby town of Orbetello which features food and wine tastings, cultural events, street artists and live music. Other events on nearby in the autumn include:
Event Source: www.tuttomaremma.com Dates may change & more information can be found at the local tourist office.
Added to this, the autumn colours in Tuscany at this time of the year are simply mesmerizing whilst the weather is cooler yet often sunny, and there are far few tourists around than in the busy summer season.
The ‘Golf & Taste’ package includes:
Le Mortelle Winery with lunch and wine tasting included (transfer not included; the winery is in Castiglione della Pescaia, about 1 hour from the Resort)
or
“Frantoio Franci” mill with olive oil tasting (3 samples) and a small aperitif with honey, cheese and a glass of red wine (transfer is not included, the olive oil mill is in Montenero d’Orcia, about 1 hour from the Resort)
The 3-night package from Euros 595.50 per person, in a double room sharing – BOOK 3 NIGHTS
For stays of 7 nights or more, the package includes 3 green fees per person and 2 dinners with Tasting menu and Argentario wine selection, from Euros 1,372 per person, in a double room sharing – BOOK 7 NIGHTS
Contact us for more information and to book your Tuscan vacation: Tel: +39 0564 810292 | Email: booking@argentarioresort.it
Payment Terms: - To guarantee and confirm this booking, you will need to send your credit card information: type, number, expiry date and cardholder’s name. - Depending on low/high season, 30% or 50% of the total amount of the booking must be paid at check-in; while the balance will be cleared at check-out (cheques and bank transfers are not accepted as a form of payment during check-out).
