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Silversea cooks up land programme focusing on the slow food of Tuscany

Silversea Cruises has created a new "Slow Food Adventure in Tuscany" land option that will debut on three Mediterranean voyages in 2012.

In collaboration with Slow Food Italy, it has designed an exclusive three-night programme highlighting the culinary and cultural traditions of Tuscany, introducing participants to local wine producers and products that adhere to the Slow Food philosophy of preserving biodiversity and gastronomic traditions.

The vinyards of Castello Banfi produce fine winesPicture courtesy of Castellobanfi.com

The programme will be conducted with one or more members of Silversea’s own culinary team to provide participants with expert guidance and exclusive access to local producers committed to responsible and sustainable food production, as recommended by Slow Food.

Participants might visit a dairy farm or stroll through olive groves and vineyards to learn the secrets of traditional food production.

Guests will gain a greater understanding of the region’s wines as well as the ingredients carefully selected for the dishes served in La Terrazza, Silversea’s Italian speciality restaurant - the only restaurant at sea that partners with Slow Food Italy.

“This is a new concept, and probably the first in the industry, where the ship’s culinary team accompanies and interacts with guests on a pre- or post-cruise land programme,” said Darius Mehta of Silversea.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for foodies and travellers alike to discover the beauty, food, tradition and culture of Tuscany, while also gaining greater insight into the principles of the Slow Food movement.”

From Rome, travellers will enjoy a scenic drive into the heart of the Brunello region of Tuscany, leading to the vineyard estate of Castello Banfi, producer of some of the region’s best-known wines, including several selected for La Banca del Vino, the Slow Food-inspired wine bank of the University of Gastronomy in Pollenzo (Bra), Italy.

The programme includes three nights at Il Borgo, Castello Banfi’s elegant hotel nestled amid the vineyards and olive groves of Montalcino.

Highlights include a cooking class, where participants will learn to prepare typical Tuscan specialties with the help of Silversea’s own culinary team and the estate’s professional staff; an in-depth tour of the Castello Banfi winery; and a full-day tour of Slow Food-recommended vineyards, olive groves, farms or other traditional food-producing operations in and around Bolgheri, escorted by Silversea’s culinary team, giving participants insider access to producers whose operations normally are not open to the public.

This three-night sojourn, priced from £2,269 per guest (based on double occupancy), is offered as a pre-cruise option on Silver Wind’s April 30 Rome to Venice voyage, and Silver Spirit’s October 22 sailing from Rome to Barcelona. It’s also available as a post-cruise option on Silver Wind’s April 17 voyage from Barcelona to Rome.