Autumn Arts Festival – Tuscan Cuisine with Michael Vignapiano
Michael Vignapiano
October 19 - October 27
$4475The Autumn Arts Festival is our grand finale of the year, and this workshop is just one of four inspiring options. If your friends or family join, each of you can choose your own workshop and then come together for shared meals and activities. To learn more about the festival, click here or scroll down to “More on the Autumn Arts Festival” below.
Program Description: Italy is an amazing culinary destination in that it has such varied regional cuisines in roughly the space of California. Tuscan cuisine and wine are known the world over, and there is nothing more exciting than to be part of the experience first-hand!
Autumn is the perfect time of year to visit Tuscany for food. Autumn brings the harvest – a time of so many treasures and delicacies from the harvesting of the grapes, to the pressing of the olives for oil, and the curing of meats for the long winter
This year, our Il Chiostro executive chef, Linda Mironti, has asked her former chef instructor and friend, Chef Michael Vignapiano, to lead this culinary adventure with her. He will team up with their friend and local chef, “The Man From Chianti” Andrea Anichini, to fulfill these three main objectives for this course:
- The first, to gain a better understanding and appreciation for Tuscan regional cuisine. How terroir, economics, historical events, outside influences, etc., have shaped the cuisine to what it is today. This will be accomplished during our discussions and presentations with local and regional artisans, chefs, and producers during our classes and excursions.
- Second, to increase your cooking and baking technical skills and general cooking knowledge during the 3 hands-on portions of the course. We will be focusing on ingredient selection, building flavor, adjustments, time management, etc.
- The last objective (and probably most important), to open yourselves to the bounty, beauty, and flavors of Tuscany, through its food, wine, and the people who produce it.
Dievole Wine Resort, nestled in the heart of the Chianti wine region of Tuscany, is the perfect spot to experience the heart and soul of Tuscan food and wine as we immerse ourselves in its culture. This historic inn offers first-class accommodations, stunning vineyard views, and an authentic Tuscan ambiance. Enjoy strolls through the vineyards and dine on chef Monika’s creative flavor-busting gourmet meals made with the freshest local ingredients.
Join us on the journey. Come discover the magic of Tuscany through its flavors, landscapes, and traditions.
Here are some highlights of the class:
- 3 Cooking Classes
- Wine Tour at Dievole
- Visit a local bread bakery for a tour and hands-on prep
- Olive Oil Tasting & Pressing (weather depending)
- Local Cheese Tasting
- Guided Excursions: to Siena, Pienza, San Gimignano & Radda
Every day, we will discuss how we can incorporate what we learn into our daily lives at home
Price: $4,475 p/p; optional supplement:
- single room – $795 (limited number available)
Includes:
- Room (double or single with supplement) with a full ensuite bathroom
- 2 meals per day (dinner with wine and a full Tuscan breakfast)
- Workshop tuition and fees (except where noted)
- General activities (except where noted)
- Transfers between the Siena train or bus station and Dievole
Departure is on the morning of October 27th.
General Activities Open to All Participants (in addition to workshop):
Most activities take place in and around the 900-year-old Dievole estate & vineyard.
- Winery tour and tasting, featuring Dievole’s Chianti Classico
- Italian Opera Appreciation classes every evening before dinner
- Excursion to Siena
- Special dinner in the wine cellar
- Various topical excursions with your class
- Pig Roast celebrating the harvest and the arts
Price does not include:
- Airfare
- Museum admissions
- Independent lunches
- Art supplies, laptops, or other equipment for workshops.
- Gratuities – always appreciated by our talented Dievole staff
To Register: just click on the Sign Up Now button. A non-refundable deposit of $800 is required to secure your spot in the workshop. Payment can be made online with a credit card or PayPal. Once we receive your deposit, we will send you a formal Registration Confirmation with further information about the program. You will receive 2-3 other correspondences by email before the workshop with information about Italy, a supplies list, and an electronic invoice for the balance. Final Balance is due by August 15th. Any time prior to your arrival, if you have questions about anything regarding the trip or the program, you can contact us by email or phone, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Cancellation policy:
$800 deposit is non-refundable. For cancellation:
- 60 days prior to workshop, full refund due less non-refundable deposit.
- 30-60 days prior to workshop, 50% refund of balance paid allowed, less non-refundable deposit.
Less than 30 days before the workshop, no refund due.
Il Chiostro recommends personal travel insurance to cover the possibility of unexpected or last-minute cancellation.
Contact us for more information: info@ilchiostro.com or speak to us live at 800-990-3506.
More on the Autumn Arts Festival: At the end of October, Il Chiostro celebrates the harvest time of the year in Tuscany, hence our Autumn Arts Festival. We offer 4 separate workshops that will happen concurrently throughout this 8-day celebration of the arts, the harvest, the wine, and this wonderful region of Italy. While you are participating in your workshop, friends or partners might enjoy participating in one of the other three programs:
- From Landscape to Figure: A Renaissance Journey with Lynn Travis Stender
- Photography with Local Photographer Alfredo Falvo
- Free Yourself: A Sketching and Painting Retreat with Karen Hewitt Hagan
In addition to your selected workshop, everyone can enjoy Italian Opera Appreciation lectures with Prof. Patricia Pease each evening before dinner. These free and optional lectures are open to all registered participants and are an excellent opportunity to enjoy another activity that will broaden your musical horizons.
Dievole Chianti Classico Winery, Tuscany
Participants in the Autumn Arts Festival will stay in Dievole's 16th-century inn and guest houses floating in the magnificent Tuscan hills. We take over the whole winery, so it will begin to feel like home after a few days. The entire facility recently underwent a major facelift, transforming all rooms into spacious, luxury lodgings. Rooms are doubles or suites with modern bathrooms and heating.
A limited number of single rooms and suites are available for a supplement.
Dievole will seem more like a family inn rather than an impersonal chain hotel. Dievole is located in the town of Vagliagli, about 12km northeast of Siena and 40km south of Florence. If you wish to explore the area independently during your stay, we recommend renting a car. The link below will give you a glimpse of the winery:
Click here to visit Dievole's website...
Visit them on Facebook: facebook.com/dievole
We will pick you up in Siena anytime between 1 and 5 pm on the first day of the program. The recommended arrival airports are Florence or Rome, from where you can take a bus or train to Siena. Florence is closer, but there are no direct flights from the US. You would have to change in another European city. Rome provides more flight options.
The bus/train from Rome to Siena is about 3 hours.
We can also arrange for a car to pick you up from Florence or Rome. You pay the driver directly. Just let us know a few days in advance so we can make the arrangements for you.
If you are departing from Rome on the last day, remember it is 3 hours by car or bus from Siena, so try to book an afternoon flight.
If you have time, you might consider lingering in Italy for a few extra days on either end of the festival. Allow the Italian rhythms to seduce you. A few days in Rome or Florence upon arrival is a wonderful way to get over jet lag. For other travel help, check our Travel to Italy web page.
Specific Travel information to get to Dievole:
By Train: There are regularly scheduled trains from all major towns and cities in Italy. Head towards Siena. From Rome, there are several trains daily from the main station (Termini). You don`t need a reservation. Although you purchase a through ticket, it is necessary to change trains at Chiusi. The ride takes about 3.5 hours (approximately 240 km) and the cost is around $20.
NOTE: In Italy, it is the law to stamp your train ticket in the little yellow meter near each train platform. Failure to do so can result in heavy fines, even if you plead ignorance.
By Bus: There are also buses from almost anywhere in Italy to Siena. These are modern and comfortable coaches.
From Florence: buses leave the SITA terminal (next door to the train station) nearly every hour. If you take Siena Rapida, the ride is direct on the highway and should take 1 hour.
From Rome: the ride takes 3 hours (non-stop). If you plan to arrive at the Rome airport and plan to come directly to Siena, this is the quickest method. From the airport, take the train on the left-hand track to the Tiburtina station (NOT Termini). From there, go outside into the parking lot. If you are already in Rome, you can take the Metro to the Tiburtina station. Take the B (blue) line towards Rebibbia. Follow signs to Pzle. Stazione Tiburtina.
With the long side of the station at your back, cross under the overpass into the parking lot. Buy your ticket from the building marked Biglietteria C (17.50 Euros, approx. $20); the bus usually leaves from Gate 8. These buses leave every day at regular intervals. To get current fares and schedules for the Flix bus, you can check their website: www.sena.it.
Once in Siena, get off at the Siena train station (Ferrovia). Don’t get off in the center of Siena.
Travel Agents & Insurance: Over the last few years, the way we travel has undergone significant changes. For that reason, we now encourage everyone to use a professional travel agent when arranging their trips. Travel agents save you time and stress by handling all the details and tailoring your itinerary to your needs. One of the most important services they offer today is helping you choose and enroll in the right travel insurance program. With the continued possibility of schedule changes or postponements, travel insurance has become essential, and selecting the right plan on your own can be overwhelming.
If you encounter any issues during your travels, your agent can provide quick support and solutions, taking the pressure off your shoulders. While booking through online sites like Expedia or Hotels.com may seem more convenient or less expensive, they offer little help if you need to modify your plans. A travel professional, on the other hand, is there to assist you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and worry-free travel experience.
If you choose to Go It Alone, we highly recommend taking out travel insurance for the trip in the event of any unforeseen obstacles to your travel. We recommend Travelex (800) 504-7883 or Travel Guard International (877) 901-7599.
Tuscany in autumn is a landscape reborn. The hills turn russet and gold, the air grows clear and bright, and the light, that unmistakable Tuscan light, softens into something painters chase and poets never quite capture. Olive trees shimmer in silver-green rows, and the woods deepen with mushrooms and chestnuts. Across the valleys, the scent of the grape harvest lingers, a quiet reminder of the season’s purpose.
This is the time when the land belongs again to the locals. The hilltowns, free from summer’s bustle, settle into a slower rhythm. In workshops and kitchens, hands turn the harvest into tradition, olive oil pressed fresh, prosciutto cured, and Chianti aged to perfection. Every festival, from the vendemmia to the celebration of the wild boar, becomes a study in community and craft.
For artists, autumn here is a masterclass in color and light. The skies are clear, the shadows long, and every turn of the road offers a composition waiting to be sketched, painted, or written. Inspiration feels almost tangible, carried on the crisp wind, reflected in every terracotta wall and cypress-lined ridge.
And at the heart of it all lies Siena, proud, medieval, and timeless. Her museums and churches breathe quietly now, her piazzas echo with the sound of footsteps instead of crowds. Every stone seems to hold a story, every view a palette. In autumn, Siena invites artists not just to look, but to see.
Chef Michael Vignapiano has been a Culinary and Pastry instructor for over thirty years with various institutions such as The New York Restaurant School/Art Institute of NYC, CUNY, SUNY, and Monroe College, where he was the Culinary Operations Coordinator and Chef de Cuisine of the highly rated student-run restaurant open to the public.
From 2007-2012, Chef Vignapiano was the owner/executive chef for Fresh Flavors Catering - a seasonal, off-premises caterer located in the Hamptons, NY.
Chef Vignapiano has participated in many competitions in the US and Italy, both individually and as a member of the New York Culinary Team. He has also judged culinary and pastry competitions for the American Culinary Federation.
Michael has traveled throughout the U.S. as a representative for the Consortiums of Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano.
Presently, he is semi-retired and working seasonally in the Hamptons, NY.
Most importantly, Chef Vignapiano was part of the Il Chiostro family from 2000-2011, teaching the Tuscan cuisine program during the Autumn Arts Festival, and he is thrilled to be returning.
