The Pettino Epicurean Experience

a.k.a. the Wild Foods Epicurean Experience

Timeless family traditions for all your senses.

Immerse yourself in the culinary and cultural traditions of our Umbrian family, our centuries-old farm and ancient village with the Pettino Epicurean Experience.

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Discover the epicurean pleasures and the warm and welcoming hospitality of our family that has owned the land in Pettino since the year 1486.

The Pettino Epicurean Experience will touch all your senses with its welcoming hospitality, stunning scenery and rich flavors in a part of Italy far away from the usual tourist trails. Unwind and regenerate your mind, body and appetite with our authentic and exclusive family food experience in a rustic and unspoiled setting.

Our extended family will exclusively give you their undivided attention, indulging you and guiding you through 3 nights and 4 days and through every part of your Umbrian culinary and cultural adventure.

Truffles & Truffle Hunting

An authentic and fascinating experience where you will immerse yourself in the flavors, secrets and wonders of Umbrian truffles.

Luca and Alessandro will be your private guides on this authentic and fascinating truffle hunting experience.

Since a very young age, they have been truffle hunting in Umbria and all over Italy and their knowledge and skill have been passed down to them through generations of family. You will enjoy their great company and Umbrian character.

Between them they have many highly trained dogs, with boundless energy, and who just love their job of sniffing out the precious Umbrian truffles.

Here in Pettino we are very unpretentious about truffles: hunting and eating truffles are just part of our everyday life. Actually, you might just be surprised how many truffles we can find in a day’s work. Sometimes it takes longer to find them, sometimes it happens very fast, but truffle hunting in Italy – Pettino style – is about a long, relaxed stroll, with great views in every direction, pleasant company, amazing dogs and a fun and fascinating experience.

Village & Estate

You will explore the family property and farm and soak up the timeless atmosphere, incredible landscapes and stunning views. The best way to do that is to join the family shepherd on an unforgettable stroll as he grazes the flock of sheep through the fields and mountains making sure they are well fed and keeping them safe from the wolves.

The shepherd’s job is to milk the sheep in the morning, take them to the mountains and fields surrounding the village where they graze and wander all day long, before returning them home again in the evening. It is a very poetic life, full of amazing scenery, peace and quiet and lots of very big and very friendly white wolf dogs for company.

You will join Dan our shepherd for an unforgettable experience strolling, relaxing and absolutely unwinding as you follow the flock around the mountains.

Of course, you will also experience some great food and wine – we will serve you a delicious traditional shepherd’s lunch in a very panoramic and picturesque spot.

We recommend leaving your devices at home and really let yourself regenerate.

Pecorino Cheese

The family is famous for their incredible pecorino cheese and Francesca, the expert cheese maker, will introduce you to her skill and knowledge and – of course – the unforgettable flavors. You can see how it’s done from beginning to end and discover the subtleties and experience required to make a quality pecorino cheese.

The experience starts in the barn where the sheep are milked twice a day, all by hand. You’re welcome to give it a try – it’s a very old and traditional job in the village and also a beautiful way to understand the health and well being of the flock.

Then in the cheese-making room Francesca will not only make unpasteurized pecorino cheese but also fresh sheep’s milk ricotta with the most delicate, exquisite flavor that few have the opportunity to experience.

You will also visit the 900 year old cheese aging room, see the aging process and taste cheeses from 2 months to more than a year old. The cheese aging room is quite an experience just by itself, and you will learn some excellent ways to enjoy true pecorino cheese as well as how to pair it with excellent Umbrian wines.

Traditional Pasta

Giovanna the grandma and Francesca the up-and-coming-expert have inherited the family traditions when it comes to making fresh pasta.

It’s all handmade – and by handmade we mean from start to finish with no machine – including a visit to the chicken-run to collect the morning’s eggs. Giovanna’s specialty is gnocchi while Francesca is an expert at tagliatelle, but they are both amazing to watch and love to chat and laugh with you while they’re making pasta.

Not only will you learn to make the fresh organic pasta, but you also get to eat some amazing traditional dishes, experience a true Italian Nonna’s kitchen, an antique pasta room, while enjoying the bubbly company of two very important members of the family.

You can join in and try it first hand or just sit back and watch and learn. Either way you will get to taste it and pair it with some great local wine.

Local Recipes

The village has no shortage of cooks and they’re more than happy to share their secrets with you on mastering traditional dishes.

Not only will you taste some fantastic local food but you can also learn recipes, techniques and traditions handed down over the centuries.

You can roll up your sleeves and join in and partake as much or as little as you please.

Nearly all the ingredients will be from our village and land from the wild meat to our own beef, lamb, pork, fresh seasonal vegetables, herbs and homemade cheese.

You will learn a number of different recipes from primi pasta dishes to secondi meat and vegetables, as well as an array of antipasti such as bruschetta and the tricks of selecting an excellent prosciutto.

You can experience cooking with different members of the family from the old and wise to the young and talented.

Wine & Dine

Each meal of the Pettino Epicurean Experience is staged in a unique setting around the village for a unique dining pleasure.

We’ll serve each lunch and dinner in a different location each with their own character and atmosphere, from private kitchens, to hidden wine cellars, outdoor areas, our renowned local family restaurants and the Lodge’s own amazing kitchen.

It’s a journey of discovering not only what you will eat, but also where you will eat and the people that will host you.

Pricing

The Pettino Epicurean Experience includes:

Truffle hunting with the local truffle hunters
Shepherding experience in the mountain meadows
Making pasta by hand with Francesca & Giovanna
Pecorino cheese making with Francesca
Hands-on cooking lessons of traditional Umbrian recipes
3 nights accommodation at the Black Truffle Lodge
All meals, wine and drinks
Transfers from Rome or anywhere in Umbria with a private driver

€4500 for 3 nights all-inclusive for up to two adults. Up two children 17 years of age or less will enjoy the Epicurean Experience for free.

Check-in will be 3pm on your day of arrival. Check-out will be 11am on your day of departure.

Book the Pettino Epicurean Experience

Book the Wild Foods Epicurean Experience

We have limited availability for the epicurean experience throughout the year, so we suggest to book in advance.

Before sending your booking we suggest to read through the important information below. If you have further questions you will have a chance to ask during your booking request.

Transport with Chauffer

If you prefer not to drive yourself, then we are happy to send a driver to pick you up and bring you to our village of Pettino. We work with very professional drivers with a very high standard of vehicles. We will arrange to have you picked up from anywhere in Umbria, Rome or in the countryside around Siena.

The Season

All year round, some activities are not available at certain times of year but we will find a substitute. We will confirm during the booking process availability of activities for the dates you request.

The Weather

Some activities such as truffle hunting and shepherding do depend on good weather. For each day of bad weather that prevents you from doing either of these outdoor activities, we will refund you 20% of the total price.

Temperatures in Pettino during each season can range from:

-10 C to +5C in the Winter
10 C to 30C in the Summer
15 C to 25 C in the Fall and Spring.

Gear

Because you will walk through the forests and rugged terrain when truffle hunting and sheep-herding, it would be necessary to wear appropriate gear for these activities, including good outdoor walking shoes, and appropriate weather gear for each season.

You will need shoes suitable for walking in the countryside, runners are usually ok in the summer, but in case of wet ground or bad weather we recommend something sturdier.

The temperature changes a lot throughout the year and we recommend bringing warm enough clothes for the Spring and Fall. We generally wear long pants in the countryside in the summer, but shorts can be ok – it is really up to you.

Dietary needs & allergies

We need to know any dietary restrictions in advance, such as allergies or if you suffer from an intolerance. We are happy to cater for special diets such as gluten free, we can also accommodate vegetarians but your eating experience will be less varied.

Farm animals

Throughout your stay in the village you will be around dogs, Martina the pig and other farm animals.

Also, since this is the countryside are bugs and insects – but not too many.

Payment

Once we confirm availability for the Wild Foods Epicurean Experience we will send you payment instructions. Payments can be made with your credit card using either VISA or MasterCard.

We require a 30% deposit at the time of booking refundable up to 60 days before the start date of your tour. The remainder is payable 60 days prior to your arrival date which becomes 100% non-refundable.

Policies

Remember your 30% deposit is refundable up to 60 days prior to the start date of your tour. Cancellations after this date and payments made towards the booking are not refundable. In case you need to cancel your booking please notify us as soon as possible. Notifying us of any changes helps us with preparing each tour.

Changes or cancellations may be made by calling +39 333 498-5387, or, emailing us here.

Important information

Some further things to know before you book:

You must have your own insurance.
On arrival you will need to sign a liability waiver.
We suggest you bring suitable attire for cold and wet weather outdoor activities.
For truffle hunting and shepherding, you must be able to walk in the countryside comfortably.

Book ahead today