For golfers with a love of gastronomy, Argentario Golf Resort & Spa (www.argentarioresort.com) 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 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:
- Grape Festival on Giglio Island – 27, 28 & 29 September 2018. Open wineries and tastings from 8pm in the village of Castello.
- Bruschetta and Olio Nuovo Festival in Montegiovi – 29 & 30 September 2018.
- Grape Festival in Scansano – 29 & 30 September 2018. Open wineries to pay homage to the DOCG red wine, Morellino di Scansano.
- Grape Festival in Cinigiano – 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 October 2018. In addition to wine tastings, there is also a float parade.
- Amiantino Mushroom Festival in Bagnolo – 6, 7, 13 & 14 October 2018.
- Chestnut Festival in Monticello Amiata – 12, 13 & 14 October 2018.
- Chestnut Festival in Arcidosso – 19, 20 &21 October 2018.
- Wine Festival “Gustatus” in Orbetello – from 31 October to 4 November 2018. Tastings, cultural events, street artists and live music in the streets of the pretty lagoon town.
Picture caption: The back nine of the Argentario golf course meanders between ancient olive groves; the olive harvest at Frantoio Franci
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:
• One green fee per person at Argentario Golf Club
• Welcome drink
• Buffet breakfast
• One welcome dinner with Tasting Menu and Argentario wine selection included
• On the second day, a visit of your choice between:
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)
• Spa access with use of pools, gym, fitness courses, sauna, Kneipp circuit, Turkish bath, thalassotherapy
• Use of driving range
• Use of padel and tennis courts, jogging paths and small football pitch
• Garage Parking
• Wi-fi internet
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).
For further information and/or high res images, please contact: Helen Heady, Heady PR, on behalf of Argentario Golf Resort & Spa on T: +44 (0)20 8789 0900 or +44 (0)7966 491 509 or E: helen@headypr.co.uk
Notes for Editors
The luxurious Argentario Golf Resort & Spa, located in the Maremma region of Tuscany, is an ideal destination for those looking for relaxing holiday that combines golf, wellness and gastronomy. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Monte Argentario promontory, the resort is home to an eco-friendly golf course that meanders through cork-oak woods and olive groves, a comprehensive spa and wellness centre and the Dama Dama Restaurant which offers delicious, healthy local cuisine prepared from locally-sourced produce.
The five-star hotel is a triumph of design and comfort throughout; a majestic entrance, a dramatic central stairway and huge windows are in stunning contrast to the intense blue Tuscan sky and Mediterranean landscapes whilst the 73 rooms and suites offer sleek, modern interiors that are beautifully appointed, all with private decked terraces.
For families or small groups, Locker Cottage is an independent hideaway sleeping six that is located on the hillside 200m from the main building, with guests benefitting from the use of all the facilities at the resort.
Nearby Argentario Golf Residences is an exclusive collection of bespoke luxury villas boasting ground-breaking design and views of the lagoon, sea and golf course that blend seamlessly into the landscape. Owners benefit from a range of amenities and services offered by Argentario Golf Resort & Spa, including 24-hour security, property management and a rental programme.
Argentario is easily accessed from Rome Fiumicino Airport by car in just an hour and a half whilst Rome Ciampino and Pisa are just over two hours away.