Summary

This week is just right for you if you are interested in high-quality olive oil and the olive harvest, but would also like to learn more about other Umbrian culinary specialties such as truffles or fine wines.

Umbria and Tuscany are famous for their cuisine and high-quality ingredients such as olive oil and truffles.
And of course for good wines!
Immerse yourself in this culture of enjoyment. Dolce Vita in Italy, feast, relax, enjoy with all your senses, see places off the beaten track. The number of participants is limited.

Book your vacation without risk!

In view of the special situation, we have adjusted our cancellation conditions for all bookings: If a stay cannot take place due to "force majeure" (e.g. COVID19 pandemic), e.g. if our guests are unable to travel due to travel restrictions, we will of course grant a free cancellation option up to 24 hours before the start of your stay. We will then refund your full payment.

The retreat at a glance

The most important facts in a nutshell:

Categories: Creative Retreats, Cooking, Nature Vacation, Hiking, Detox Retreats, Active Retreats
Date: 2025-10-18 - 2025-10-25
Language(s): Italian, German, English
Level: Beginner, Expert, Advanced
Place: Castel Rigone, Italy
Accommodation: Overnight stay included
Catering: No meals
Services: Participation in the olive harvest

Truffle hunt with truffle tasting

2 x wine tasting

Accommodation in a double room at Villa La Rogaia

2 x dinner at Villa La Rogaia

Accommodation

The price includes accommodation for 7 nights in the Agriturismo "Villa La Rogaia" in a double room

Villa La Rogaia is a family-run agriturismo (country house) surrounded by greenery in the hills above Lake Trasimeno in Umbria. Guests stay in small apartments with bathroom and kitchen. All accommodation has been furnished with great attention to detail and with sculptures and paintings by the artist Wolfgang Sandt. The house is surrounded by a spacious garden with a pool, and there are dreamy corners with sculptures and secluded little seating areas everywhere, from which the view sweeps over olive groves, vineyards, lavender fields and meadows.

Catering

A typical Umbrian dinner awaits you on two evenings, served with Mediterranean flair by our chef Mamma Ornella.

The truffle hunt is followed by a multi-course menu with truffle delicacies.

sequence

Saturday
Arrival: A typical Umbrian dinner awaits you, served with Mediterranean temperament by our chef Mamma Ornella

Sunday to Tuesday
During an introductory lecture and olive oil tasting on Sunday morning, you will learn everything you need to know about olive oil and the olive harvest.
Then it's time for the practical work. On two days you will take part in the olive harvest under supervision.

You will then accompany us to the oil mill and watch how the olives you have picked are processed into first-class organic olive oil, from weighing the olives to bottling the fresh, fragrant oil.

Wednesday
You will accompany a truffle hunter with his dog on a truffle hunt and help to carefully retrieve the precious truffles from the ground. Afterwards, you can indulge in a multi-course meal with truffle delicacies.

After the truffle meal, you will visit one of the last small, traditional producers of Vin Santo, the sweet wine typical of central Italy.
You will learn how this wine has been produced in the traditional way for hundreds of years, what gives it its very special, nuanced taste and what legends surround its name.

Thursday
You will accompany us to a small but excellent organic winegrower whose wines have won many awards and which you will of course also taste.
As a basis for the wine, there will also be a tasting of typical cured meats, the "Norcineria", named after the Umbrian town of Norcia, for which Umbria is famous.

Friday
The day is free for excursions in the area on the border between Umbria and Tuscany, which is rich in attractions.
Here you can visit many of the ancient Etruscan towns, such as Perugia, Cortona, Montepulciano, Città della Pieve and countless others, or simply enjoy the picturesque countryside.

In the evening, you will have a farewell olive-picking dinner with us. Of course, you will also receive your share of the olive oil you have picked.

Saturday
Departure

Arrival

Travel is not included.
We recommend arriving by car, we will be happy to provide you with directions.
You can also arrive by train, we will pick you up from Passignano sul Trasimeno station.

Villa La Rogaia , 06065 Castel Rigone, Umbria, Italy

Cancellation policy

Full refund up to 30 days before arrival.
After this, the booking is non-refundable.

If you have to cancel your vacation, we will immediately try to offer your course place/accommodation to other interested parties. If no replacement can be found, we will retain the deposit of 30% if you cancel up to the 30th day before the start of the course. From the 29th day onwards, we will have to charge you 80% for board and lodging if no replacement participant/tenant can be found. In the event of cancellation from the 29th day before the start of the course, the course leaders will retain 100% of the course fee. Nevertheless, we will endeavor to find a replacement participant/renter even in the event of last-minute cancellations. If we or you are able to find a replacement participant/renter, we will refund your deposit minus a processing fee of EUR 25. If we are only able to offer your course place/accommodation at a reduced last-minute price, the difference will be at your expense.

If a course instructor is unavailable, we will take the liberty of finding an adequate replacement. If, in exceptional cases, we are unable to do so, you will receive a refund of the course fee or the total price, depending on whether you would like to come to us without a course or not. If the minimum number of participants for courses is not reached, we reserve the right to cancel a course up to 4 weeks before the start. In this case, your course fee will of course be refunded immediately. However, we are unfortunately unable to cover any costs for flight bookings or similar that have already been made. Unused services (e.g. early departure) cannot be refunded.