LUXURY GASTRO ITALIAN COOKERY COURSES WITH PASSION IN PIEMONTE
AN AUTHENTIC ITALIAN COOKERY EXPERIENCE
We call our Italian cookery courses, experiences, because that’s exactly what they are, a chance for you to improve your Italian cooking skills guided by fantastic chefs. Visit vibrant local markets where you can choose from some of the world’s best ingredients for your dishes, many of which you probably won’t ever have smelt or tasted before. Discover delicious new wines – Monferrato’s famous for wines like Barolo and Gavi, but there many others that are ‘secrets’ of the region. Get to meet the producers of some of the most fabulous produce around and taste what they have to offer. Enjoy candle-lit dinners in good company on our sun-soaked terrace at the end of the day.
“PIEMONTE IS THE SECRET DESTINATION YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT”
(Lee Marshall – Conde Nast ‘Traveller’ magazine)
8, 5 & 3 DAY ITALIAN COOKERY EXPERIENCES
The Montalero 8 Day
Italian Cookery Course
8 day, 7 night cooking courses are €3,950 per person, single occupancy, excluding flights. All local taxes are included.
7 nights luxury accommodation with chambermaid service each morning, except Sundays.
The Montalero 5 Day
Italian Cookery Course
5 day, 4 night cooking courses are €2,250 per person, single occupancy, excluding flights. All local taxes are included.
4 nights luxury accommodation with chambermaid service each morning, except Sundays.
Italian Bliss Unveiled
A dream vacation that transcends expectations. This 5 day cookery class in a medieval castle nestled in the picturesque Italian countryside sounded too good to be true, but Castello di Montalero was a dream!
(Suzi H, Nov 2023)
Exceptional
I had the loveliest trip. The Castello and surrounding area were beyond beautiful. The holiday is a perfect balance between cookery class and trips to local places of interest.
(Carol G, Sep 2023)
Just Magical
Our time at Montalero was just so special it’s hard to put in words. From the moment I first emailed Chris to the moment we were dropped off, everything was just top notch. We felt cared for and pampered.
(Suz730, Sep 2023)
“ITALIANS DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR ‘SECRET TUSCANY”
(Kate Wickers – Daily Telegraph)
Perfect for Italian food fans
If you love Italy and Italian food, if you want a ‘behind the scenes look’ at this wonderful country… and if you’re searching for a fun, relaxing, fabulous holiday in the sun, then our food and wine experiences are for you.
Learn to cook the Monferrato way
We want you to really experience cooking the Italian way, so you’ll be guided by highly experienced chefs who specialise in Monferrato cuisine and who will teach you to cook fantastic regional dishes like these.
Beautiful accommodation
Cookery vacation accommodation at the historic Castello di Montalero. Come and stay with us for a unique Italian vacation in our beautiful grounds with sumptuous, yet relaxed rooms throughout and a very large pool to relax by.
ITALIAN COOKERY COURSES MEMORIES THAT LAST A LIFETIME
“PIEMONTE – THE HIDDEN DIAMOND OF ITALIAN CUISINE”
(Kaarina Watkins)
CASTELLO DI MONTALERO
During your vacation, you will stay at the historic Castello di Montalero, in the heart of the Monferrato region in Piemonte. Castello di Montalero is a beautiful building with much history going back to the 11th century, although the present building was constructed on the old castle foundations around 1700.
The castello was originally built for the Marquis di Casale, Teodore II Paleologo in 1188 whose family ruled the fiefdom of, what was then Mons Laurus, becoming Montalerius and nowadays Montalero, until 1634. Through marriage, the castello and its estate passed through the Mazzetti family who, in 1656, successfully defended the castello from an attack by troops of the Duke of Modena, in the pay of the French, during many local feuds and minor wars of that period.
“PIEDMONT: THE ‘NEW TUSCANY’ FOR LOVERS OF FOOD AND WINE”
(Ellen Connolly – Traveller.com.au)
Italian Location
Our Chefs
Meet Our Chefs!
Beppe prepares ‘Big’ traditional Piemontese flavours, whereas Marco is more adventurous in his approach, producing some amazing, more delicate combinations. Valeria is a specialist vegetarian chef with an extensive repertoire of classic and newly introduced vegetarian recipes. Carla is a local pastry, bread and pizza specialist chef with amazing pizza recipes!
Latest News
Truffle Hunting
September- November 2025
We will hold an optional morning truffle hunt during the late September, October and November courses, included in the course itinerary. Led by our experienced truffle hunter, Pierangelo with his faithful hound, you will explore the beautiful nearby ancient woods and meadows for the elusive white truffle. And remember – Finders Keepers!
During this period, many of our dishes, used in the cookery lessons and in the menus, will include fresh white truffles and porcini mushrooms. Dishes can be served excluding either ingredients, if preferred.
