Come and stay with us

We’re Christopher and Kaarina Watkins and if you share our passion for Italian food, wine and culture, then we’d like to invite you to enjoy our Italian Food and Wine Experience in one of the country’s undiscovered regions – Monferrato. Monferrato’s part of Piemonte, which is now being called the new Tuscany for lovers of food and wine. So, while it’s not as well-known as other parts of north-west Italy, we think its culinary heritage is just as rich. We discovered and fell in love with Monferrato more than 25 years ago and, after countless visits here, it’s where we now live in a romantic medieval castle – Castello di Montalero. And we hope you’ll join us here as our guest on one of our Italian Food and Wine Experiences.

Accommodation and Facilities

• 5 days from Sunday to Thursday, including 4 nights accommodation, all meals and beverages, escorted excursions and airport transfers. 
• 6 luxury double rooms with en suite bathrooms, totalling approx 45m2 (500 sq.ft.). Each room has either a double or two single beds, sofa with side tables, reading lamps in the room and at each bedside. Bedrooms each have a mini-fridge, and fresh tea and coffee making facilities.
• All rooms are heated and fitted with independent air conditioner units, with remote control to  adjust temperature and timing.
• Bathrooms, are fitted with large shower cubicles, twin wash basins, WC, bidet, heated towel rail and comfortable chairs.
• Chambermaid service each morning, refreshing bedrooms and bathrooms, excluding Sundays.
• 14m x 6.5m south-facing pool with ample sun loungers, steamer chairs and sun parasols on the adjoining terraces. 
• Large south facing first floor terrace where most meals are taken in season. A traditional private dining room with a single large dining table is used for late autumn or early spring evenings, or if guests prefer, to eat inside at any time during the year.
• Traditional drawing room with drinks tray where guests may relax, chat or read at any time during their stay.​
• WiFi in all rooms.​​​

Single Travellers

Our course itineraries and accommodation are well suited to singles travellers, who are particularly welcome at our courses.

Cook with best ingredients

This may be a 1,000-year-old castle, but our specially designed kitchens are modern and fully equipped, with utensils and food prep space at every work station. Hobs, ovens and sinks are shared. We use the highest quality seasonal ingredients, many of which you probably won’t have tasted before you and all part of the experience. Most come from local producers who share our values when it comes to sustainable methods of production and animal care.

What’s Included

• 4 nights luxury accommodation with chambermaid service each morning, except Sundays.
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, light refreshments, wines, bottled water, soft drinks, aperitivi, digestivi for the 5 day course.
• 2 x 3.5 hour hands-on cookery lessons.
• 1 x 3.5 hour Italian bread, pizza and focaccia making lesson.
• Optional early morning Yoga session.
• All excursions detailed in the itinerary. Subject to change and to weather conditions.​
• Lunch and wines at a local restaurant.
• Diploma of completion of the Montalero 5​ day Italian Cookery Course.
• Castello di Montalero apron, corkscrew, recipes notebook and pen.
• Printed booklet of recipes learnt during the course.
• Private shared transfers from and return to Malpensa, Linate or Turin International airports are included in all of our tours at recommended pick-up and departure times.
• All local taxes.​​

Meals

• Breakfast each morning will typically include: brioche, fresh bread, home made and locally produced organic honey, jams and marmalades, local salamis and hams, local cheeses, cereals and muesli, fresh fruit, juices, herbal and regular teas, Italian, American or decaffeinated coffees.
• Lunches are included and will be largely dependant on the selected itinerary. For example, on cookery courses, we prepare lunches during the morning classes. A typical lunch might include fresh pasta or risotto, salads, vegetables etc. For walking tours, the itinerary can be planned to include lunch at a local osteria or, a packed lunch and wine can be provided and taken with the accompanying minibus. 
• Dinners are included and will be served at the house most evenings. Dinners include several courses of locally sourced ingredients. Typically, dinner will include antipasti, pasta or risotto, meat or fish course, followed by desserts typical of the region and local cheeses. Drinks and apperitivi are offered prior to dinner.
• On the Sunday, guests will be taken to a local trattoria or osteria serving Monferrato specialities. ​
• All wine, bottled water, soft drinks, aperitivi, digestivi and light refreshments throughout the vacation are included. 
• Where available, organic produce is used in all dishes prepared at the house.
• Food allergies, vegetarian and other dietary needs can be catered for. Please advise details with your booking

What’s not included

• Flights.
• Travel insurance. It is recommended that you take out adequate travel insurance.
• Travel outside of the course itinerary.​

Discover all this for yourself

We may not turn you into a Michelin star chef, but we promise you’ll leave us not just knowing how to cook the ‘Monferrato way’ but with many of fantastic memories and plenty of new friends.

Saturday

• Transfer from Malpensa International Airport
• Welcome drinks at Castello di Montalero
• Free-time to relax, sunbathe, swim, walk…..
• Aperitivi followed by dinner.

Sunday

• Leisurely breakfast.
• Lunch at Mongetto Dre Caste restaurant in Vignale Monferrato, followed by visit to the Mongetto wine cantina and infernot.
• Return to Castello to capture the last rays of the Italian sun by the pool, followed by a light, candle lit dinner on the terrace.

Monday

• Leisurely breakfast
• Cookery class – 9.00am until 13.00pm.
• Lunch of the day’s course theme.
• Afternoon break, sunbathe, swim, relax.
• Wine tasting at Vicara Rossignano
• Return to Castello for aperitivi and dinner.

Tuesday

• Leisurely breakfast
• Cookery class – 9.00am until 13.00pm.
• Lunch of the day’s course theme.
• Afternoon break, sunbathe, swim, relax.
• Wine tasting visit to Cantina Bava in Cocconato.
• Visit to local goat cheese producer, Casa Costa.
• Return to Castello for sommelier dinner and Nebbiolo wine tasting, including the story of Monferrato Nebbiolo.

Wednesday

• Leisurely breakfast.
• Early morning Yoga session – Optional
• Italian bread, focaccia and pizza making class – 09.30am until 13.00pm.
• Pizza lunch of the day’s course theme.
• Depending on flight timings; sunbathe, swim, relax, prior to departure by private transfer. (recommended late afternoon or early evening departure)

Subject to changes according to season, weather and availability.