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 Piedmonte, 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

• Our cookery courses vacations are 8 days from Saturday to Saturday and include 7 nights accommodation, all meals and beverages, escorted excursions and airport transfers. Alternatively, we offer a 5 day, 4 night vacation, also fully inclusive.
• 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

• 7 nights luxury accommodationwith chambermaid service each morning, except Sundays.
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, light refreshments, wines, bottled water, soft drinks, aperitivi, digestivi for the 8 day course.
• 4 x 3.5 hour hands-on cookery lessons.
• 1 x 3.5 hour Italian bread, pizza and focaccia making lesson.
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• All excursions detailed in the itinerary. Subject to change and to weather conditions.
• Morning truffle hunt with our experienced guide and hounds.
• Lunch and wines at a local restaurant.
• Diploma of completion of the Montalero 8 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 courses. 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. Drinks and apperitivi are offered prior to dinner. Typically, dinner will include antipasti, pasta or risotto, meat or fish course, followed by desserts typical of the region and local cheeses.
• On one evening, guests will be taken to a local trattoria or osteria serving Monferrato specialities. Some examples of our favourite and most traditional local restaurants can be seen at: http://www.ristorantedubini.it, www.osterialeramo.com and http://www.ristoranteitalia.it/eng/
• On the Sunday following arrival, lunch will be at Mongetto Dre Caste in Vignale Monferrato, following a wine tasting at Gaudio Wines.
• 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.
• Italian Cookery Courses uses the highest quality ingredients for all food and wine experiences.
• We source most of our ingredients from local producers who share our values in using only sustainable methods of production and animal care.
• 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.
• Visit to Bar C’a Nostra in Olivola village for coffee and digestivo.
• 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 lesson – 9.00am until 12.30pm.
• Lunch of the day’s course theme.
• Afternoon break, sunbathe, swim, relax.
• Wine tasting at Vicara Rossignano
• Visit to local salami and lardo producer.
• Return to Castello for aperitivi and dinner.

Tuesday

• Leisurely breakfast
• Cookery lesson – 9.00am until 12.30pm.
• 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.
• Return to Castello for Truffle and Porcini theme dinner and the sommelier led Nebbiolo wine tasting, including the story of Monferrato Nebbiolo.

Wednesday

• Yoga session with Giulia Marcelli
• Leisurely breakfast.
• Italian bread and focaccia making lesson – 09.00m until 12.30pm.
• Lunch of the day’s course theme.
• Afternoon Truffle Hunt in the hills behind the Castello.
• Visit to restaurant Corona Reale in Moncalvo

Thursday

• Leisurely breakfast.
• Cookery lesson – 9.00am until 12.30pm.
• Lunch of the day’s course theme.
• Return to Castello for aperitivi and dinner.

Friday

• Morning Truffle hunt in the hills behind the Castello.
• Leisurely breakfast.
• Cookery lesson – 9.00am until 12.30pm.
• Lunch of the day’s course theme.Wine class over lunch with a local wine expert.
• Afternoon break, sunbathe, swim, relax.
• Visit to Mazzetti Grappa Distillery.
• Return to Castello for Truffle and Porcini theme dinner.

Saturday

• Leisurely breakfast.
• Depending on flight timings, sunbathe, swim, relax, prior to departure by private transfer.

Subject to changes according to season, weather and availability.