This original week long Rome cooking tour by In Italy Tours is located in the Castelli Romani, about 30 minutes from central Rome.

It has been designed to allow the visitor to meet local people, dine with them, cook with them and see close up their daily life in the famous Roman Hills, not least to explore local food in the company of celebrated chef Anna Dente.

Your base is Lanuvio and the tour includes visits to such wonderful places as Frascati, San Cesareo, Nemi, Genzano di Roma and Castel Gandolfo.

Below is a brief synopsis of the tour highlighting the main elements of each day.

View full food tour itinerary in detail and do check out the prices and availablity directly with In Italy Tours.

Following the Wine Route of the Tortona Hills, or Strada del Vino dei Colli Tortonesi, is the perfect way to discover not just the Doc Colli Tortonesi wines of this zone between Tortona and Voghera but fabulous typical products such as mushrooms, strawberries, cheese, salami and truffles. In fact, it is the only part of Piemonte which produces three types of truffles: white, black and 'summer' or Tuber Aestivum Vittadini.

The wine route was established in the early 1970's to take in the hamlets of Tortona, Viguzzolo, Castellar Guidobono, Volpedo, Volpeglino, Berzano di Tortona, Pozzol Groppo, Monleale, Monperone, Casasco, Brigano Frascata, Sarezzano, Cerreto Grue, Spineto Scrivia, Montemarzino, Avolasca, Montegioco, Carbonara Scrivia, Costa Vescovato, Paterna, Villaromagnano, S. Agata Fossili, Villalvernia, Cassano Spinola, Gavazzana, Castellania, Carezzano, Stazzano, Sardigliano and Casalnoceto.

By all accounts Aglianico del Vulture is a fairly decent wine.

It is produced in the zone of Monte Vulture on the slopes of a very extinct volcano. This gives it a particular personality.

The area comprises 5000 hectares and 15 comuni from Venosa, Atella and Banzi to Genzano di Lucania, Melfi and Rionero in Vulture.

The Aglianico vine was introduced into the region by the Greeks around the VI century BC.

Its name is a corruption of Ellenico and was used by the Romans to enhance one of their own favorite wines, the Falerno.

Little did we know that 40% of the Aglianico production is sold outside of the region and is used to improve many different wines, including Chianti.

Think of that next time you are in Montepulciano.

Agriturismo Colognole is located close to the town of Rufina and is a working wine estate which has been owned by the Conti Spalletti family for over a century.

Just 30km from Florence and in the heart of the Chianti Rufina DOCG territory, it offers wonderfully authentic accommodation for anyone wanting a true Chianti wine experience.

In fact, the initial restructuring of the out-houses and farm residences on the estate took place a decade before the agriturismo movement took off in Tuscany and in some way acted as a template for so many wine estates which followed.

All the buildings boast panoramic views of the Valdisieve and guests can stay in either Bed and Breakfast, Apartments or Villa formula.

The Bed and Breakfast accommodation is situated in the old wine vat cellar, or Maggetto, where all of the Fattoria Spalletti sharecroppers would bring their grapes from 1950-1970, as well as the farmers of the nearby Spalletti 'Casa Colonica'.

It has been restructured into 4 rooms each with 2 beds and private bathrooms with showers.

The restaurant is just a few metres away, as it is the swimming pool.

Agriturismo I Mori Gelsi is charming farmhouse accomodation located in the green heart of Umbria, less than a mile from Torgiano one of the “Borghi Più Bella d'Italia'.

It is situated amidst the vines of the estate of Azienda Vinicola Fattoria Spinola, which produces Grechetto, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Sangiovese Colli Martini wines.

The view from the house is of the vineyards of Fattoria Spinola and in the distance is Torgiano.

The name Spinola refers to last of the Spinola Cardinals who was sent to Perugia by the Pope in 1818.

He bought the 70 acres of land which are still cultivated still today, before leaving it to the uncle of the current owner Fiorbellina's grandfather.

The main building of the fattoria was originally a 13th convent while a private chapel still exists and is consecrated.

Read more about the fascinating history of the Spinola family which can be traced back to the First Crusade a thousand years ago.

Today, Fiorebellina and her family have opened their home to anyone seeking a peaceful and relaxing getaway.

As well as the wine estate, you will find a private garden, swimming pool, wonderful unspoilt country setting panoramic view and WiFi throughout.