TOUR IN A BEE FARM!
Get in direct contact with the bees, the landscape, the producers and discover the techniques of honey extraction with a final taste of local honeys.

Bringing people directly to a bee-farm has always been one of my dreams because the production of honey is a simple, but unique, experience: the beekeeper only collects an already perfectly prepared natural product. Therefore, a visit to a bee-farm is a totally exhaustive and rewarding experience. Everything is there, under your eyes: the flowers from which bees collect pollen and nectar, the hives where bees bring their treasure back, the work of the beekeeper in the apiary and, finally, the extraction of honey in the laboratory, a magic moment. During the visit, we will enjoy the amazing Tuscan landscape and you will immediately realize that the nature surrounding you is not the contour, but the very essence of beekeeping. 

I choose farms on the basis of crucial criteria: they are small, genuine, artisanal, family-run. Moreover, they are all organic farms, they work respecting bees and the environment and, last but not least, owners are women, a rarity in the world of beekeeping. 

Once we’ll get to the farm, we will have the opportunity to introduce each other, to visit the wonderful location and to meet the beekeeper, who will converse with us about the story of the farm, while walking throughout the nature. After that, we will sit down to embark in a magic journey: the one through our senses and the sensory analysis techniques. After a smattering of theory, we will move on to the honey tasting in which we will put in practice the theoretical insights just assimilated. Then, we will talk about pairing possibilities while having a delicious lunch with local products: honey, wine, olive oil, cheese. This convivial moment will allow us to further immerse ourselves in the nature surrounding us.

After lunch, we will dress up with proper protections to open the hive where we will discover its magic secrets: honey, pollen, wax, the worker-bees and the drones. Moreover, we will enter the laboratory where the beekeeper extracts the honey from the honeycombs. Depending on the season, we may be able to extract your own jar from the honeycombs as well!

PROGRAM

10 – 10,30 Arrival and introduction of participants
10,30 – 11 Visit to the bee-farm
11 – 13 Introduction to sensory analysis and honey tasting
13 – 14,30 Lunch with cheese, honey and local wine
15 – 16 Let’s go to the apiary to meet the bees!
16 – 17 Visit to the laboratory

INFO

Farm: Azienda Agricola Apicorno, Loc. La Piazza, Castellina in Chianti
Cost: 150 euro per person. Include: visit to the bee-farm, lunch, honey tasting, visit to the apiary and the laboratory.
On sale packages for 4+ people and family.
Duration: 7 hours