Instructions for a Perfect Italian Dinner

You're in Italy, San Gimignano is done for the day, and you're ready to go out for a real Italian dinner. Here's the local custom you need to know first, and three steps for a perfect Italian dinner.

You get dressed and head to the restaurant, but it's almost empty. That's normal: in Italy, before dinner, people do a wine tasting first. Italians eat and drink slowly, they enjoy the table, and they're never in a rush.

Step 1

Start with a wine tasting at Tenuta Torciano

Before dinner, do a wine tasting at Tenuta Torciano Winery. You can eat cheese, crackers and sausages alongside a selection of wines that includes Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Super Tuscan. You'll also learn how to match each food to the right wine.

Step 2

Put the pairings to work at dinner

Once you're at the restaurant, use what you learned at the tasting. Match fish with Vernaccia di San Gimignano, pair Red di Montalcino with the Fiorentina steak, and discover the real taste of Italian food and wine.

Step 3

Learn to cook the dishes yourself

After the food and wine, it's time to learn to cook a typical Italian dish. Join a cooking class at Torciano Winery, where you can learn how to make lasagna and other dishes to bring home with you.