We had a truly first-class experience on this organic vineyard tour just outside Siena. Our guide, Maya , was absolutely fantastic — incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging throughout. The tour began with a fascinating insight into how organic olive oil is produced, with a focus on how true extra virgin olive oil is made and how best to use it in cooking. From there, we moved to the heart of the vineyard, learning about the growing and pruning of the vines, and how their position on the hillside makes best use of the local climate and sunlight. Maya explained the three pillars of biodiversity — soil, insects, and animals — and how they contribute to sustainable, organic wine production. We then visited the cellar to see the winemaking process up close: from grape crushing to fermentation in stainless steel, and the use of French oak barrels for red wines. She expertly explained how the size and charring of the barrels influences both oxidation and flavour development.