In Montalcino, Locanda Demetra is a delightful agri-restaurant, farm and cooking school where you can savor the best traditional dishes among luxuriant vegetable gardens, breathtaking views and rustic atmospheres.

Just outside the old city, along the road that climbs towards Grosseto, you can see a small fountain and a sign indicating the locality of Benducce. Here, inside an ancient farm surrounded by greenery, is located Locanda Demetra.

Born from the dream of a group of friends passionate about cooking and sustainable agriculture, the structure has grown over the years becoming today a large family that shares the same love for quality and good food.

Tuscany is not only a dream for foreigners: it is above all for Italians.

(Locanda Demetra)

The old farm that houses the various activities of the Locanda, from the cooking school to the farm restaurant, has been entirely recovered by the owners who have transformed it into a welcoming paradise with an enchanting rustic flavour.

Surrounded by luxuriant vegetable gardens, olive groves and crops from which the excellent raw materials used in the kitchen come from, the farmhouse offers an internal room dedicated to the cooking school and a beautiful pergola to be enjoyed throughout the summer.

The menu, prepared every day on the basis of the first fruits given by the garden, is a delicious journey to discover the best Tuscan tradition. You can start with a chopping board made up of fragrant focaccia, panzanella (typical cold recipe made of fresh vegetables and bread), cheeses and cured meats, accompanied by a very fragrant compote of citrus fruits and quince jelly cubes.

We continue with a choice of typical first and second courses, from homemade pasta with Cinta Senese ragù to grilled Florentine, from the fabulous parmigiana with aubergines from the garden to vegan and vegetarian alternatives. The tasting menu also includes a choice of desserts, including excellent puddings enriched with homemade jams.

The choice of wines is also original, selected from small niche producers similar to the philosophy of the farm, such as Sogno Demetra, a pure Sangiovese.

The cooking school, open all year round, offers the opportunity to have different experiences, from farming to thematic courses dedicated to pasta, sauces and cooking. The lessons last about 3 hours and can be customized according to the needs of the group. The products of the farm can also be purchased in the online shop to take away a little authentic Tuscan magic and relive it on your tables or, perhaps, give it to those you love most.

The Secret

The labels on the bottles of Sogno Demetra, a 100% Sangiovese selected as the Locanda’s iconic wine, were created by the mother of one of the partners, an artist and painter. The image depicts the face of a woman, the Greek goddess Demeter, protector of cultivated land and auspicious symbol.

Useful Info

Locanda Demetra
Podere Buca, 221
53024 Montalcino, Siena
Tel. +39 351 9860527

Tasting menu: 40 — 50 euro

For info about the cooking school: info@montalcinocookingschool.com