If you like food with a story, this Tuscany outing hits the sweet spot. You’ll follow a guide through the estate forests around Montefiesole, while a specially trained truffle dog helps point you toward the tubers locals prize. Then you’ll sit down for a 3-course meal where truffles show up in multiple dishes, plus wine tasting that’s built into lunch.

What I love most is the truffle-hunting dog element. It turns the hunt into something you can actually understand, not just watch. The other big win is the truffle-accented lunch with wine—this is not a light snack, it’s a full meal designed around the harvest.

One thing to plan ahead: there’s no hotel pickup, and you may need to arrange your own transport from the train station area to the farm meeting point if you don’t have a car.

Key Highlights You’ll Care About

• Trained sniffing dog during the hunt so you’re not guessing where to look
• Estate truffle tradition explained by an English-speaking guide
• Three-course truffle lunch at an agriturismo with organic wine
• Wine tasting included with the meal, not as a separate add-on
• Small group, max 20 for a more personal pace in the forest

A Real Tuscan Day: Forest Hunt Meets a Truffle Lunch

This experience is set up for one goal: get you out into the Tuscan countryside to hunt for truffles, then bring you back for a proper meal that makes the hunt worth remembering. It’s based at Agriturismo Fattoria Lavacchio, with two distinct stops on the same property network: one for the hunt and one for lunch. You’re in the hills near Montefiesole, close enough to Florence to make a day trip feel realistic, but far enough to trade city noise for earthy forest air.

The pace is also one of the best parts. About 4 hours total, broken into two 2-hour blocks, with time outdoors first and food second. That structure matters because truffle hunting can be slow and focused. You’re not rushed through the woods, and you’re not sent away before lunch has room to feel satisfying.

Stop 1 at Fattoria Lavacchio BIO Winery: The Hunt in the Estate Forest

Your morning (or afternoon, depending on scheduling) starts at Fattoria Lavacchio AgriResort / BIO Winery area, where you’ll move into the forested estate for truffle hunting. This isn’t a generic “walk and learn” tour. You’re joining an organized hunt where the guide plays the lead role and the dog provides the practical, nose-to-ground help.

Here’s what to expect during this first stretch:

• You’ll learn the long-standing tradition of truffle harvesting in Tuscany in a way that fits what you’re doing right then.
• You’ll follow the guide’s instructions while the trained truffle dog helps detect where the hunt should focus.
• You may even meet Faye, the owner, if she’s available during the experience. That little detail adds a warm, human touch to the day rather than making it feel like a production.

Why this stop is valuable: truffle hunting is a skill and a rhythm. The dog helps you understand that truffles are not found by “magic”—there’s method, patience, and the right conditions. Even if you know nothing going in, you’ll leave with a sense of how locals approach the work, not just the end result.

Practical note: forest time usually means uneven ground. Wear shoes you’d be happy to get a little dusty. And keep your phone ready, but don’t let it steal your attention—watching the dog’s behavior is where most of the learning happens.

Stop 2 at Fattoria Lavacchio AgriResort: A 3-Course Truffle Lunch in Tuscany

After the hunt, you’ll head to the agriturismo lunch setting: Fattoria Lavacchio AgriResort. This is where the experience stops being about anticipation and becomes about eating the proof.

Lunch is built as a 3-course meal with fresh truffles, and wine tasting is part of the package. You’ll also have organic wine paired with what you’re served, plus three types of wine tasting during the lunch (all included).

What makes this stop work is the balance between food and context. A lot of food tours dump you into a meal with little connection to what you just did. Here, the hunt and the kitchen are tied together: truffles come from the same estate setting, and your meal feels like a direct result of your time outside.

What to watch for on the plate:

• Multiple courses that feature truffles in different ways, not just one garnish moment.
• A wine setup that’s meant to complement the meal, not to fill time between courses.

If you’re thinking about dietary needs: a vegetarian option is available—just tell the provider at booking time so they can plan. Don’t assume that means the meal is fully truffle-free or that it’s a simple swap; it’s best to treat it as a real menu adaptation and communicate early.

The Wine Part: What’s Included, and Why It Adds Value

Wine is included here in a structured way: 3 types of wine tasting during the lunch, plus the lunch itself is paired with wine from the estate. You’re not paying separately for tastings, and you’re also not stuck with a single pour while you hope the rest of the meal is great.

From a value perspective, this matters because wine tastings can easily become the hidden cost on other tours. With this format, you’re buying a full experience: hunting, guide time, a full lunch, and the wine component.

Also, wine tasting during lunch tends to flow better than doing tastings on their own. You’re eating while you taste, so you get real pairing feedback rather than just sipping for the sake of sipping.

Price, Timing, and What You’re Really Paying For

The price is $135.98 per person, and the experience typically gets booked about 112 days in advance on average. That price is not just for food. You’re paying for:

• A guided hunt that includes a trained truffle dog
• Expert instruction about harvesting tradition
• A 3-course lunch with fresh truffles
• Three wine tastings included in the meal
• A small group size, with a maximum of 20

So, how do you decide if it’s good value for you? Ask yourself whether you want the whole package: forest + dog + meal + wine, all in one block of time. If you just want dinner, you’d likely find cheaper meals elsewhere. If you’re genuinely curious about truffles and want the practical hunt component, the cost starts to make sense fast.

In other words: you’re not paying for a truffle dish alone. You’re paying for the day that leads to it.

Group Size and Tour Style: A Semi-Private Feel That Helps

This is a small group, semi-private tour, with a stated maximum of 20 travelers. In the forest, that group size keeps things manageable for a trained dog and for an active guide. You’re not just herded from photo spot to photo spot.

It also helps the lunch part. A smaller group generally means less waiting and a smoother meal flow. And it usually means more chances to ask questions while the hunt is happening—questions like what you’re seeing, how truffles are handled, and how the season affects the experience.

Where to Meet (and the Logistics People Forget)

The meeting point is at Fattoria Lavacchio AgriResort, Via di Montefiesole, 52, 50065 Pontassieve FI, Italy, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Two practical realities here:

1. Transportation isn’t included. There’s no hotel pickup or drop-off.
2. If you’re arriving by train and don’t have a car, you’ll need to plan how you’ll get from the station area to the farm and back.

This is the one snag that can turn a great day into an expensive scramble. I strongly suggest planning your ride ahead of time rather than assuming it’ll be easy last-minute. If you’re already good at independent transport in Italy, you’ll likely handle it fine.

What Makes This Experience Stand Out for Food Lovers

This isn’t only about eating truffles. It’s about understanding how truffles fit into the landscape and the work behind them.

The big standouts for me are:

• You participate in the hunt, not just observe it.
• The dog adds clarity. It makes the process easier to follow.
• The lunch is built around freshness, with truffles as a core ingredient across courses.

Add in the family-run feel you’ll likely notice on-site. When hosts treat the day as a real welcome (not just a schedule), it changes the mood of the whole experience.

Who This Tour Fits Best

This is a strong match if:

• You love Italian food and want more than a tasting menu.
• You’re curious about how local traditions connect to what you eat.
• You want a day in the hills that still feels close enough to Florence.

It’s also a good option for older kids and teens. The format is active and hands-on, and the dog makes it engaging in a way that’s easier for younger minds than a lecture-only tour.

If you’re not comfortable with walking on uneven ground or you hate any kind of “hands-on outdoors” activity, you might find parts of the hunt less enjoyable. Still, the dog and guide help reduce the learning curve, even if you’re new to this.

Should You Book This Truffle Hunt and Chianti Hills Lunch?

If you’re hoping for a fun, food-forward Tuscany day trip with real substance, I’d say yes—book it, especially if truffles are high on your wish list. The combination is the selling point: trained dog truffle detection, an expert guided explanation, and a full 3-course lunch with wine tasting included.

Where I’d pause is if your biggest challenge is getting there without a car. Since transportation isn’t included and the meeting point is in the Pontassieve / Montefiesole area, plan your ride early. Once that logistics piece is solved, the experience itself is the kind of Italy day that feels hard to replicate on your own.

If you want an authentic food day with a story you can taste, this is a great choice.

FAQ

How long is the truffle picking experience with a 3-course meal?

It runs about 4 hours total.

Where does the experience meet, and where does it end?

You meet at Fattoria Lavacchio AgriResort, Via di Montefiesole, 52, 50065 Pontassieve FI, Italy, and the tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is lunch included, and does it include wine?

Yes. You’ll have a 3-course lunch with fresh truffles, and wine tasting is included during the lunch (three types).

Is there a vegetarian option?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you need to request it when booking.

Does the tour include truffle dogs?

Yes. You join a truffle hunt with specially trained truffle dogs.

Is transportation from your hotel included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and transportation to and from the attractions is also not included.