An American couple who swapped the US for a hill town in Tuscany are opening up their version of Italy to small groups of guests — and the 2027 dates are now on the calendar.
Sandy and Phil Ferretti have lived in Montepulciano for close to ten years, and in that time they've accumulated the kind of local contacts most visitors can only dream about: winemakers, cheesemakers, truffle hunters, boat captains and restaurateurs. They've turned that network into a pair of fully hosted retreats — Total Tuscany and Amazing Amalfi — capped at just 10–12 guests each. The couple personally hosts every trip, and their approach has caught attention before, including a feature on CBS Sunday Morning.
The Tuscany week is based at a restored farmhouse with a pool and on-site dining, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Days revolve around private tastings with producers the couple knows personally, hands-on cooking sessions, truffle hunting in the hills, and visits to cheese and olive oil farms. Excursions cover the classics — Cortona, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, and the rolling Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana — but the pitch is less about the sights and more about meeting the people behind them. Each evening ends with a group aperitivo before a multi-course dinner with local wine.
The Amalfi version swaps rolling hills for sea views. Guests stay in a boutique B&B above Positano, also with a pool and restaurant, and spend the week on a private boat day to Capri with stops at hidden coves and grottos, visits to family-run lemon groves, and guided time in Positano, Amalfi and Ravello.
For 2027, Total Tuscany runs Wednesday to Wednesday over seven nights, with departures in May, July, August, September and October. Two editions stand out: the July departure is an Andrea Bocelli Signature Edition, September is timed to the grape harvest, and October lines up with the olive harvest. Amazing Amalfi runs Saturday to Saturday, with two departures — late April into early May, and mid-September.
Both retreats are effectively all-inclusive on the ground: accommodation in a private suite, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners with wine, nightly aperitivi, all excursions and tastings, cooking experiences, private transport throughout, and the couple's concierge support from arrival to departure. What's not covered is airfare, airport transfers (available on request), travel insurance and personal spending.
Why it matters: if you've done Italy's big-hitters on your own and want a deeper, less scripted experience — the kind where you're eating at a producer's table rather than queuing at a restaurant door — a hosted trip like this removes the planning burden entirely. It suits travellers who value intimacy and access over independence, and who'd rather pay for one curated week than juggle a dozen bookings. Worth noting it's a small operation; with a dozen spots per date, the standout editions like the harvest weeks will likely fill first.
