Located in beautiful secluded Tuscan hill country unplugging was a piece of cake. We had fabulous weather with vineyards coming into bloom and new growth everywhere you looked. Supposedly we came to cook but spent wondrous hours consuming the results of our time in the kitchen along with delicious Tuscan wines. As for the actual cooking, the whirling dervish Chef Franco had us in small groups preparing multiple courses at one time with flour flying that at times seemed a bit chaotic but he never missed a trick and the results were simply amazing! The accommodations were authentically comfortable - not overly "glammed up" and the management team were thoroughly professional. Excursions from Torre del Tartufo included a tour of the historic La Ripa Villa and vineyard including a lovely lunch and wine tasting. Afterwards we spent time in the charming village of Arrezo which is home to the historic Busatti Linen Factory and some of the best Italian gelato, though Chef Franco's coffee gelato in his version of Tiramisu was one of crowning glories of the week's culinary excursion! I cannot conclude without a nod to Franco's life and kitchen partner, Paola. She is the other dervish in the kitchen that could not function without her. No one cleans up a nonending mess the way she does! Bravo to all!!!!