Guestbook
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Cecil Reyes Rosemead, Ca. March 2010 For those that want to enjoy the countryside and wine region of Tuscany this is a wonderful experience you must see. You can create your own to see list or Angela would be happy to suggest a tour for your party. On our 10th anniversary we toured the two medieval towns of San Gimignano and Siena. Lovely and quaint much history to take in. The views are truly breathtaking and you will be using your camera to the full. The local food and wine is beyond compare! Angela's knowledge of the region was good she knew the great places for food and wine. We feel the price for the all day tour was fair and it was private. We never felt rushed. We would do it again! Cecil and Xochilt Sue Mann April 2010 Hi Angela! great to hear from you. Sorry I hadn't gotten back to you before. Our trip was wonderful! And a great ending with your tour. I'd be happy to write a review.Angela's tour was such a wonderful addition to our week in Italy. She took us through the countryside through towns we would not have visited any other way. The intimate nature of her tour allows for all kinds of conversations. Her english is superb, but she is all italian! The vineyards we visited were breath taking, even off season. And the wine. ahh the wine. Simply Fabulous! This is an educational, fun way to spend a day. Sue John Petrella & Family, Plymouth MA, USA April 2010 Ciao Angela My family and I want to thank you for a wonderful experience during your Montalcino wine tour. Your choice of vineyards gave us a deep understanding of how a small family operation like Il Cocco can through lots of hard work produce delicious wines contrasted with the equally elegant wines produced at the much larger Fanti vineyard. The lunch stop at the "castle" was one of the best meals we had during our 2 week visit to Tuscany, great choice. I was impressed with not only your extensive knowledge of the local wines but also with your knowledge of the history and geography of all of Tuscany. I learned so much on the tour. It has been fun impressing my friends with my new knowledge of Tuscan wines and wine making. Thanks so much. I will be sure to contact you prior to our next visit to do it again!! Ginger and Mike, May 2010 Dear Angie, We wanted to thank you for such a wonderful time while we were in Tuscany. We were somewhat reluctant to book a personal tour over the internet with someone we had never met/or spoken to. When we scheduled our full day tour of the Chianti region, and our half day tour of Sienna, we could not have asked for a more informed or personable guide. We were especially impressed with the way you pointed out and gave us the history of the sights we had expressed an interest in over the internet- tailoring the tours to our needs. The winery was wonderful, as were the views and visit to San Gimignano. We also loved the food at the quaint Tuscany restaurant. This was somewhat of a splurge for us, but we can't imagine what we may have missed had we ventured out on our own in a car. It was so much more enjoyable having someone pick us us at our hotel who was knowlegable of the area and chauffer us to the destinations of our choosing. This was money well spent. Hope things are going well for you. We would definitely recommend you to anyone desiring a tour of the area. Fell free to share our email in the event someone would like to contact us. Sincerely, ginger steadman Roger & Sonya Steeby, Queensland, Australia, May 2010 Angela, If you like small, personalized guided tours, this one is for you. We had the pleasure of having Angela Saltafuori as our tour guide in Tuscany for two days in May 2010. The first daywe visited three wineries in the Chianti region. Angela's thorough knowledge of wine along with the personal attention we received made us feel special. The lunch and selection of wines Angela had arranged for us was superb. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we ask Angela if she would be available for a second day to take us to Siena and San Gimignano. After spending two days with Angela, not only did we learn so much about the wine, food and culture of Tuscany, but we felt we had made a friend in Italy. We hope to return to Tuscany again next year and, if so, we would love to have Angela as our guide again. Roger & Sonya Steeby, Queensland, Australia, May 2010 Angela, Now that we're back in Australia, we'd just like to thank you so much for the wonderful twodays we spent with you during our stay in Chianti. It was really a special experience for us. The rest of our trip went well. We had two great meals at Badia a Coltibuono. Thanks to your suggestion, we had a great Sunday afternoon at the wine festival in Castellina. We also drove down to Montalcino and sampled the Brunello wine. We spent the last two days in Milano shopping and enjoying some of the local food. I'm glad I didn't have to drive in that city! We will certainly recommend your service to any of our friends who may be coming to Tuscany. We hope to return to Tuscany and would love to take another tour with you. Again thanks so much and all the best, John & Tracey Serrano - May 2010 On behalf of Tracey and myself, I'd like to thank you for being our guide in the wine country of Tuscany. We had a wonderful time. Thanks again, |
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Lisa & Paul Koches Washington DC - March 2009 In 2009, our daughter was studying in Florence and we had the opportunity to visit the beautiful Tuscan area for two weeks. We found Angela through the Internet and took a chance on her services. What a lucky find for us!! We used Angela for a group tour to the Chianti wineries and for a private day trip to Siena. In Chianti, we visited two wineries and had a delicious lunch in a small cafe in a nearby town. The visits were perfectly orchestrated and gave us fantastic exposure to the vineyards, wine tasting and local culture. It was clear the vineyard owners were fond of Angie and went out of their way to give the best to her clients. Angela provided us with historical facts and "inside" knowledge of the region. So pleasant, eager to answer our questions (no matter how many we asked!) and always ready to direct us to the best photo spot, gelataria or store. On our day trip to Siena, Angela gave us a fantastic walking tour of the city. Since she has lived in both Florence and Siena, her knowledge is expansive. On our way back, we stopped at the most charming farm/vineyard in San Gimignano for lunch. It truly was a perfect day especially since we were not responsible for driving, parking and setting up tours. Although the cost may seem pricey for a private tour, it was well worth it. We had a group of seven people and using Angela allowed us to customize our day. We were equally as impressed when we went on a shared tour in Chianti. It was quite fun to meet other travelers and share experiences. Angela made us all feel comfortable and welcome. We highly recommend Angela for touring Tuscany. Whether you are going to a vineyard or a city, you will get excellent service with a personal touch. We plan on returning to this region again soon and will be sure to use Angela for our touring needs. We miss her beautiful Italian and warm smile!! Feel free to contact us should you have any questions. Lisa & Paul Koches Cindy L. Jacques Springfield, Massachusetts, USA – March 2009 A highlight of my first visit to Italy in March 2009 was a day trip to Chianti Classico vineyards with Angie. It was a little scary to pick someone unreferenced from the Internet, but the information and guest comments on her website drew me to contact her, and once we e-mailed each other I was convinced I made the right decision. I am so glad I found her! Despite the cold and rain, she, the vineyard hosts and the friendly family group with whom we shared our tour made the day a warm one. She picked us up at the designated time that morning in front of the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze. The scenic routes through the countryside, Angie's knowledge of the area, the wine- and olive-tasting tours at two vineyards and our stop to walk through a medieval village were amazing (I took 100s of photos that day). Equally as satisfying was the relaxed multi-course lunch served family style with, of course, Chianti Classico, that we had in a cozy little family-run ristorante. She dropped us off back at the library that evening where we bid our new friends caio. Looking back, having a seasoned, knowledgeable guide who took care of all the details in advance, and did all the driving, was well worth every Euro spent. The bottles of Chianti I brought home with me have long been gone, but I now search wine shops for the Chianti Classico with a black rooster on the bottle. With every sip, I can relive a little of that day. It was an experience I will never forget and very much hope to repeat as soon as possible in the future. Angie: Mille grazie per la splendida esperienza! Cindy L. Jacques Dorothy- Denver- April 09 Buongiorno, Angie, I always enjoy my trips to Italy and even more so because it is fabulous to see your friendly, familiar face each time I return! I am so pleased that one of my friends and I met Angela several years ago when we took your private Chianti tour. Now, as Angela well knows, I have traveled with her several times on tours - both private and shared. If I haven't mentioned how much fun our group of four ladies had in September 2008 when we toured both Chianti and Brunello country with Angela, I have been remiss! We had a fabulous time and loved the wine tasting, her selection of unique wineries, the scenic stops - charming Montefiorale and lovely Sant' Antimo, and, of course, her company! It is great to see that she has started conducting shared tours in the past couple of years. Last spring, when traveling by myself, it worked out perfectly that I was able to join her shared tour. It made for a fun day of wine tasting and meeting new people. I am looking forward to my visit in May and to the private Chianti tour that she is putting together for my traveling companions and me. We're excited about visiting wineries and also having an opportunity to see some lovely gardens and beautiful roses that seem to thrive in Chianti this time of the year. See you soon! Ciao, Dorothy Isabel Murguia and Ken - trip to Montalcino April 2009 Ken and I choose Italy for our honeymoon and can definitely say that one of the best parts of the trip was the Tuscany / Montalcino Wine tour that Angela offered us. We love wine and Brunello di Montalcino is one of our favorites so we decided to take a private tour. After looking in the internet we luckily found Angela's information and immediately contacted her. She was really easy to deal with, respondly promtly to all our questions on the trip. On the date of the trip, after picking us up she right away started giving us her comments about the region the wine, the food, a little bit of history. The places and wineries that she selected for us on this tour were really nice. We visited two wineries that offered superb wines (we just regret not having bought more of those wines, I guess another trip would have to do it), and the insight on the wine production and all the information that we got from those two visits was amazing without being overwhelming, all in a very casual atmosphere. We have recommended this tour to all our friends and will recomended to anyone that is interested in visiting Tuscany and checking out their amazing wines. Cheers Isabel Murguia and Ken Claire MILLER - April 2009 I spent a week in Florence with my two daughters (one was studying there at the time). We wanted to do a day in the countryside of Tuscany. I found Angela online and she was so responsive to my questions, that I took the chance and booked a private Classico Chianti wine tour with her. And I’m so glad I did. She picked us up at a convenient location near our hotel and was a delightful and knowledgeable guide. We stopped at the first winery for a wine tour and tasting, then on to a medieval village for a delightful lunch at a quaint little restaurant. After lunch, we strolled around the village and then drove on to a second winery, where, knowing I was a botanical artist, Angela asked if we could see the lovely gardens - one of my favorite memories of our trip. As one daughter wrote: “I really liked walking around the small town and seeing the rustic buildings; also eating at the family-owned restaurant was really neat and something that I wouldn’t have done normally.” Angela was a wonderful guide. My other daughter’s impression: “I liked how she was approachable and friendly without being too touristy. She was so responsible but also easygoing--It was like we were driving around Tuscany with a friend of a friend instead of a tour guide. She knew a lot of information but didn't overwhelm you with it. She is able to find a great balance between being informative when it was necessary but then stepping back and letting you experience the countryside yourself.” I couldn’t agree more. If I ever get a chance to go back to Italy, I will be sure to go on another tour with Angela. Thanks for the great memories!! Claire Chris Middleton - Aprile 09 Angie: The tour that you gave us of Chianti was amazing!! You took us to two wonderful wineries and people at those wineries were amazing, as was the food and wines that they provided. Also the little village that you took us for lunch was incredibly charming and the food was just outstanding. There was a nice variety of food and the wine there was great as well. I still think about those great pastas that they served. That was something that we never would have gotten to see if it wasn't for you. Thank you so much for showing us the Tuscan countryside and providing a personal touch for the entire trip. Chris Middleton Glenda Atkinson - APRIL 09 "I found Angie through Trip Advisor in early 2009. Her reviews were positive so I booked a Tuscany tour for April. I am a seasoned traveler and the tour exceeded my expectations in every way. Angie was polite and knowledgeable, the wineries and vineyards she selected were beautiful and the wine tastings fantastic. I highly recommend this tour" Glenda Atkinson IT Services & EDI Manager 22 May 2009 Dave McRoberts – May 09 Tuscan Wine Tour with Angie My wife and I and two grown daughters spent a day touring with Angie last May and it was the highlight of our trip to Italy. Angie guided us through the Tuscan towns of Siena and San Gimignano with a lunch time stop at a local winery where we tasted several varietals while enjoying a typical Tuscan meal. The day was perfect as we toured the Churches and town centers of the area and learned the history of the hill towns. The winery she selected overlooked San Gimignano with it’s unique towers. The rolling countryside with patchwork vineyards was so picturesque we really did not want to leave. The family that owns the winery were very helpful in explaining their wines and olive oil. This truly was a memorable experience and as others have said we feel we were traveling with a lifelong friend. I highly recommend working with Angie to tailor your Tuscan tour as she was quite helpful in fulfilling our ideas of a perfect day in Tuscany. McRoberts, David (JOEM) Regional Manager OEM-South Jose Fernandez – May 09 For our honeymoon, my wife and I chose to visit Italy. Some friends of ours recommended that we call Angela for a tour of the Tuscan wine country. It was one of the highlights of our honeymoon. Angela picked us up right by our hotel and whisked us into wine country. On the way to Montalcino, Angela pointed out all of the different regions where grapes were grown and explained to us, not only the history, but also the differences and qualities of each of the different grapes grown and wines produced in those regions. When we arrived at Montalcino we visited three distinct vineyards. Through Angela's connections with the vineyard owners we were able to walk through the fields, see how their individual wines were made and even got to sample some great bottles! For lunch, Angela took us to a quaint town located on top of a mountain overlooking Montalcino. Aside from the breathtaking views of the valley, we enjoyed the best homemade pasta I have ever eaten in my life. To anyone looking to truly experience wine country I highly recommend giving Angela a call. Her knowledge of wine is unparalled and her hospitality makes the experience even more amazing. Thanks again for everything! Take care, Jose Fernandez Cici Andersen and Scott Kranzel - May 2009 We can't say enough about how we enjoyed the wine tour last year. It was our first private tour and worth EVERY penny! My parents and in-laws rave about the specialized treatment and consider it the highlight of their trip to Italy.We loved the private access and tours through the wine making facilities as well as stories regarding the history of each place. As an amateur photographer it was all I had hoped for in terms of amazing vistas. Our only regret is that we had too large a breakfast and weren't able to partake as much as we would have liked of all the wonderful food available at each of the tastings. We will definitely be calling you on our next trip to Florence. Thanks so much! Enjoy and thanks again! Cici Andersen and Scott Kranzel Susan and Robert – Connecticut - May 2009 We had a wonderful experience on our joinable wine tour of the Chianti Classico region. Angie was a great tour guide and the 2 vineyards we visited were so memorable. We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip, the wine, olive oil, and food ----- we recommend this tour! Susan and Robert Connecticut USA Pama Mitchell- Cincinnati OH - June 2009 Hi Angie, My husband and I took a tour with you in June. I have written about it on my blog today—two months after we went, I know, but better late than never, we say. We thought it was great and I am recommending you to my friends! Check it out: www.healthyfoodies.blogspot.com All the best, Pama Mitchell Kristi, Marsha, and Jerry – MA- July 2009 Angela was extremely easy to work with and provided us with a truly wonderful experience. She found out what we really wanted to see and do and delivered 100%. She went above and beyond what we asked for when we originally scheduled the tour. Her knowledge of the area and the history of the region was amazing! I highly recommend calling her for your next Wine and Castles Tour! Kristi, Marsha, and Jerry~ Thanks again, Angie! We continually look through our photos and just cannot believe that we were really there sometimes! K~ Kristi Bergman, MA Kelli Kirkham, June 2009 Angela, Please find below, my review. We loved our time with you and hope we can come back some day! Don't forget, if ever you are in Dallas, Texas, please call us! We'd love to show you our city! Angela was so knowledgeable about the history of the Chianti area and the different vineyards. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with her. She took us to the most fabulous eatery for lunch- wild boar, the best peppers we had ever eaten, lots of pasta, and vino, vino, vino! Our group consisted of my parents, myself and my husband, and our two college aged kids and all agreed this was our best day in Italy! I have already referred several of my friends, and will call her if I'm lucky enough to go back to the region. Kelli Kirkham Johnson, Nadine , Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, June - 09 Dear Angela, I have taken so long to get back to you because I had hoped to send a picture. I am having trouble downloading from my husband's camera. Once I figure out how to do that, I will send you an update. In the meantime, here is my review of our tour: My husband and I always dreamed of spending our 25th Wedding Anniversary in Tuscany and to our delight, received a tour of the Chianti wine region from our daughter as an anniversary gift. The tour of the Chianti wine region was with Angie. All we needed to do was contact Angie in advance to schedule the date of our tour. When our friends decided to join us on the trip, we included them in this amazing tour which took us through the most breathtaking areas of Tuscany. The two vineyards we visited were old castles - the hosts of these vineyards were very gracious. More importantly, the quality of the wine and grappa was excellent. The highlight of our tour was the lunch. Angie took us to a restaurant operating at an Abbey. We have enjoyed culinary perfections throughout the world but none that compared to the food served at this restaurant. The combination of local ingredients, herbs and olive oil was prepared and presented in true Tuscan style. Thank you, Angie for your hospitality and vast knowledge of the Chianti wine region. Your proficiency in the English language also made for a pleasant and rewarding tour. Bob and Nadine Johnson Sandra Soto, Arizona USA, July 2009 In July, 2009, I had the pleasure of taking the Chianti Wine Tour in the heart of beautiful Tuscany, with Angela Saltafouri as our personal guide. I, along with two of my girlfriends, met Angela in the morning of our tour and we instantly loved her! I would recommend this tour to all. Angela was extremely knowledgeable on the region and history of the Chianti Classico, as well as willing to answer all of our questions that came along the way. For three american girls whom had never been to Italy, Angela made us feel very comfortable and made our total experience a day we will never forget. Of all our days in Europe, this wine tour was one of our most treasured days! The wine tasting and tour of the wineries was fantastic and the scenery of the Tuscan countryside is absolutely breathtaking. I have already recommended this tour, and Angela specifically, to several of my friends back here in Arizona. This is A MUST if you are in the area. Thank you, Angela! We miss you :) Sandra Soto, Arizona USA jill feldman, August 2009 My husband and I recently spent a day Angela. It was a great day from beginning to end. She took us to two different wineries, both of which were phenomenal. The wine tastings were plentiful and the staff were knowledgeable and enjoyable to be with. We were lucky to have Angela all to ourselves to answer all of our questions about Tuscany and fill us in on the local traditions. We loved the beautiful drive through the countryside. Lunch was fantastic. She took us to meet up with another group of travelers at a great little restaurant. We ate outside under an olive trellis. The views of the countryside were absolutely breathtaking. This was a day we will never forget. Thankfully we still have a few bottles of wine left from the day to enjoy! jill feldman Susan Cattie Hi Angie Business friends of my husband used your wonderful services and said what we said...it was the best day that they had...You are truly terrific, fantastic...best excursion of their trip and the highlight of their trip and they were there for a few weeks.. Thank you! I shall keep referring you with much enthusiasm. Frank and I still talk about you... Susan Cattie Justin and Jennifer, Davino, September 2009 In a trip that involved experiencing a football match between Inter and AC Milan, seeing Giovanni Allevi live in concert in Verona and eating some of the finest food of our lives, our private tour with Angie was by far the highlight of our trip to Italy. First of all, Angie's knowledge of wine and the region we visited was exceptional. We were captivated by everything she had to and kept us engaged and wanting more the entire day. The wineries we visited we the finest we have ever seen and we were welcomed in as family, not to mention the wine was AMAZING!!!! I highly recommend Angie's services as we will surely be visiting her again on our next trip to Italy. Jennifer & Justin Thanks again Angie for an AMAZING day!!!! Justin Davino Deborah Dsotoole, September 2009 Hi, Angie. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. I had previously been on another Chianti wine tour but yours was the most informative and enjoyable. I have referred several people to you. I hope they will contact you if they haven't already. This was the most enjoyable wine tour I have experienced. Angela is delightful and very knowledgeable about wines and Italy's wine producing regions. The wineries we visited were a perfect combination of a large, commercial operation and a small, family owned winery nestled in the Tuscan hills. It was a memorable day." Grazie mille. Deborah Cary Thorpe, Atlanta Georgia, September 2009 hi angie, I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our day with you...a true highlight of our trip! we enjoyed our other days to Siena, San G, etc and certainly our stay at Villa La Masa.....but the wine tour was probably our favorite day! I have given your name to the travel agency Journeys Unlimited and hopefuly you will get some business from them! thanks and tell Francesco we loved meeting him too! Cary and Bill Thorpe Yogeni Chetty, September 2009 "I joined Angela's Wine Tour Tuscany in September 2009 and it was truly a wonderful experience. The wines were incredible and the company of Angela and the other people on the tour was really great. It was a beautiful experience that I would recommend to anyone who has a day to spend in glorious Tuscany." Yogeni Chetty Robert Terry, September 2009 The fall of 2009 I spent a month in Florence exploring this wonderful city and the surrounding Tuscan countryside. Since Florence is in the heart of the Chianti Classico region I wanted to take a wine tour while I was there. After a little research on the Internet I came across Angela's website and her wine tours. I scheduled the Chianti Classico tour and met up with Angela at a convenient location in Florence, literally about 5 minutes from my apartment. As luck would have it there were only 3 people in our group and we were picking up the other 2 on the way to the first winery. During the drive to meet them I received my own private lesson in wine making as well as a mini Tuscan tour, all compliments of Angela. After picking up the other 2 members of our group, we proceeded on to the wineries. Both the people at the wineries and Angela were incredibly accommodating and generous with their time answering our questions about the wine, wine making, and any other questions we had. As a photographer I appreciated Angela's willingness to stop for pictures in the scenic Tuscan countryside and also offer suggestions for photo ops. Both myself and the two women in my group enjoyed ourselves immensely. When my father came to visit the following week, I recommended that he take a wine tour with Angela. I believe that it was the thing he enjoyed most in Florence. There are many wine tours available in Florence. Angela's is a great value and I would do it again in a heartbeat the next time I visit Florence. Robert Terry Jodie Murray, October 2009 Hi Angela, I had a great time on your Oct 09 tour,It was informative and enjoyable because of the small group size,and vitners knowledge. The wines we tried were very high quality,and it was a pleasure to enjoy them where they grew,rather than just buy them from a shop.I would recommend Angela's tour and will go on another when I come to Tuscany again Kind regards, Jodie Jodie Murray Bridget Maroney, October 2009 Ciao Angie! we wanted to share some pictures that I took at our wine tour (we were in Tuscany in early October). Three of us were on the tour in September (maybe you remember - there was also a woman with a baby in our group!). Anyway, the tour was amazing, and we really learned so much about wine of the Chianti region. Thank you so much for everything, and we will definitely remember to post a great review on Trip Advisor for your tour!! Enjoy the pictures Bridget Maroney Carrie Thurman, October 2009 My parents and I recently visited Italy and, thanks to Angela's knowledge of vineyards and her tasting choices, the Chianti tour was certainly the highlight of our time in Florence. It was nice to have a relaxing day in the Tuscany area without worrying about driving. We enjoyed the scenery, the lunch and especially the wine tasting. A surprise for us was also how much we appreciated the olive oil and cheese tasting we had while on the tour. You've never really tasted olive oil until you've tasted it in Tuscany! Angela's Chianti tour was an excellent introduction to Tuscany and an experience we will never forget. Ciao! Carrie Thurman David Gulliver, October 2009 Our first tour with Angela was in September 2006 when we visited San Gimiano and then proceeded onto wineries near Montalicino to experience the local ‘Brunello’. Our next visit was in October 2008 when again we enjoyed Angela’s’ expertise, knowledge and friendly company visiting wineries in the Chianti Classico area followed the following week with cultural overload walking the streets of fantastic Florence. Our latest visit was October 2009 when we visited different wineries in Chianti Classico followed by a tour of Sienna. We were I think Angela’s’ first English clients, it took a little while on our first tour for her to appreciate our sense of humour and as you can see above we have continued to enjoy many days touring with her enjoying her endless wealth of knowledge of the Tuscany region. We would strongly recommend Angela’s’ tours to any visiting tourists. David Gulliver Rainer, novembre 09 just wanted to say thank you for the fantastic tour, they had a great time and enjoyed your company very much. I only wish I could have made the trip. We will certainly make it a point to tell anyone we know coming to the area to give you a call. Again thank you for the great time you provided Regards Rainer Carol Poston, Nashville, TN, November 2009 Our group of four wanted to visit some Tuscan towns outside of Florence, but didn't want to be packed on a bus with a bunch of people and didn't want to rent a car and try to navigate unknown roads. We found Angela on the internet and she proved to be the perfect Tuscan guide. We booked her for a San Gimignano/Siena day trip and loved every minute of it. Angela is very friendly, speaks perfect English, allows some flexibility with time, and is extremely knowledgeable. We liked the first trip so much that we booked a wine tour to Montalcino to sample the fine Brunello wine. During the offseason, Angela searches for unique wineries in the area, and once again, she delivered a memorable experience. While driving, Angela shared her vast knowledge of the winemaking process and the requirements for Brunello wine. Both of our winery visits were unique and fascinating -- locations that you would not be able to find or access on your own. And, a highlight was our Tuscan lunch/feast in a small town near Montalcino. You can't go wrong with Angela Saltafuori! Her charm and knowledge will create life-long memories from your visit to Tuscany. Carol Poston Nashville, TN Sanjay Kumar, November 2009 "My uncle and aunt highly recommended Angela as a tour guide in Tuscany so we also asked Angela to show us around Tuscany for a day on our trip to Florence. Angela was excellent and very accomodating. She knows the area and the people, and is very easy to get along with. I have found that on all tours the tour guide is the most critical element. She packed the day with a winery tour and a visit to two towns. It was a great day for us and I highly recommend her. Don't do it without Angela." Sanjay Kumar Lynn Schlappi, Phoenix, Arizona, November 2009 Angela's tour was by far the best tour my girlfriends and I went on while traveling in Europe. She took us to two beautiful wineries where we sampled delicious wines and learned about the Chianti wine region. The Tuscan scenery along the way was breathtaking; the rolling green hills of grapevines, the tall cyprus trees, and the fields of sunflowers were magnificent. Angela took us to lunch at Ristorante Pizzeria Palazzo Pretorio where we dined outside under a grapevine canopy over looking Tuscan countryside. It was simply magical, and not to mention the best pizza I have ever had! Angela was a lot of fun and full of interesting information about Italy and wine. I highly recommend this tour, it was fantastic! Lynn Schlappi Phoenix, Arizona |
| Maria and Deborah, 25 febbraio 2008 Angela, I cannot thank you enough for our wonderful day in Montalcino. Thank you so much for arranging the visit to Primme Donne. Il Coco was terrific as well. I will never forget Giacomo and his enthusiasm for his wine (and his grappa). Our day with you was a highlight of our trip. We will certainly tell anyone who visits Tuscany to contact you and when we come back, we'll be looking to you again! Below is a post I made to Trip Advisor. Please let me know if there's a better forum for me to comment, or if you have a page where I can leave more comments! Hugs, Almir e Mariana, May 2008 Hi dear Angie. We arrived in Brazil, with sucess - with our Montalcino's bottles wine - ;) I would like to you now that you had been very important. You help to make our trip much more adorable and a unforgettable experience. I hope see you again soon, 'speaking italian' parlando italiano. Say hello and send hugs to Fabiana and Gema. After your work time, in vacation, if you like to came to Brazil, have sure that you will be welcome in our house. Hugs, Almir e Mariana. P.S. I send the picture with Gema's family that you ask me almir jose cordeiro" Paula Suddenlik, May 2008 Good morning, Angela. First of all I want to thank you again for the wonderful Chianti tour & tell you how much we enjoyed it. That was one of the highlights of our two week stay! When we returned to the Hotel, the woman at the front desk wanted to know all about your tour and pricing. I told her where we went, how much we did, how long we were gone, & as much of your resume as I could remember! She was very impressed. Both April & I told her she needed to advertise your tour & I really hope that she does. And last, but not least, I have attached a picture of my babies. LingLing (brown, female) is now 9 years old and Brillo (black, male) is 4 years old. Once again, I want to tell you how much I enjoyed your tour. When I make it back to Italy, I will book it again! Thank you very much! Paula Natia Tsomaia , June 2008 Buongiorno Dear Angela, You are probably thinking that we disappeared. Well, it took some time to get back to the regular schedule and find peace with it :-) Thank you very much again for wonderful trips. I hope we will meet again. I keep telling everyone about you;) Please do not forget that I have invited you as a friend - if you ever come to Boston area and would liek to stay with us. Just let me know. I will visit your website as soon as I locate your card;) and send out some comments. I wish you all the best! NatiaTsomaia karen oconnell, July 2008 My 18 year old daughter and I came to italy for her graduation present, our first visit. We loved our 2 days of touring Tuscany with Angela. I felt she truly cared about what we wanted and was dedicated to creating an exceptional experience for us. As novice wine drinkers we throughly enjoyed the intimate settings and fabulous hospitality we received everywhere we went, we learned and enjoyed it all so very much. I highly recommend Angela. I loved not having to worry about maps and any conflict that could arise from getting lost, her knowledge and caring attitude contributed greatly to our trip. karen oconnell Christine Manion, July 2008 Hi Angela, Thanks again for a great tour yesterday; unfortunately, the dessert wine also seeped through the bag with my little bag of chocolates, so I wasn't able to give them to my husband for our anniversary, but he really likes the olive oil and wine. We will go online soon to post our recommendations for you, the tour, and both wineries. In fact, we've already given you name and number out! Thank you again for a great day! Christine Manion Dr. C.M. Manion English Professor Milwaukee Area Technical College Susan Cattie, August 2008 Celebrating 30 years of marriage is not a trifle, and I wanted to surprise my husband with a wine tour. He has become quite the collector and prided himself on what he knew. However, our most wonderful trip with Angie was more than he or I could have wished for. She is a true gem who seemed non-plussed at having him sit in the front with her (hearing problem) and was chatting so informatively about the chianti regions. His biggest fear was unfounded that she would take us to "friends" wineries. She chose excellent wineries and we were treated like royalty, but in a very, very personal way. Angie later told us that in her off season, she actually takes tours herself at wineries and decides where she will take her clients. The girl does do her homework! She stopped at two villages, one of which, was for lunch at a place called Bar Ucci. The owner, Poala came out and promptly gave my husband the most incredible cookie. She also gave us an "autographia" for my husband's collection which delighted us and her! The meal was top notch and Angie and I actually shared two entrees. My husband refused to share his! The wine tours were extremely personal too! At the first stop, the owner was away on holiday (August can be a bad time to go in Italy, more tourist than native) but his intern was very knowledgeable and fun. The second tour was at a winery outside the Black Rooster area, but still "pink label." And I think we found a kindred soul in the owner. He entertained us and educated us with such a passion that I want to know everything there is about wine making. He certainly made me want to teach the world what a bottle of wine REALLY represents. Angie was just perfect. If you ask my husband what his top three moments were, her tour is the second. We were in Europe for two weeks and Italy is definitely a return visit. And I would go nowhere in Tuscany without Angie. Yes, she is that good and yes, she gets my full vote of confidence and enthusiasm. What a great find she was, thanks to the tripadvisor writers. Ciao! And I was serious about the shopping tour of Philadelphia! Susan Cattie Paul Dimarco, August 2008 Thank you so much for the wonderful tour. We had an amazing time and Really enjoyed the variety of wineries and towns we visited. We will definitely give you a call the next time we are in Tuscany! Paul Dimarco Beverly Groner, August 2008 ciao Angela, I wanted to write to tell you what a wonderful time we had on our tour- even thought the monks weren't there! You were so informative- about grapes, history- and current culture! I am going to write a great review in TripAdvisor- hopefully this weekend! Beverly Groner Dorothy Dejmal, September 2008 Angela in Tuscany... Some of my most memorable times in Tuscany are spent touring wine country – both Chianti and Brunello. Last September several friends and I enjoyed Angela's shared Montalcino tour and also her private Chianti tour. Her selection of wineries wasoutstanding, from a small family owned winery to an all women owned winery to a medium sized independent. Lunch was always a major highlight. In Chianti Francesco's mother, a fabulous cook, prepared and served lunch. In Montalcino country, a family member who happened to be a renown chef prepared lunch and the owner's daughter and her fiancé serve us. Not only is Angela a very knowledgeable guide - of Italy and of wines - but she is a very charming, thoughtful person who does her utmost to ensure a great wine tasting experience and fun for all. I had toured with Angela the year before, and now again in May this year I will be visiting Italy and touring with Angela. Dorothy Dejmal EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. Telephone 720-876-5429 Rachel Perez and Christopher Schulten September 2008 During our recent trip to Tuscany, we booked a group tour with Angela Saltafuori Our day included two winery visits, lunch at another winery and visits to the town of Montalcino and the abbey of Sant'Antimo. We had an extraorindary time! Angela was wonderful and has great relationships with both "off the beaten path" and more well known Brunello producers. Our first winery was one which exports to the U.S., but the second was a very small "organic" producer. It was fantastic to see the different scales of production between the two wineries. For lunch we headed to the farmhouse on another wine estate. Angela is a friend of the owners daughter. The wine was plentiful and the food was really great, and in such a great atmosphere. Angela was very accomodating. When people wanted to take pictures, she found us the best vantage points. She also allowed us to meet her at a convenient location in Montalcino (the rest of the group she drove from Florence). Our group was very nice. We ended up running into two of our group members three days later in Florence! When I had back to Tuscany, I will absolutely be calling Angela again. The day we spent with her was one of the best during our stay. I reccomend her highly!" Rachel Perez and Christopher Schulten Susan e Richard Oldham, September 2008 Ciao Angela, Susan ed Io siamo arrivati a casa alle nove lunedi di sera, e eravamo stanchi. Anche per alcuni giorni c'era un po' di 'jet lag'. Ora va bene. Era veramente un piacere incontrarti e ci siamo divertiti molto insieme a Siena! Speriamo che ci vediamo fra poco. Ho incluso alcune foto di Siena ed anche dei nostri cani, Bella e Buddy. Sta mattina abbiamo camminato con i cani mentre nevicava qui. Ti spediro' il 'website' della nostra amica, Julia Duke, in un altro messaggio Angela, speriamo che vada tutto bene per te. Un abbraccio, Susan e Riccardo Richard Oldham Therese Turcotte October 2008 Dear Angie We have really enjoyed our trip in Toscana. We keep good souvenirs and some beautiful pictures. We have enjoyed a lot our journeys with you. We have appreciated your generosity. The vineyards owners were very interesting and young. We have learned a lot, like how to taste the wine. We are sending you few pictures. There will be some more tomorrow. Hope you do not miss the french gang too much. Love, Therese and Rachel Suzanne Miglierina, November 2008 Just a few words to let you know that we are back home (since Friday) and our trip was just great ! Thank you for all your help and cooperation. All of us keep saying that the days spent with you were our favorite part of the trip. A lot of work at the office was waiting for me. I will send you a bottle of "pomme de glace" (ice apple wine - similar to the icewine from another part of Canada). Keep well. We will keep in touch. My very best to you Suzanne Miglierina |
| Marilsa Medina |
|
December 07, 2006 -
07:02 PM I came across
Angela's website while searching for a private tour
guide for my recent trip to Florence and Venice. Angela
seemed so nice and being able to be in a private car
instead of a tour bus really appealed to me. |
| Llewellyn Lutchansky |
| Three of us (my husband, a friend,
and I are all in our late 50s) spent the month of October touring Italy. Two of our most pleasant, relaxing days in the whole trip were with Angela. I don't think there can be too much emphasis on the fact that traveling with a knowledgeable, conscientious guide keeps the focus on the countryside, not the map. The first day we visited the famous Chianti region, enjoying the lovely countryside and stopping along the way for wineries and scenic viewpoints. The second day Angela took us to Siena and Volterra, two beautiful old cities that deserved more time than I set out in our schedule. I would recommend having Angela provide a guided tour of Siena for most of a day, then add another day to tour Volterra and San Gimignano. The excellent Volterra Guarnacci Museum alone merits an hour or two for viewing the amazing collection of Etruscan antiquities. An empty duffle would have been useful to take away a few souvenirs from the fantastic alabaster shops! As with any personalized tour, it helps if you can give your guide a short description of your interests and your depth of knowledge (on wines, for instance) when you set up the tour. If you just want to see the art and cultural highlights, Angela will take you to the best places. But if you've had enough of cathedrals and museums, don't beat a dead horse - call her and let her you want to go shopping! I would highly recommend Angela as a guide for couples, families, groups of young and old alike, and especially for women traveling alone or in groups. She is personable, adaptable, gracious and just delightful! I wish her all the best! And I know anyone who visits Tuscany would enjoy spending a day or two with Angela! Llewellyn Lutchansky |
| Pam & David LaBreche, Boston, October 2005 |
| Ciao Angela, We arrived back to the United States after a very busy two 1/2 days in Rome. When we were there we kept saying we wish Angela was with us!!!!! And we somewhat wish we were back in Tuscany, although everyone should see Rome a few times in their lifetime... Paige misses you already and has told all her friends about you. We hope you will take us up on our offer to come and stay with us here in America when you are on holiday. Our house is somewhat small but the kids tell me it is very cozy... I gave your website information to a friend of mine who works at a very big travel agency in Massachusetts. She said they look for tour guides/drivers all the time and do not yet have anyone whom they personally can recommend that is good until now...Hopefully all of our raving about how wonderful you were to us will pay off and you will get new customers soon. Thanks again for your special touch to our very memeorable vacation and we hope to hear from you soon. Warmest Regards, Pam & David LaBreche (Patrick and Paige of course too) |
