Come Away with Me
Three Unique retreat Opportunities
Yoga & Meditation Amore di sé
Wine & Culture. Tradition of Excellence
Sail with Jesse & Natalie Sailing the Cyclades
Tradition of Excellence
a wine tour of Tuscany featuring wine, history, and estates of the Frescobaldi family
21-26 May 2025
In and Around Tuscany
2200 € shared room
2600 € private room
500 € Deposit
If you are drawn to the deep beauty of Tuscany, and craving an authentic taste of what the region offers through the land, art, food and wine, join me for 'Tradition of Excellence', the newest addition to my retreat offerings! Over the years I have had the opportunity to develop a relationship with the hospitality team representing the Frescobaldi family, one of the oldest wine families in Italy. Working closely with their team - some of my closest friends in Tuscany - I have curated a journey through three of their most stunning estates featuring tours of the properties, tastings of their fine wines, indulgent multi-course meals, explorations of some of the most picturesque medieval towns in Tuscany.
The Estates
Itinerary
Day One
Arrive in Rufina (FI) by train and enjoy a home cooked meal with me at my home
Check in at Castello Pomino and enjoy the jacuzzi or the gardens before our first taste
Savor a multi course dinner with Pomino wine pairings
Day Two
Breakfast at Castello Pomino followed by
An optional practice of yoga and meditation with me
Receive a guided tour of the cellars, the villa, and the grounds
Learn more about the Pomino portfolio with a tasting of a few of its many fine wines
Combine the headiness of the wine with the headiness of nature on a stroll through the Vallambrosa Forest
Venture out with me for a ‘locals only’ experience at one of my favorite restaurants in the area
Day Three
Breakfast at Castello Pomino
Then off we go to the neighboring estate, Castello Nipozzano
Enjoy a guided exploration of the castle, the cellars, the family villa, the gardens, and the grounds
Savor some of the finest Chianti of the Rufina region, accompanied by a selection of Tuscan delicacies
Explore the grounds, or again relax in our private jacuzzi
Dine and socialize at the Frescobaldi cantina, Il Quartino, with epic views of the Nipozzano property
Day Four
Breakfast at Castello Nipozzano
Optional yoga and meditation practice with me in the vineyard
Traverse the land on Horse back, with a brief rest with aperitif and panoramic views
Don your finest for a phenomenal dinner with wine pairings in the famous Nipozzano dining room
Day Five
Breakfast at Nipozzano
Road trip through the Tuscan countryside to magical Pienza where we’ll walk around and enjoy lunch
Arrive at CastelGiocondo in Montalcino and be guided through the medieval village, the cellars, and more
Indulge in yet another exceptional dinner with wine pairings curated by the Frescobaldi culinary team
Melt in the Spa at CastelGiocondo, complete with hot soaking tub and sauna or steam room
Day Six
Breakfast at CastelGiocondo
Optional yoga and meditation practice - or - one more trip to the Spa
Experience the upper echelon of Italian wine, Brunello, as expressed by the Frescobaldi and Mondolvi families paired with a ‘light’ lunch featuring treasured ingredients of the land and the season
Find pleasure in one last guided tour, this time of the celebrated Luce cellar
After a moment of fresh air and a final appreciative gaze at the beauty of Tuscany in Spring
Then we drive back to Firenze where we say our goodbyes and you make your way to your lodging for the night, wherever that may be…with a full belly, a full heart, and a photo library full of gorgeous memories
Tradition of Excellence
May we all seek to live our most excellent life. We have but one. Let it be beautiful.
21-26 May, 2025
2200 euro for double occupancy
2800 euro for single occupancy
500 euro deposit
Sail The Cyclades
21-28 June 2025
3000 € for shared cabin
5500 € for solo cabin
500 € Deposit
Join me on a sailing retreat through the Cyclades Islands of Greece! My fiancé, Jesse, is our Captain and I serve as host & chef.
Since meeting Jesse and thus dividing my time between Tuscany and the Caribbean, I have developed a deep love of sailing. Cultivating a relationship with the water element in this powerful form has helped me reconnect with my more emotive, creative, adventurous and playful side. Little cools the heat of my anxiety as quickly and sufficiently as bathing in the sea. Experiencing 'one-ness' with the sea endows a deep sense of belonging, of being nurtured, and held. It is an equally adventurous and relaxing experience. I have enjoyed profound meditative experiences while being rocked by gentle waves and caressed by a light sea breeze. I am eager to offer you an opportunity to enjoy the same.
Jesse has been working and living on boats and captaining luxury sailing vessels for over eight years. Together we hosted our first sailing experience in October, through the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily. He held my hand as I literally 'learned the ropes,' and by our second week I knew this was an experience I wanted more of. There is such freedom exploring the world by boat. Freedom to come and go as you please knowing that all you require for your travels, travels right along with you. Once you move onto the boat there is no need to repack, hop on a train, and settle into a new hotel room. No time is 'wasted' on getting from point A to point B. Rather, getting around by sea is more than half the fun!
If you love to immerse yourself in the culture you are visiting when you travel, this is a great fit for you. If you are adventurous, courteous of those you share space with, willing to adapt expectations based on 'which way the wind blows'; if you love the food and wine of other cultures - in this case, Greece, then this trip is a great fit for you! This isn't a 'booze cruise,' but it isn't strictly a yoga retreat, either. This is for those of you who seek to enjoy life to the fullest specifically through travel, adventure, good food, good wine, gorgeous views, and great company.
The Cyclades
This famous archipelago in the Aegean Sea comprises some of the most beautiful islands in the world! Gorgeous sandy beaches, architecture in white and blue, traditional lifestyle, folk music, warm, hospitable people and barren landscapes with isolated chapels turn a trip to the Cyclades into a memorable adventure of a lifetime. We will sail from the port of Lavrion - near Athens - to discover the wonders of these islands, including Kea, Syros, Paros, Sifnos, Kythnos, Mykonos, Santorini, Ios, Milos, and more!According to the ancient myth, it is Poseidon, god of the sea, who created the island complex that is now one of the most famous worldwide. The Cycladic islands charm and challenge all sea lovers. It is within their crystal-clear waters that senses awaken to allow travelers to grasp the essence of the islands’ splendor.
Our Vessel
The Lagoon 52 catamaran has been created for long crossings in exceptional comfort. Relax on the flybridge, with its innovative, modular layout and clever ergonomic design, and enjoy the view.With its innovative layout, this catamaran offers durable solutions to preserve the environment and to protect your dream destinations. The Lagoon 52 conceals an unparalleled interior volume for a catamaran in this category. Comfortable furnishings and fine materials welcome you in a refined atmosphere, while maintaining the practicality and functionality of each living space on board. Your dream of travel to far-off destinations is finally coming true.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Seven days & nights accommodation on a private luxury private catamaran, the Lagoon 52
Safe, simple sailing lessons with our Captain Jesse
'Half Board' - meaning breakfast and either lunch or dinner on board.
*One meal, either lunch or dinner will be enjoyed onshore at your own expense.
Wine & beer to accompany meals onboard
All onboard costs, including weekly marina & port fees, fuel, cleaning fees, Tourism taxes.
Snorkeling gear for your usage
Two paddle boards to be shared amongst the group
*Optional excursions are not included but can be added throughout the week at your own expense. I will help to coordinate.
The Lagoon 52 has six cabins, sleeping twelve people total. Either bring your own roommate, trust us to pair you with someone compatible, or pay more to have a cabin to yourself. Cabins are equipped with queen beds and private bathrooms with showers.
Reach out to learn more about any of these retreats
Amore di sé
A Self-Love oriented Yoga & Meditation Retreat
29 May - 4 June 2025
Rufina, Tuscany
2000 € shared room
2500 € private room
500 € Deposit
*Please note that the investment is in euro
to reflect the shifting currency exchange rates
Drawing from the rich heritage of the Himalayan Tradition of Tantric Yoga and the beautiful land and culture of Tuscany, amore di sé is a self-love oriented retreat.
Love is a verb. This means, simply, that love is something we experience and express through what we do. Love is active. It is not something we can merely claim. It is, rather, a manifestation of what we choose to do. As bell hooks teaches in her book, All About Love NEW VISIONS, 'Love is the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth. Love is as love does. Love is an act of will - will implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.'
This includes the choice to love your self.
During this retreat we will explore self love, as a concept and as a verb, through the wisdom of both the Himalayan and Tuscan traditions, and - hopefully - facilitate an experience which will shift the way you treat and regard your self forever.
We will have the pleasure of calling La Fontaccia home for the week. La Fontaccia is an agriturismo - think olive farm meets bed and breakfast - owned and run by my dear friends, Samuele and Elisabetta. This is where you will sleep and enjoy breakfast daily. My home is a short walk up the hill and that is where we will enjoy most of our daily yoga and meditation practices and several of our meals. Between Sam and Betta's property and ours you will have over 50 acres of Tuscan countryside to explore at your leisure. When we are not 'at home,' we will be out and about enjoying experiences which will connect us to the people, the land, and the culture of Tuscany - experiences which are not found on the average tourist map.
Excursions for this retreat
Visit the village of Rufina with Natalie as your guide, then return home to make pasta by hand and enjoy it for lunch!
Indulge with a day at Asmana Wellness World and float from pool to pool, sauna to sauna, or splurge on a private treatment
Day trip to Unesco Heritage Town, Pienza, in the stunning Val d'Orcia of Tuscany
Horse Ride through vineyards and olive groves
Hike & Meditate in the beautiful terrain of Casentino, the 'secret side' of Tuscany
Attend mass and reflect on the spiritually charge grounds of Pieva di Romena, a uniquely beautiful Romanic church
Tour the castle, cellars, and villa of Nipozzano then be treated to a multi course lunch paired with celebrated Frescobaldi wines
Investment Includes
6 nights of lodging at La Fontaccia
All meals including on excursion days
Fees for any and all excursions
Transportation by rental car throughout the retreat
Daily yoga & meditation
Use of yoga mats & equipment
Self-Love gift bundle
*Travel to and from Rufina is not included, nor are private treatments at the spa