Our latest adventure in art workshops takes us to the other side of the world. Since 1998 we have been producing our Autumn Arts Festival at the Dievole winery in Tuscany. Now we are taking that autumn festival and flipping it: the same arts and culture program but in wine-producing countries in the southern hemisphere where March is their “autumn” harvest.P
We will offer the same array of arts workshops as in Tuscany: painting, photography and cooking, interspersed with cultural excursions designed to introduce us to local art, history, and traditions.
Black Barn winery in New Zealand
We’re very excited about our upcoming schedule for Il Chiostro – Upside Down:
- March 2021 – Australia – Sydney 3 days, the Hunter Valley 6 days (details evolving)
- March 2020 – Chile (SOLD OUT) at the Santa Rita winery just outside of the capital Santiago
Past Upside Down programs:
- March 2019 – New Zealand, Black Barn Winery in Hawkes Bay
View the final slide show from the photography workshop let by Chris Corradino - March 2018 – Argentina & the wine area of Mendoza
- March 2017 – Cape Town & the Stellenbosch wine region of South Africa
To those who have experienced Il Chiostro’s Adventures in Italy over these past two decades, we hope you’ll now join our new chapter of arts & travel adventures – this time, upside down!
After 20 years in Italy, we decided it was time to branch out a little. Il Chiostro-Upside Down is meant to be the same as our regular programs, but at wine estates in the southern hemisphere. These will be in March each year when they harvest the grapes and prepare all the foods for their winter.
For our first program of the series we chose the gorgeous wine region of South Africa called Stellenbosch, just outside of Cape Town. It was quite an experience as we saw the penguins, went on safari, learned about the local food, drummed our spirits, visited beautiful Cape Town and had an eye-opening visit to one of the townships. Next (2018) we shifted continents to Argentina, another great wine-producing land, this time in South America. We always offer painting and photography with all the typical excursions designed to introduce our guests to the local culture, cuisine and history.
We, along with our instructors, will be present throughout these new adventures to accompany you on excursions and discover these rich new areas. Check our program listings for descriptions of the upcoming programs in the southern hemisphere. — Michael and Linda