Pasta Class In A Wine Cellar

Pasta Class in a Wine Cellar, 3 hours, rated 4.7 across 19 traveller reviews.

Overview

This cooking class takes place in a cave cellar in the heart of the Sassi, where a chef walks a small group through the farmer-style pasta traditions of the Matera area. The session runs for 3 hours and starts at 11:00, and the group is capped at 6 travellers. You work with fresh local ingredients and prepare several dishes yourself, rather than just watching a demonstration.

The menu follows a set sequence. First comes bruschetta, then cialledda, a bread and vegetable salad traditional to the region, and finally hand-shaped pasta, which guests form themselves with the chef's guidance. When the cooking finishes, everyone sits down in the cellar and eats what was made.

The hosts are locals who grew up around these recipes, and many reviews mention that the class doubles as a conversation about Matera's food culture and history. It suits travellers who want a hands-on morning with real cooking rather than a tour, and it works for families, with at least one reviewer reporting that a 12 year old enjoyed it. Lunch and soft drinks are included in the price.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the caveMeet at Recinto Santa Maria 8 in Matera, at the cave where the class takes place. Look for an arch and a big green door, or search for Cava Marlò on maps.
2. Introduction to the cellarGuests are welcomed and shown around the historic cave space before cooking begins. Reviewers mention a short tour of the home and cellar at the start.
3. Prepare bruschettaThe class begins with bruschetta made from fresh local ingredients, including a discussion of the regional bread.
4. Make cialledda saladNext comes cialledda, a traditional bread and vegetable salad.
5. Shape the pastaThe chef demonstrates the distinctive local pasta shape, then guests shape it by hand themselves.
6. Sit-down lunchEveryone sits down to eat the dishes prepared, with soda or soft drinks included. The experience ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this class.

• Come hungry. One reviewer warns future guests to arrive hungry because of the amount of food served. The meal includes multiple courses, from bruschetta through to pasta with sauce. Treat it as a full lunch, not a tasting.
• Hands-on pace. The pasta shaping is genuinely participatory, with guests forming the shapes themselves after a demonstration. Some courses are prepared by the chef while you watch. The overall feel is relaxed, and one reviewer said their session ran long simply because nobody was in a rush.
• Getting there. The cave cannot be reached by car, as it sits in the heart of the Sassi. The listing suggests the Scotellaro parking area as an option. Allow time to walk in and find the arch and green door at Recinto Santa Maria.
• Small group feel. The listing caps the class at 6 travellers. Reviews describe an informal, conversational atmosphere, with one guest noting the class felt like a cultural exchange thanks to the relaxed chat throughout. Hosts share family stories and local history while cooking.
• Family friendly. The booking page notes that pushchairs are accessible, service animals are allowed, and infants must sit on laps. One reviewer attended with a 12 year old who enjoyed the class, and another mentioned daughters who loved the pasta-shaping part.
• Dietary limits. The listing advises against the class for coeliacs, in the original Italian. The menu is built around bread and wheat pasta, so anyone with coeliac disease should consider this before booking.

Common issues. The cave is not wheelchair accessible, which the listing states plainly, and the class is not suitable for coeliacs since bread and pasta are central to the menu. One reviewer reported a longer session than the listed 3 hours, though that was because the group was enjoying a relaxed pace. The 24 hour cancellation cutoff is strict, with no refund for later cancellations.

Common Questions