Tuscany, the Classic Tours Florence, Chianti Classico, Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Cortona, Pisa, Lucca and the Cinqueterre, Grosseto and The Etruscan Coast.
Here we outline our favourite wine zones in Tuscany. Each one may require up to 3 days to be visited. Therefore in a week tour we can propose you to explore two different zones and different natural environment, and to visit at least two historical city.

The variety of Tuscany
Tuscany sprawls between the Apennines, protecting her from the northern winds, and the Thyrrenian coast giving it a warm Mediterranean climate. The higher mountains, the valleys which cross her from NW to SE, and the gradual elevation changes create several distinct microclimates. This and the varying geology and soils determine different terroirs explaining, to some extent, why there are so many good and excelent wines: besides the Chianti, Brunello and other which everyone knows, there are not less than 30 more DOC appelations, an abundance that only two other regions in Italy can challenge.

The other quality factor is te new oenology, the great resources and skills dedicated to wine making, which are made some of the Tuscan wines leaders in the world market.
After Florence, Pisa and Siena, we’d like to take you to discover also Volterra, Arezzo, Lucca, or the wilder Maremma coast. Starting from the Etruscan age, before the Romans, up to the Medieval period, and to the Renaissance, many of these places have been important rich and independent, developing an innate sense of beauty, and attracting the best artists and architects. What they hav left to us is the richest cultural heritage in Italy, and hence in the world. For these circumstances, a wine tour in Tuscany will also be an immersion in the art, the beuty and the art of living well.

Florence and its hills
Florence is the center to discover with short drives two small DOCs. The Carmignano wines, known for their poise and ageing potential, are produced on the eastern Montalbano hills,rich of Etruscan memories, close to Vinci, the town of Leonardo. The few excelent Chianti Rufina, to the east of Florence, rival with Classico for quality and power.

Our favourite wineries:
Ambra, tenuta di Capezzana. Selvapiana, Bossi-Gondi.

The Chianti Classico DOC zone is the second largest appellation zone in the world, after Bordeaux. It spans between Florence an Siena, and between the Arno, the Pesa and the Arbia rivers. The Classico was made of Sangiovese and Canaiolo red grapes and of white Trebbiano and Malvasia until few years ago. Now it comes from red berries only, to reach superior elegance and durability. Over 250 labels and quite distinct subzones, result into wines with different styles, making it hard, or rather very personal, to pick out the “better and best” bottles. The wines, on the average, rank above other Chiantis.

In the Northern Chianti Classico, the Greve Commune boasts some of the older producers, and the Panzano zone boasts the finer and more complex riserve. Other areas have given birth to one of te earlier top IGTs (Supertuscan) Tignanello. Close to Florence and to the main roads, these hills give you also the best choice of restaurants, trattorie and delicious farmhouse accomodations.

Our favourite wineries:
Calcinaia, Cennatoio, Filigare, Fontodi, Isole e Olena, Monsanto.



The southern Chianti Classico, Siena
The south, due to higher and steeper hills, is rich of woods, less inhabited and preserves a whealth of beautiful castles. Yet this is where, between Radda, Castellina and Gaiole, the finer quality Chianti wines were first defined and distinguished from the rougher and too rustic reds of the older times. Not by chance it is here that the Chianti formula was established by the Baron Ricasoli, at the Brolio Castle,more than 2 centuries ago. Southern Chianti has fewer farmhouses, the best wines come from larger estates which are often self sufficient villages themselves. Some castles and farmhouses are remodeled into fine resorts which are ideal for an exclusive and relaxing visit.

Our favourite wineries:
Bossi, Castellare, Felsina, Fonterutoli, Montegrossi, Montevertine.

The Vernaccia di San Gimignano
The Vernaccia is the main important white among so many reds, besides the Ansonica and vermentinos from the coast. It is a varietal wine which has been selected in San Gimignano not less than seven centuries ago, and still now is only jealously produced only around the city walls. From almost every estate you can see the famous towers of San Gimignano, a musts of every Tuscan tour.

Our favourite wineries:
Cesani, Fontenidoli, Mormoraia, Panizzi, Pietraserena, Vagnoni.

The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
This second, historical wine, reputation dates back to the Renaisance, when Montepulciano’s rich wines were popular among the Florentine nobles. This robust Prugnolo (Sangiovese) and Canaiolo blend today is either produced in a “noble” style which is more appreciated abroad, or in a not easy, more intense, slow ageing style, which perhaps mathces better the traditional Italian taste and cuisine. Montepulciano is a beautiful hilltop town, with beautiful renaissance buildings and great views, concealing ancient cellars dug in the undergroud of the older noble buildings, which we can visit during our tastings.

Our favourite wineries:
Contucci, Cerro, Innocenti, il Macchione, Talosa.



Brunello di Montalcino
The Brunello, as it’s younger brother the Rosso, are strictly produced in the Montalcino Commune only, where the then ususual concept of raising low yeald vines for a top, exclusive wine arose in the late XIX in the Biondi Santi family. The dark, full bodied Brunello, made of unblended Sangiovese grosso only, and aged four years minimum, is today aknowledged as one of the best, and more expensive, top Italian reds. It’s ageing potential is amazing, its bouquet complex and balanced, some bottles are legendary.
Impossible to pick out few favourite wineries only.



Etruscan Coast and Maremma
The Etruscan coast is not a wine but a whole area, spanning from Pisa to the north of Grosseto, while the Maremma is the area furter south and the hills nearby. Beside the Cabernet based Sassicaia, another historical Supertuscan, which is now the only one-winery appelation, the wines of this belt are Sangiovese based too: Bolgheri, Montescudaio, Val di Cornia, Morellino. It is the new frontier of the Tuscan oenological Renaissance. The coastal belt has much to appeal the curious traveller: beautiful beaches, thermal warm waters, fascinating Etruscan and Roman sites. Its warm, dry cimate, gives intense, concetrated redes, with a more southern tone. They perfectly match the wild boar and meat dishes of the Maremma cuisine. While, as an alternative to the ever present Tuscan meat, the Thyrrenian seafood cuisine is admirably combined with the Vermentinos from the lower vineyards, or with the saltish, aromatic Ansonica dell’Argentario.

Our favourite wineries:
Mantellassi, Le Pupille, Poggio Gagliardo, Satta, Sorbaiano, Tua Rita.


Pisa and Lucca
The golden age of these two cities, ornated by rich Carrara marble monuments, were the centuries of the Crusades, before than Florence dominated Tuscany. The Pisa fleet trade crusaders and treasures across the Mediterranean, and artistic styles which still reveal some unusual moresque tone.
There are few, but worthy wineries in the Colline Pisane, Colline Lucchesi and Montecarlo DOC zones, they are little known, and very pleasant to visit. This area is a destination for connaisseurs, for those who enjoy the more discreet and elegant aspect of the Italian province.

Our favourite wineries Pisa hills:
Badia a Morrona, Ghizzano. Lucca: Buonamico, Greo, La Torre, Teso.