- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Please recommend wine/winery tour near Florence, Italy
Posted on 3/20/23 at 2:09 pm
Posted on 3/20/23 at 2:09 pm
I will be in Florence for four days. I have a few days planned already but I want to take a full-day wine or winery tour to sample one or more of the following; Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello, Vino Nobile. I prefer to not rent a car (since I will be drinking) but am open to hiring a driver, if needed. Please recommend a particular tour or winery that you enjoyed. A food/wine combo thing would be of interest, as well. Thanks.
7
Posted on 3/20/23 at 2:21 pm to Grillades
Here's what I would do.
Chianti is going to be in the Chianti Classico region. Brunello will be in Montalcino and Vino di Nobile will be in Montepulciano.
I would go to the enoteca in Greve and the enoteca in Montalcino so you can taste a variety of each. I'd skip Vino di Nobile as Montepulciano is even further out. Th enotecas I listed may be the two best in the world. They're fantastic. While in Greve you can go to a butcher shop that's been in the same location since 1729. It is the oldest butcher shop in Italy.
As far as vineyards go Baron Ricasoli is a large one in the chianti region with very good wines and an amazing view of the valley. We toured Tornesi right outside of Montalcino and they're great people with great wines.
If you go to Montalcino have lunch at the restaurant that has the huge glass oval in the floor. The food is wonderful there. It's down the street from the enoteca on the left right before the wine shop on the corner.
ETA: For a driver we use mydaytrip.com. You can do a custom trip and put in starting point and destination. Florence to Montalcino looks like it's about $320 euro for a driver for the day. Not bad at all.
Chianti is going to be in the Chianti Classico region. Brunello will be in Montalcino and Vino di Nobile will be in Montepulciano.
I would go to the enoteca in Greve and the enoteca in Montalcino so you can taste a variety of each. I'd skip Vino di Nobile as Montepulciano is even further out. Th enotecas I listed may be the two best in the world. They're fantastic. While in Greve you can go to a butcher shop that's been in the same location since 1729. It is the oldest butcher shop in Italy.
As far as vineyards go Baron Ricasoli is a large one in the chianti region with very good wines and an amazing view of the valley. We toured Tornesi right outside of Montalcino and they're great people with great wines.
If you go to Montalcino have lunch at the restaurant that has the huge glass oval in the floor. The food is wonderful there. It's down the street from the enoteca on the left right before the wine shop on the corner.
ETA: For a driver we use mydaytrip.com. You can do a custom trip and put in starting point and destination. Florence to Montalcino looks like it's about $320 euro for a driver for the day. Not bad at all.
This post was edited on 3/20/23 at 2:25 pm
Posted on 3/20/23 at 2:47 pm to Grillades
We booked a dinner at the Agriturismo Podere Anselmo ( www.poderedellanselmo.it) through Grape Tours. The food and wine were amazing. They drove us from Florence to the winery which was about 15 minutes outside of town. Excellent experience.
Posted on 3/20/23 at 2:57 pm to Grillades
If you are looking for a major winery to tour I would point you to Villa Antonori. It is close to Florence, easy to get to and is user friendly. They have a nice tasting room and a good restaurant.
The other day we were talking on here about Ricasoli. That is a beautiful and historic place but is a little farther away.
If you are looking for a tour guide, I would suggest Dario Castagno. We usually don't hire tour guides but we took two of his tours - the Chianti tour which included lunch and a tour of Tragole, a small, family owned Chianti Classico producer, and the Behind the Scenes of the Palio tour in Siena which included a rare opportunity to tour a Contrada clubhouse (The Caterpillar).
Dario
The other day we were talking on here about Ricasoli. That is a beautiful and historic place but is a little farther away.
If you are looking for a tour guide, I would suggest Dario Castagno. We usually don't hire tour guides but we took two of his tours - the Chianti tour which included lunch and a tour of Tragole, a small, family owned Chianti Classico producer, and the Behind the Scenes of the Palio tour in Siena which included a rare opportunity to tour a Contrada clubhouse (The Caterpillar).
Dario
Posted on 3/20/23 at 5:25 pm to Grillades
We did grape tours and it was really good
Posted on 3/20/23 at 7:10 pm to VABuckeye
@VABuckeye
There are a few enotecas in Greve in Chianti. Are you speaking of the one named Enoteca Falorni? I see one named Enoteca Bottega Del Chianti Classico, also. Thanks.
There are a few enotecas in Greve in Chianti. Are you speaking of the one named Enoteca Falorni? I see one named Enoteca Bottega Del Chianti Classico, also. Thanks.
Posted on 3/20/23 at 7:30 pm to Grillades
Enoteca Falorni. It’s awesome
Posted on 3/20/23 at 7:53 pm to VABuckeye
Yep.
Enoteca Falorni in Greve is the best wine store I have been to along with, as mentioned, the enoteca in the fort in Mantalcino. You know you are in a place that takes wine seriously when they put an enoteca in an ancient fort.
Greve is about a half hour drive from Florence but it is a pretty drove on back roads of Chianti country. Montalcino is about an hour away. Is it worth it for you to go through all that trouble to get to a wine store?
That is up to you.
I have been to Greve twice and Montalcino once, but we had a rental car and were staying south of Florence.
Enoteca Falorni in Greve is the best wine store I have been to along with, as mentioned, the enoteca in the fort in Mantalcino. You know you are in a place that takes wine seriously when they put an enoteca in an ancient fort.
Greve is about a half hour drive from Florence but it is a pretty drove on back roads of Chianti country. Montalcino is about an hour away. Is it worth it for you to go through all that trouble to get to a wine store?
That is up to you.
I have been to Greve twice and Montalcino once, but we had a rental car and were staying south of Florence.
Posted on 3/20/23 at 11:15 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
Brunello will be in Montalcino and Vino di Nobile will be in Montepulciano.
This is the only answer.
Posted on 3/21/23 at 12:04 am to Grillades
Fattoria Poggio Alloro San Gimignano
Posted on 3/21/23 at 7:00 am to Grillades
quote:
If you are looking for a major winery to tour I would point you to Villa Antonori. It is close to Florence, easy to get to and is user friendly. They have a nice tasting room and a good restaurant.
Outstanding lunch, great wines, beatiful winery. We were there in October and it was superb. It is a big production winery which is normally not my preference but I wholeheartedly recommend this.
More importantly, if you can find your way to Montalcino, do so. Worth the trip. Here were two of my favorites:
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona
Poggio Antico
Posted on 3/21/23 at 7:31 am to Grillades
UPDATE:
We reserved a day with Dario Castagno yesterday. We are doing his Rooster Day tour. We will also visit Enoteca Falorni one day, likely on the way to or from Siena.
The Agriturismo Podere Anselmo looks interesting and it is very close to Florence. I will dig into Fattoria Poggio Alloro San Gimignano and Villa Antonori today.
Because of time limitations, we can likely hit either Montalcino or Montepulciano but not both. Since I like Brunello quite a bit, it will likely be Montalcino.
Thanks for all of the info. It is helpful for a first-timer in Italy.
We reserved a day with Dario Castagno yesterday. We are doing his Rooster Day tour. We will also visit Enoteca Falorni one day, likely on the way to or from Siena.
The Agriturismo Podere Anselmo looks interesting and it is very close to Florence. I will dig into Fattoria Poggio Alloro San Gimignano and Villa Antonori today.
Because of time limitations, we can likely hit either Montalcino or Montepulciano but not both. Since I like Brunello quite a bit, it will likely be Montalcino.
Thanks for all of the info. It is helpful for a first-timer in Italy.
Posted on 3/21/23 at 8:17 am to Grillades
Enjoy! If you're a lover of Brunello then Montalcino should be your choice. Save Montepulciano for next time.
Posted on 3/21/23 at 10:33 am to Grillades
Good ole Dario.
You will enjoy his tours.
He is a bestselling author. We got some of his books and they are fun to read.
He also makes olive oil that he will ship to you. Expensive but delicious. One day I came home and saw a package on my front porch and opened it. When my wife got home I asked her "Did you order a $250.00 bottle of olive oil?"
She said "Uh, I may have. Remember that winery tour and tasting we had in Tuscany.......?"
It was delicious and lasted a long, long time. Worth every penny.
In Montalcino, go to the enoteca in the fort but also go up the hill to St. Antimo, a 1000 year old church where the monks sing Gregorian chants.
In Mantepulciano, the Vino Nobile producers are out in the countryside, but the wineries have tasting rooms at the top of the hill town with cellars in ancient caves carved in to the hill that you can walk down to.
You will enjoy his tours.
He is a bestselling author. We got some of his books and they are fun to read.
He also makes olive oil that he will ship to you. Expensive but delicious. One day I came home and saw a package on my front porch and opened it. When my wife got home I asked her "Did you order a $250.00 bottle of olive oil?"
She said "Uh, I may have. Remember that winery tour and tasting we had in Tuscany.......?"
It was delicious and lasted a long, long time. Worth every penny.
In Montalcino, go to the enoteca in the fort but also go up the hill to St. Antimo, a 1000 year old church where the monks sing Gregorian chants.
In Mantepulciano, the Vino Nobile producers are out in the countryside, but the wineries have tasting rooms at the top of the hill town with cellars in ancient caves carved in to the hill that you can walk down to.
Posted on 3/21/23 at 1:08 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
While in Greve you can go to a butcher shop that's been in the same location since 1729. It is the oldest butcher shop in Italy.
Now that's what I call aged beef.
Will be in Greve next Saturday. Can't wait to check that out.
Posted on 3/21/23 at 1:16 pm to Grillades
What is the cost of the Rooster Tour?
Sorry, not an OT baller here
Sorry, not an OT baller here
Posted on 3/21/23 at 1:53 pm to Pfft
It costs a flat 500EUR plus 70EUR/person. The Rooster Day tour starts at 9:00am and ends at 5:00pm so at least the tour is most of the day. I have a wife and four kids so the cost added up quickly on this outing. So, I understand you position. However, my kids are getting older (all in their 20s) so schedules are getting harder and harder to align. I am going all out on this one since it may be the last family vacation we all take together. I will drown my financial sorrows in Brunello and Chianti Classico. Life could be a lot worse than that.
Posted on 3/21/23 at 3:28 pm to Grillades
Damn, I guess I am going to have to free ball this one.
I am sure I can find my way around
I am sure I can find my way around
Posted on 3/21/23 at 3:35 pm to Grillades
quote:
I will drown my financial sorrows in Brunello and Chianti Classico.
Every time I go to that region I ship 8-10 cases back. Talk about financial sorrows.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News