Discover the Best Wineries of 2022 in Tuscany with Walkabout Florence
One of Tuscany’s proudest and most renowned products is, of course, the magnificent wine; because, let’s face it, wouldn’t the world be a far poorer place without a fine Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano? You don’t even have to be a wine aficionado to know it’s true. We’ve done a huge amount of research (well, someone had to do it…) into the best wineries in Tuscany, several of which we are delighted to feature in two of our most popular day tours. We’re proud to offer our support to these local wineries, because we think they go beyond offering a simple taste test of some delicious wines (although, don’t worry, they definitely do that!), to wrap you in a warm and welcoming Tuscan hug and introduce you to the essence of la dolce vita – just like we do.
At Walkabout Florence we’re passionate about sharing the genuine heart and soul of our local Tuscan wine industry with our clients. Because for us, wine is never just a drink, it represents a huge part of our unique history and culture. And with our Italian lifestyle defined by a very serious dedication to la dolce vita, we believe that getting to know the wine should be as relaxed, friendly and fun-filled as possible!
Come With Us to the Best Wineries in Tuscany
We visit some of the best wineries in Tuscany on both our fun-filled Chianti Safari and superb Tuscany in One Day tours. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur on a bucket-list, dream-come-true trip, or you know nothing about wine, but you just know what you like – when you’re with us, you’re with friends. An expert guide will accompany you throughout the day, and you’ll not only enjoy incredible food, fabulous conversation, lots of laughs and tastings at some of the best wineries in Tuscany; you’ll also learn some of the fascinating history of the region and get to see a generous slice of the breath-taking landscape. Believe us, it’s famous for a reason…
We’ve chosen an amazing way for you to experience the rolling hills and beautiful woodlands of the region on our Chianti Safari. You’ll travel in the back of a customized 4WD designed to navigate the unmarked backroads and provide an off-roading adventure to remember. Tighten your seat belt and get ready for some fun under the Tuscan sun!
As you’d imagine, the wineries we’ve chosen to feature on our tours are all about the local vino, of course, but we’ve picked them because they also offer something just a little bit special that’s touched our hearts. Whether it’s their location, their history, their food or their warm family welcome, we promise you each and every one of these wineries will provide you with a truly memorable experience. Oh, and we also promise you’ll know a whole lot more about wine by the end of the day as well! Yes, even if you’re already an expert.
Here’s a taste test of some of the best wineries in Tuscany.
Fattoria Poggio Alloro
Just five kilometres from the much-visited hilltop town of San Gimignano (which you absolutely must visit!), this family-run agriturismo has a wonderful history as one of the early adopters of entirely organic agricultural principles. Established by the three Fioroni brothers (Bernardo, Amico and Umberto), as new generations came up through the ranks the desire for a sustainable family operation saw a wonderful blending of old and new techniques – which is still in evidence today.
The farm produces various fruit and vegetable crops, olives, grapes (we’ll get to the wine, don’t worry), saffron and also raises the famous Chianina cattle, pigs and chickens. When we visit for lunch and wine tastings, everything you eat and drink is produced on site or by local artisans nearby – from the cured prosciuttos and salamis, to mouth-watering cheeses, biscotti and, of course, their organically produced wines.
The three Fioroni brothers could only have dreamed that their humble beginnings would have evolved into a 200,000 bottle a year operation – but despite the modern technology the family has embraced, they still hold true to the brothers’ original principles. It’s a wonderful story and one that will be made all the more appealing when you see the place for yourself.
Top tip: The farm also holds cooking classes so you can learn how to replicate the delicious Tuscan dishes yourself. If you’re going to be around the area for a while you can make a booking and come back again!
Villa Le Corti
You can’t escape history in Italy, but the difference is that when you’re with us, we make learning fun. One of the stops on our Chianti Safari is the magnificent Villa Le Corti, situated in an absolutely stunning setting between Florence and Siena. With a thousand-year heritage in the hands of the aristocratic Corsini family, there’s a lot to see, learn and taste in this historic place, as you can imagine.
The sixteenth-century villa itself is as impressive as it is beautiful, surrounded by parkland and ancient cypress trees, but it’s the wine cellars that will truly wow you. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time (1600 to be precise) as you descend into the cool underground labyrinth. Unlike anything else of its time, the cellar is set over three levels and its corridors and fermenting, barrel and bottling rooms snake their way around beneath the villa and gardens.
Renowned as one of the best wineries in Tuscany, Villa Le Corti produces the prestigious Chianti Classico Principe Corsini, as well as its famous olive oil. (You’ll get to see Chianti’s largest olive oil storage areas, called orciaia.) After a guided tour of the cellars, you’ll taste not only wines, but also cheeses and olive oils, specially paired for an optimum taste sensation.
Top Tip: You can also make purchases to take away and enjoy later, so bring an extra carry bag – you’re going to need it!
Fattoria di Rignana
Set amidst a picture-postcard landscape of patchworked vineyards and rolling hills, Rignana has a history of agriculture dating back as far as the eleventh century. The Fattoria and the villa were used in the production of wine and olive oil for centuries, although today they enjoy a new life as accommodation and a restaurant. The entire estate has been painstakingly restored and is surrounded by about 270 acres of olive groves (more than 1,000 trees), pretty woodlands and, of course, the classic views of row upon neat row of vineyards.
The wines of Fattoria de Rignana are produced from the Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes grown on site. The estate’s owners are committed to maintaining the traditional methods of the Chianti region, and adhere to an entirely organic production of their wines and cold-pressed olive oils.
As with all the wineries we at Walkabout Florence has chosen for our tours, it’s really about the entire experience of being able to soak up the history and panoramic views of the region, as well as enjoy the tastings. In such a context, with your wonderful guide, companions and hosts, we guarantee they’ll taste just that little bit better.
Top tip: Make sure you take note of the unique coat of arms on the bottles and packaging of Fattoria de Rignana products featuring a hedgehog (il riccio) – and, if you’re lucky, you may even get to see the real thing ambling around the farm.
Lamole di Lamole
Producing its own highly distinctive version of the famous Chianti Classico, among many other excellent wines, Lamole di Lamole is about 10 kilometres from Greve, deep into the Chianti countryside. At Walkabout Florence, we’ve dedicated ourselves to discovering the very best wineries in Tuscany, so we’ve veered far off the beaten track in this case, to make sure you enjoy the most authentic and diverse experience possible.
The journey to get to Lamole di Lamole is almost as amazing as the visit itself. We’ll travel along the floor of a valley and through lush beech forests to get to the gorgeous village of Lamole, before making our way up to the vineyard itself. While this one is not as well known as some others in the region, it has produced two award-winning wines (including the multi-awarded Riserva Campolungo cru) using time-honoured methods enhanced by modern innovative techniques. The estate grows a variety of grapes including canaiolo, sangiovese, trebbiano toscano and malvasia nera, along with other international varieties like merlot and cabernet sauvignon.
The historic cellars of the winery date back to the fourteenth century and they house an incredible collection of dusty bottles of past vintages as well as ageing the current ones. The oldest vineyard, which dates back to 1945, is located right next to the cellar – so it’s amazing to be able to stand and soak up the history overlooking some of the vines that started it all.
A visit to Lamole di Lamole is the last stop on our fabulous and fun Chianti Safari tour. We can’t think of a better place to end what’s bound to be one of your most memorable days in this truly magical region. The light at this end of the day is simply spectacular, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped onto a film set as you watch the sun settle over the rolling hills and valleys that surround the vineyard.
Found Your Own Favourites?
Spending a bit of time on your own exploring Chianti? You’d be mad not to because, for wine lovers, this really is one of the best places to visit in Europe. If you discover any other fantastic local wineries on your adventures around Tuscany, we’d love to hear about them so we can add them to our list of favourites. Get in touch and tell us about them!
Discover Tuscany With Friends
If you want to get to know the real Tuscany, join us and we’ll make sure you have the experience of a lifetime. Walkabout Florence offers small group day trips and experience that don’t just take you to the regular tourist traps, but help you delve into the authentic culture and fun-filled lifestyle of this stunning region. Get in touch and have a chat with your new Italian friends!
We Are Walkabout Florence
Walkabout Florence is renowned as one of the industry’s best independent tour operators, specialising in fun and authentic day tours to help guests discover the amazing art, history, culture, food and wine of Italy. From Fiat 500 and Vespa tours to cultural day trips and food and wine experiences, we are 100% committed to our customers’ satisfaction every step of the way.
