Hello Traveling Friends,
After Rome and Lake Garda we want wine country. I am thinking home base Florence? I have been before, but my partner has not. We would like a wine tour that is more intimate, small producers, can’t find in the states. Thoughts? Best day trip towns from Florence? We have no car, so trains will be our best friend.
Thank you!
Matt
Lake Garda is wine country, with Bardolino right there, and Valpolicella and Amarone nearby.
The whole of Italy is wine country! Not far from Lake Garda is the Franciacorta wine area between Lake Iseo and Brescia, for example....
Of course! My partner wants to see Tuscany/Florence being her first visit. We sadly do not have much time to taste through the entirety of Italian wine country. Our hope is this is one of many trips to explore all Italy has to offer.
I feel like our home base should be Siena? Florence day or days trip, montepulciano day trip, what other village/town must we see in this short time? Thank you for your expertise!
Matt
Or if you're in that part of Italy, you could even do a day trip on the Bernina Express to Chur and back.
hey hey oregon
since you’re trip is on “wine patrol”, so many wineries and vineyards on lake garda, outside milan (asti and piemonte). tripsavvy.com/15 things to do in asti (read about the town and #1 sipping on famous wines)
getyourguide.com/lake garda you can also put in florence
click food and drink, so many activities
duetigarage.com
click trike/ryker rental for a cruise around part of the lake
take train to venice, spend night near train station and take tour to prosecco road. (visitproceccoitaly.com)
we took this wonderful tour with oriana few years ago, train to susegana, tour guide and van met us 4 and away we went. this is her home town, driving thru the gorgeous hills, stop at 2 wineries and lunch at small trattoria, small refrigerator in hills to buy local prosecco, friend walked up and bought. back to station and train to venice (venezia santa lucia) fun day trip, keep luggage (pack light) at station, after tour take train to florence (firenze santa maria novella)
stay in florence and do day trips, so much to do there, roam around, people watch, sit outside cafe for wine and charcuterie plate, museums (reserve early and go early mornings to avoid the crowds)
educated-traveler.com/wine windows
read up about these windows and the history behind them, we saw them but was being remodeled when we were there.
mercatocentrale.com
big market in and out, fun to walk around and look. click artisans to see what food they offer, sit down for a meal
hippie-inheels.com/guide to san lorenzo market
tuscan-wine-tours.com
small wine tours, look at what they offer, “super Chianti” lets you meet the famous butcher, Dario, see his shop and have lunch in his restaurant. or “wine time” adventure
Italyheaven.co.uk
search bar: write down city/town your want or hope to see and learn about it.
book rooms/apts early since busy and crowded times in these popular towns
more researching for you to do, hope this wets your whistle. enjoy
aloha
If your partner wants to visit Tuscany, then Tuscany it is. Siena would be a nice base—-smaller and more charming than Florence. Some boutique hotels offer views over the valley.
Here is some information on the Chianti Wine Route between Siena and Florence, and recommended vineyards:
https://www.to-tuscany.com/travel-guide/things-to-do/tuscany-wines/
There should be tours to some of them offered from Siena.
