Drive ut of Florence Vineyards

Connie: Robert has good advice. To that I would add that there are loads of wineries in the Chianti area south of Florence. Most are not like the typical drop-in wine tasting experience of say California. We have been on wine journeys through Chianti many times and the experience is so much better if you contact the winery ahead of time and make a reservation. Our favorite area is in and around Panzano (on the S222 halfway between Florence and Siena). Panzano is a lovely little village with a great wine bar (Enoteca Baldi). Around that area are three of our favorite wineries: 1. Panzanello - right near Panzano. 2. Volpaia - a unique experience in a tiny hilltop hamlet between Greve and Panzano. Great tour and lovely wines. 3. Vignamaggio - a gorgeous estate (it is where Mona Lisa lived!). Elegant wines. All three have websites and you can call or email to make a reservation. If you plan ahead you can even enjoy luncheon or dinner as part of your wine experience. There are of course lots and lots of wineries - these are just our favorites. Have fun.

I've done it many times. Just look for those gray signs pointing you to some winery. There are lots of them and most have wine tasting (degustazione vini) Be aware that some of those driveways may be very long, since the winery may be quite a distance from the main highway (SR 222). Greve, Castellina, Radda are some of the most famous villages. Greve will have tasting in town also). You should definitely visit Greve's ancient square. The explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano came from there, they have a bronze statue of him in Greve's main piazza.

We are just back from nine days of wineries and wine tasting. It is a mixed bag. The more well known wineries will insist on reservations and a fee. We were actually turned away from a winery because we did not have a reservation and we were the only car in the parking lot. However, you can find tasting rooms in a lot of towns which are free and some along the roads. We always had a mix of two or three reservations a day and then try to catch some others along the road to the reservations.

The vineyards are indeed a mixed bag, varying from the big commercial operations to the small, family run affairs. You'll find the bigger ones easily online as they have more wine to sell and tend to be the first ones you will come across on a google search.
One small winery not far from the main road between Florence and Siena which I particularly like is Montefioralle website here, which is named after the very pretty hill top town it lies beside of the same name. Be aware that there is an 'off-season' during the winter months where it may be hard to find anywhere which is open for wine tastings.

The vineyards are indeed a mixed bag, varying from the big commercial operations to the small, family run affairs. You'll find the bigger ones easily online as they have more wine to sell and tend to be the first ones you will come across on a google search.
One small winery not far from the main road between Florence and Siena which I particularly like is Montefioralle website here, which is named after the very pretty hill top town it lies beside of the same name. Be aware that there is an 'off-season' during the winter months where it may be hard to find anywhere which is open for wine tastings.

Thank you all for your input we are just a couple of weeks away from heading out!