Traveling throughout Tuscany

Are you driving or going by train?

we will have a car

Karen: We have toured Tuscany several times. For us the key is "simple" "slow" and "close". Make an effort to avoid rush-rush travel. Our favorite part of Tuscany is Chianti between Florence and Siena. We just love the little hill village of Panzano - just a great area surrounded by fabulous wineries. Every place is farther than it seems on the map - we pick a central place and do very short day trips. For restaurants we like Ristoro di Lamole in tiny little Lamole (Sunday afternoons are the best), Solociccio in Panzano (owned and operated by Italy's most famous butcher) and the casual Enoteca Baldi in Panzano. As for wineries - we have visited dozens - these are our favorites: 1. Panzanello - a family run winery just outside of Panzano - good wines - great people. 2. Vignamaggio - between Panzano and Greve - beautiful estate - the place where Mona Lisa grew up and the setting for Kenneth Branagh's "Much Ado About Nothing". Glorious wines. 3. Volpaia - near Greve - this tiny hamlet has been entirely subsumed into the wine operations. Just a lot of fun. All of these locations have English language websites. Make sure to arrange your tour ahead of time. You can add a nice lunch or dinner with your tour. That was a real highlight for us. Have fun.

@ Jon, If choosing just one (two days in Chianti and want to be mostly unscheduled), which of Panzanello, Vignamaggio, and Volpaia is your top choice for a scheduled tour?

Jon,
Curious as well...we are staying outside of Siena in Argitursimo Mercano for five nights with a car. WE LOVE WINE TOURING! If our home base is five miles outside of Siena, how far are these small towns you mention from Siena? If we focus two days travel through Chianti can we hit these three/four towns? Thanks! Amy and Doug