winery tours and tasting

Tours by Roberto can help you out. They specialize in the area.

We'll have a car so don't really want that kind of tour. Thanks though. Just what wineries might be recommended.

if you will be tasting, remember that you will need a designated driver. Drinking and driving is really looked down on in Italy and drink-drive allowable limits are very low. It is enforced and penalties are high.

You probably know that - others reading this thread may not....

I can't help with the actual question because I don't drink.... I remember seeing plenty of opportunities in Chiantishire though.... Brits love it there...

Do heed what Nigel has said. I don't know about Italy, but when we lived in Poland some time ago, being caught driving having had even one drink meant you would lose your license.

Please check the local laws.

I ordered wine and olive from Roberto Bechi about a year ago. It was a way to get a little Italy during COVID. It was good. You could still contact him and inquire about touring his winery. (In addition to tours, he has an estate just outside Siena, and grows grapes, makes wine and runs a small BnB.

This was the best wine tasting places we visited last time we were in Italy.
Castello della Paneretta 35
50028 Barberino Tavarnelle
Toscana Firenze Italia
winetasting@paneretta.it
Tel +390558059003

These are some nice wineries, some in old castles, offering tours and tastings in the Chianti area...

Castello di Gabbiano

Castello Della Paneretta

Badia a Coltibuono

Castello di Meleto

Castello di Brolio

We spent a fabulous week at Castello di Verrazzono near Greve.

I highly recommend you do their food and wine tasting. You start with a tour of the winery, then they bring you back for a fabulous lunch. Chianti, like most wines, are best enjoyed with food. A tasting alone won't give you a good sense of the wine.

At the tasting, you start with an appetizer and Prosecco. You then have a succession of dishes paired with their Chianti Classico, Chianti Reserva and their Super Tuscan. You finish with Vin Santo served with biscotti. Along the way you get to taste their aged balsamic vinegar, which is hands town the best I've ever tasted.

Block out the afternoon to really appreciate it. Also heed the warnings about drinking and driving. See if you can arrange a private driver for the excursion, because they are generous with their wine. Luckily for us, we were staying on the property and didn't have to drive after this amazing experience.

Remember, the better wineries will require a reservation and a fee. So it is a good idea to set them up in advance. There are a number of references in the wine world that will rank or give you a must see list of wineries.

I would urge you to not overlook lesser known, smaller, family run wineries. We've done wine tastings in France, Spain, Austria, and Italy. Our fondest memories are the little family run wineries. Our favorites were in Vouvray, Chinon, Touraine and Alsace. In Vouvray, at one winery, we had to come back when the family finished their midday meal. When we returned we made our way thru children's toys on the driveway and tasted with the winemaker. We bought about 12 bottles and used it for picnics etc. during the trip.

Don't know what your knowledge is of winery tours and tastings in Italian wineries, but as someone as said, just 'dropping in' is the exception, not the rule. Most wineries expect you to reserve your visit in advance unless they explicitly say otherwise on their website. The ones you can just drop in are going to be the biggest most commercial and will offer you no comparison to the smaller more intimate wineries that will create wonderful memories of your trip and time in Italy.

In Chianti region -

Terre di Perseto
Greve
terrediperseto.com
Wine, olive oil
Note *
No tastings on Sunday *
By reservation

Antinori nel Chianti Classico
antinori.it/en/
Greve
Wine, Restaurant

Verrazzano Castle
Greve
https://www.verrazzano.com/
Wine, Agroturismo, Olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, restaurant

Querceto Castle
Greve
https://www.castellodiquerceto.it/en/
Wine, agroturismo
Note
Book tasting & tours on their website

Castello di Brolio
Gaiole in Chianti
https://ricasoli.com/en/
Agriturismo, Restaurant, Wine, Olive Oil
Tastings / Tours

Viticcio Winery
Greve
http://www.viticcio.com/
Wine, Olive Oil, Agroturismo
Getting there
If you use the GPS to reach the Viticcio Farm you must indicate “Via di Colognole, Greve in Chianti” (and not “Via San Cresci, 12”). From there you will easily find directions to reach us.
Note
Reservation required through website