Winery tours in Tuscany

We were in Tuscany in June and enjoyed a wonderful vineyard tour at Castello Il Palagio (http://www.castelloilpalagio.it/main_e.html). We did make reservations in advance and because it's relatively small, I'm not sure if tours are available without reservations. Check out their website - it outlines all the options for the taste testing. Ours was a really good experience!

We are also going to be there in October, and have booked a day tour with Tours by Roberto, who has appeared on Rick's shows. Check it out at http://www.toursbyroberto.com/ . My understanding is that with a tour you can get into wineries that you might not be admitted to on your own, and he includes Etruscan sites, lunch, etc.

Susan:

There are many many great winery experiences in Tuscany. October is a great time to go. There are organized tours that you can find by searching the internet and using this site.

If you want to put together your own tour - here are three of our favorite spots in Tuscany -

1. Panzanello - a newer winery on ancient vineyards. Andrea who runs the place is just wonderful. This is just outside Panzano (exactly between Florence and Siena in the heart of Chianti).

2. Vignamaggio - Beautiful wines made on the estate where Mona Lisa grew up. This estate was the setting for Kenneth Branagh's version of "Much Ado About Nothing". Just outside Greve.

3. Volpaia - A tiny hilltop village that has been completely subsumed into the wine making operations. Their wines are great - particularly their Balifico (a super-tuscan). Just outside Greve.

Each of these locations has a website. Plan ahead and make reservations for your tour for a better experience. Each of these places can also put together a wine tasting luncheon or dinner - we have done this several times and it is always a real highlight of our journey. Have fun.

We toured the Banfi Winery and a reservation is required--can be arranged a day ahead. I think there were around twenty people in our touring group. Huge and impressive winery with restaurant, gift shop, etc. located south of Montalcino. The location is just gorgeous.

Thanks, everyone. I'm getting excited.

Hi Susan~ Have done a ton of reseach on this and have planned three days in different areas :) We are going to Verrazzano as it seems lovely. Have discovered that most of the wineries have FREE tastings at their wine bars so you don't have to pay for the tour unless you want it. Some of them are quite expensive. Most of them do require reservations for tours. If you would like more info, I am happy to share. We are also doing a bike tour and a horseback riding tour which each include a winery.

Castello di Verrazzano was wonderful. We toured the winery and then enjoyed a fabulous luncheon with wine pairings. The property is gorgeous and the guide was very animated and excited to be showcasing the winery. A wonderful end to my 3 week trip to Italy. Enjoy!

Thanks again for the responses. Has anyone done Castel il Paglio or Palogio (not sure I have correct spelling)? So if I understand correctly, while driving around Tuscany we will run into wineries. Are there signs advertising? (I hope not like American billboards, but little road signs for us to just run across). I'm leaning toward making at least one reservation and hoping to "discover" many other wineries. Thanks again for all your help.

You certainly get my vote for Verrazzano!!! Our visit there was one the highlights of our trip to Italy. Scenery, food, WINE and tour was fabulous. We did the lunch wine tasting. Our tour guide was awesome and I've recommended this winery to several who have posted since their visit recommending it as well. Enjoy!!!

We also did the lunch tour at Verrazzano in May. It was one of the highlights of our trip. Wonderful tour guide, beautiful scenery, great food and wine. Not cheap, but worth every euro!

In 2008 we stayed in Montalcino at Hotel El Giglio and he gave us a great map with hundred of wineries. We visited Altesino with an appointment we made before going over, a small fee, and had a very personal tour with wonderful Brunellos. We visited Fattoria di Barbi which I believe had a nominal fee but no appointment was required but a set schedule. Both are off the main road and you probably wouldn't know to go. We visited others by appointment there and in Chianti sleeping in Radda. In Chianti we also tried to drop in but found the wineries had very limited hours and long lunches. We live near the Napa Valley in California which is highly commercial and more expensive. These old noble wineries are a delight but many are very small with limited staff. While studying in Florence our daughter went with her class to Castello di Verrazzano and enjoyed it. I believe he's well set up for tourists.

Thanks again. So the best thing would be to get a map of wineries? Just driving along and looking for signs isn't possible or practical. Love all the advise.