Instead of taking a tour, we are considering driving around Tuscany with our 3 kids and visiting wineries among other spots. I’m assuming we’d be able to pop into any winery we choose and sample the wines. Is this true?
not an assumption I would make.
Also suggest you research DUI limits /enforcement/ penalties in Italy. I have not done so, but others on this forum report it is stricter than USA.
Not at all like the US. Reservations are almost always necessary. You need to call or write to the wineries and ask to visit. I will come back later and post a link to a helpful article. Can’t get to it on my iPad for some reason.
Here's a link to some wine tour advice for Chianti. It is on the Dall'Uva website.