Best Way to Visit Wineries in Tuscany

Plan a wine tour in Tuscany

Undoubtedly, Tuscany is home to good wines and a beautiful region to explore. So, if you are a wine lover in Florence for a few days, plan a wine tour.

But before planning your holiday in Tuscany, read these recommendations.

1) Tuscany is more significant than it looks.
Tuscany is a rather large region and is more significant than it looks. Everything seems around the corner, but you can not be fooled.

2) Drive slow.
The roads are dirt and winding, and the area is hilly, so it would take a long time to go from a winery to a nearby one.
Remember that when you plan your visits, Google Maps can be a good enough tool for measuring time and distance.

3) The number of wineries.
In Tuscany, there are thousands of good cellars.
Do not expect to visit a dozen in a single day, but rather think of a view of a wine area to deepen your knowledge of wine.
Do not fill ten points in a day; aim for three. Two would be ideal.

4) Take your time.
Everything in Italy is slower, so your visits will be more pleasant. You will not have time to try and savor your wine if you hurry up for tours and tastings and drive everywhere. Spend more time at each winery and less time in the car.

5) Bring a GPS
If you go on your own with a rental car, take a GPS; even the smartphone is fine.
Having a list of phone numbers for the wineries you plan to visit at your fingertips might also be a good idea. You may need it.

6) Plan your interests.
To find the best place to situate yourself, you must consider several factors, including how many days you will be in Tuscany, how much of your trip you will dedicate to the wine tour, and what kind of wines you like to drink. And you want to know more about it. What other cities are you planning to visit during your stay in Tuscany? Every situation is different, and sometimes a consultation can be helpful.

7) Where to stay.
Generally, the Florence area is a good starting point for visiting the Chianti Classico and Chianti Rufina area. Instead, Siena is a good base for exploring and tasting Brunello, Vino Nobile, and Rosso di Montalcino. If you only have a day or a half day, choose the style of wine that interests you most and focus on that area. Avoid going to Florence if your goal is Brunello di Montalcino or Nobile di Montepulciano. It would be a waste of time and money. Remember that petrol in Italy is costly.

8) Make an appointment.
If you decide to visit a large company like Antinori, Ornellaia, or Biondi Santi, you must book and pay for a ticket that can sometimes be very expensive. The ticket for a wine tasting varies from € 25 to € 120 per person, depending on the quality of the wines you want to taste.

For the smaller vineyards, always remember to book well in advance because, many times, the staff does not speak English.

And after making that appointment, it is essential to keep it and be on time. The smaller producers are mostly family-run and do not have a waiting staff. This is particularly important in September and October when the cellars are busy with the harvest.

9) Wine Tasting Experience
Every winery offers different ways of making the wine experience, for instance in some you can taste 3/4 types of wine in others you can also taste the extra virgin olive oil. The staff sometimes speaks well English and is well prepared. You will also be taken to explore the cellar and vineyards in some vineyards.
Everyone has his style, from the formal Antinori and Ornellaia to the casual wine boutiques.

10) Take a guided wine tour
The best way to avoid worrying about anything I mentioned above is to organize a guided wine tour with a local Tour Operator.
Avoid large companies such as Viator, AirB&B, GetYourGuide, or TripAdvisor because they are not tour organizers, but they only get very high commissions from local operators, such as 25% / 30%. You risk throwing your money away.
Select a local Tour Operator based in Florence like us at www.italyandwine.net.
You can join a small group or request a private excursion with a driver.