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Best wine tours in Tuscany

Why Visit Tuscany?

Tuscany is one of the most picturesque, atmospheric and romantic regions of Italy. Lauded as the true birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, this idyllic region is renowned for its timeless natural landscapes, rich artistic legacy and enchanting medieval towns. However, it is as much a feast for the taste buds as the eyes and the soul. Many wine lovers around the world regard Tuscany as the jewel in the crown of Italy's wine culture, and the region is abundant with gastronomic delights. If you’re planning a wine and food tasting holiday, then look no further! 

WINE TASTING TOURS IN TUSCANY
Tuscany proudly produces some of the world’s most reputable wines: Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The region boasts a centuries-long viticultural history, and the picture-postcard Chianti hills are dotted with ancient wine estates run by passionate winemakers who relish the opportunity to share stories and a glass or two of their produce with interested visitors. Take a private wine tasting tour or join a small group to learn about and sample the best Tuscan wines.

FOOD TASTING EXPERIENCES IN TUSCANY
A food pilgrimage to Italy is not complete without taking a food tasting tour in Tuscany. The region is abundant with prized local produce from olives, porcini and chestnuts to wild game and salami. Even the tomatoes are mouthwatering! Truffles are the jewel in Tuscany’s gastronomic crown and the autumn months are the best time of year to join a truffle hunting tour. If, like us, you fall in love with the local cuisine, book a cooking class so you can recreate the flavours and bring back memories of your Tuscany wine and food holiday when you return home.

MORE REASONS TO VISIT TUSCANY
There is more to Tuscany than fabulous food and quality wine (although these alone are reason to visit!) The region is home to historical cities, medieval palaces and ancient hill-top hamlets. Explore the magnificent Renaissance architecture of Florence, the spectacular Gothic Duomo of Siena and wonder at Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower. Take a break from wine tasting to admire the beauty of Montepulciano, the medieval skyscrapers of San Gimignano, and wander the cobbled streets of Montalcino. 

WINERIST INSIDER TIP
With so much to see and taste in Tuscany it’s difficult to know where to begin. If you’re a first time visitor to Tuscany here’s what we recommend in a week. Start with two days in Florence enjoying the city’s food scene, before heading to Chianti Classico for countryside immersion and Chianti tasting. Finish your trip exploring the medieval towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino, sampling Brunello di Montalcino and the cheese of Val d'Orcia.

Plan Your Visit

Best Known Grapes

Tuscany is red wine country! The region’s most prominent grape is also Italy’s most widely planted red grape variety: Sangiovese. This thin-skinned grape thrives in the dry, warm climate of the region, producing rich, alcoholic wines. It is the main grape used in almost all Tuscany’s top red wines including Chianti. Wines that carry the famous Brunello label are made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. In addition to being used as a single varietal, there has been a tradition-breaking movement towards blending Sangiovese with non-indigenous varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Labelled ‘Super Tuscan’, these blended creations have put premium Italian wines firmly back on the map!  Tuscany is not known for its white wines however the region does produce a crisp, white – Vernaccia di San Gimignano – from the grape Vernaccia which is grown in central Tuscany and almost nowhere else. Incidentally, Vernaccia di San Gimignano is the only white Tuscan wine to be recognised with a DOCG label.   
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Best time to visit

Wine holidays to Tuscany can be enjoyed throughout the year as each season offers something different.  The spring and autumn months are the perfect time of year to visit Tuscany, when the landscape is at its most picturesque and the weather is favourable – not too hot with minimal chance of rainfall. If you are a food and wine lover, the autumn months of September and October are particularly good months to enjoy a wine and food focused holiday in Tuscany: it’s truffle season and grape harvest time. You may even have the opportunity to join in the grape picking. Temperatures rise during the summer months so we recommend including day trips to the Tuscan coast to cool off in the crystal clear waters. The winter months, meanwhile, are a great time of year to explore the cities of Tuscany such as Florence and Siena, without the tourist crowds. 
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How long to stay

We suggest that you spend a minimum of four days on a wine holiday in Tuscany, although it’s very easy to spend a week just strolling around Florence stopping for leisurely lunches and decadent dinners (says the voice of experience!) If you have more time you could easily while away a week exploring the vineyards of Chianti and Montalcino; or two weeks immersing yourself fully in the region with wine tastings and cooking classes, day trips to the sea and visits to the medieval towns of San Gimignano and Montepulciano. 
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How to get there

There are two international airports serving Tuscany: the Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa and the Amerigo Vespucci Airport which is on the outskirts of Florence. If you are arriving into Pisa airport, a 15-minute taxi ride will deliver you to the city centre, or Florence is a one hour drive away. If you are arriving into Florence airport, the city centre is easy to reach via taxi and shuttle bus.  It is also easy to reach Tuscany by train as the Italian railway network connects with the rest of the European rail system. Direct international trains arrive into Florence from Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Munich and other European cities. Fast InterCity links connect Florence and Pisa with other Italian cities including Rome, Milan, Bologna, Verona, Venice, Genoa and Naples. 
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