This Tuscany wine lover's itinerary is filled with natural simplicity and authentic beauty. 

Tuscany is probably the most picturesque wine region in Italy presenting different types of landscape, topography, and terroir. 

We’ll appreciate these differences and how they transfer into winemaking. 

You can pay by credit card, bank transfer, and bank check. 

Payments are as follows:

• At booking 10%
• Balance due 90 days prior to departure 

The king of Tuscan grape varieties is undoubtedly Sangiovese: with more than 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres), it occupies more than 10% of Italian vineyards. It is the main grape variety for Chianti and also for Brunello di Montalcino, one of the most prestigious wines in the world. For the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano a Sangiovese clone is used: in this case, the grape Prugnollo Gentile. Since the advent of the Super Tuscans, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc have had a presence in the region. 

So, while Sangiovese plays the biggest role, Tuscan reds aren’t “boring” at all and it is easy to fall in love with them forever, especially after admiring the vineyards in person, smelling the soil and listening to the producers explaining their vision. 

Our tour starts in the city of Siena, a Unesco World Heritage site, best known for Palio, the hardest horse race in the world, held twice a year. It’s a charming and perfectly preserved medieval town offering characteristic narrow streets. The Piazza del Campo, as the heart of the city, is one of the largest medieval squares in the world and has an unmistakable shell shape. In this place, you will find the Torre del Mangia from where you have a breathtaking view over the town. From Siena (three-night stay) we’ll explore the Chianti Classico wine area (province of Siena) and a Nobile di Montepulciano producer. We'll then move to Val d'Orcia and to the Brunello area.

Val d’Orcia is the image of Tuscany itself: the landscape, with smooth hills, cypress trees that line its winding roads, lovely farmhouses and hilltop hamlets all correspond, in the minds of many people, to quintessential Tuscany. Even if you haven’t heard of Val d’Orcia before, you’ve certainly seen it featured in travel magazines that highlight Tuscany. In this valley, which stretches from the hills of Siena to Monte Amiata, the famous village of Montalcino surrounded by vineyards sits at 1,860 ft high, being the highest point of our tour. 

Maremma (a natural protected area) and Bolgheri are newer wine areas. Free from traditional dogma, constraints, and rules, yet gifted with perfect conditions near the Tyrrhenian Sea, they deliver some of the most interesting wines you can find anywhere. One could argue that we have saved the best for last. That’s up to you to decide. It is however interesting to understand how Super Tuscans came about. Anyone who knows Italian bureaucracy, especially in viticulture and winemaking, will know that changing rules in Italy is not an easy task. However, in the 1970's several winemakers in Tuscany vineyards started a revolution in winemaking. The first step was the release of the wine Sassicaia by Mario Incisa Della Rocchetta and later followed by Antinori with Tignanello, Solaia, Ornellaia, etc. Nowadays, unpretentious Bolgheri sees the biggest cluster of producers blending Sangiovese and international grapes. 

In Tuscany, small and large producers coexist in a way that is often hard to grasp. Our tastings and visits are meant to showcase a curated list of winemakers including “aristocratic” ones and some producing less than 10,000 bottles annually with just one of two people involved (full-time) that equally deliver excellence. 

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Siena and Val d'Orcia

• Villages of Pienza, Montepulciano, Pitigliano, and  San Gimignano

• Bolgheri, home of the "Super Tuscans"

• Stunning rolling hills covered with vineyards and picture-perfect medieval villages

• Maremma wine production area

• Castle-topped villages and walled towns for a jump back in time

• Some of the best regional food in Italy

• Montalcino and Brunello

• Visits to the most iconic producers and to our personal favorites

•.Learn about the history and evolution of Chianti Classico at its birthplace

• Meetings with producers and local experts who are behind the

local wine scene

-Please review our Terms and Conditions. Before reserving your trip you'll be asked to read them again and agree to them. Our standard cancellation policy is in effect for 2023 and to cover your expenses in case you can not travel we strongly recommend you get travel insurance. We will recommend a company you can use after you book.

-This tour is interactive and engaging. We'll be walking in vineyards and on uneven, hilly terrain. While you don't need to be an athlete to join, a certain level of physical fitness is required for your enjoyment, comfort, and safety. If you have any doubts, you can call us beforehand to go over your personal situation.

-A list of what is included is located below. We list the wine areas that we will visit and also the number of wine tastings that are included. We'll give you info on the actual wineries that we will sample/visit closer to the departure date.

• A professional tour guide throughout the program

• All accommodation 

• All breakfasts, four lunches, and three dinners

• Eleven wine tastings

• All transfers, ticket entrances, and gratuities

• Group shuttle from Florence at the beginning of the tour and group shuttle back to Florence at the end

• Assistance with door-to-door wine shipping

• All of the wine at group lunches and dinners

• Walking tour of Siena and Montalcino with local guides

We also include the finest Tuscan wines of the best vintages.  

Athena ****

Hotel Athena is the place where a welcome, a smile, and hospitality are the order of the day. It's located just inside the Porta San Marco, in the beating heart of Siena, close to all the main attractions of the historic center and it offers a magnificent panoramic view over the hills of the surrounding countryside. Rooms are furnished by local artisans and are painted with colors that echo the tones of the Tuscan landscape.

Fortezza di Sorano ***

The Hotel della Fortezza is located within the ancient walls of the Orsini Fortress of Sorano, which dates back to the 12th Century. It's a fascinating hotel within this impressive example of medieval architecture, where historical figures once resided.

The rooms, all different, have unique design and furnishings immersed in the history and beauty of the Tufo cities of the Tuscan Maremma.

Il Casale Bolgherese Wine Resort

Casale Bolgherese is a wine resort located in the middle of the Bolgheri DOC  vineyards. It's a place away from pollution and stress, where you can find tranquility, relaxation, and a family environment.
Only 12 Suites, furnished in Tuscan style, that offer comfort and warmth in the middle of the countryside, a few miles away from the picturesque village of Bolgheri.

It's often notes that Tuscan cooking has its roots in "cucina povera" - peasant cooking. In truth,  that can be said of most Italian cuisines. It's true, though, that Tuscan cooking is a simple one. There are no reductions, no fancy sauces, no elaborate creations, no heavy complicated seasoning. Throughout Tuscany, olive groves and wild herbs are everywhere. Many of the best olive oils produced in Tuscany are reserved for use as a condiment at the table rather than as an ingredient in cooking in the kitchen. Hearty soups with seasonal vegetables and legumes are often offered as a starter or as a main dish.

Other staple dishes are game (wild boar), mushrooms and truffles (when in season), pecorino (sheep milk), and cured meats. And of course, lots of pasta dressed with meat proteins as well as veggies.