One of the world’s top wine destinations, Tuscany, pairs excellent products with iconic countryside. The many wineries dotted across the region offer a wide choice of immersive wine experiences, perfect for discovering Tuscany’s rich viticulture.
Tuscan landscape surrounding Monterosola winery (Photo: Duccio Nacci courtesy of Monterosola)
The soothing landscapes of Tuscany are among the world’s most celebrated when it comes to winemaking. Patches of native Sangiovese lining the gentle slopes are a recurring sight, providing the raw material for famous reds such as Chianti, Brunello and Nobile. The historic craftsmanship at the heart of local wine culture here can be encountered in the many wineries scattered across the region. The following selection of Tuscany’s best wineries includes both well-established and more recent estates, each presenting visitors with its own blend of traditional techniques, innovation and sustainable practices.
Rocca di Frassinello
Behind this project are two of the finest wineries of the Chianti and Bourdeaux regions, respectively Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Barons de Rothschild. The heart of such a compelling (if unusual) collaboration beats in the barrique room, designed by world-class architect Renzo Piano in an essential, bold and functional style. This sanctuary-like space is part of the wine tour, which is followed by tasting sessions where you can discover the typical Tuscan notes blended with that French influence. Rooms and apartments are available for stays here, while an exhibition space displays Etruscan artefacts from an archaeological site located within the estate.
Località Poggio la Guardia, 58023 Giuncarico (GR)
The ‘barriccaia’ at Rocca di Frassinello, designed by Renzo Piano (Photo: Ugo Zamborlini courtesy of Rocca di Frassinello)
Castello di Ama
Ama is an ancient hamlet at the heart of the Chianti Classico region, where 18th-century villas look out on the hilly landscape between Florence and Siena. Combining wine, art and history, Castello di Ama aims to offer an immersive experience to its visitors. It comprises five vineyards laid across 75 hectares, as well as a restaurant, an atelier and suites. Chianti is of course the flagship wine, but other varieties can also be discovered through one of the themed tours available. An annual contemporary art project brings a new site-specific installation to the hamlet.
Località Ama in Chianti, 53013 Gaiole in Chianti (SI)
Poderi Boscarelli
Opened in 1962, Poderi Boscarelli is run by a Genoese family who made a second home of Tuscany. Founder Egidio Corradi originally acquired two semi-abandoned plots on the slopes northeast of Montepulciano, an area famous for its Rosso and Nobile red wines. His daughter and grandsons are today at the helm of the winery, which has grown to comprise 22 hectares of cultivated land. A standard one-hour tour includes the tasting of a Nobile Riserva along with three other wines, while more elaborate visiting options are also available.
Via di Montenero 24, 53045 Montepulciano (SI)
Owners Nicolò and Luca De Ferrari in a vineyard (Photo: Max Morriconi courtesy of Poderi Boscarelli)
Monterosola
A family-owned organic estate near the medieval town of Volterra, Monterosola sits between the winegrowing regions of Chianti and Bolgheri. An innovative contemporary cantina, this sustainable winery was completed in 2019, bringing together technology and traditional winemaking techniques. Its 25 hectares of vineyards produce red and white wine, grappa, and extra virgin olive oil. Tastings last one to four hours and can be tailor-made to include tours of the vineyards and cellars. Woodlands, lakes and pastures form part of the estate, while its modern facilities play host to art exhibitions, concerts and wine pairing events.
Podere La Rosola 27, Loc. Pignano 56048 Volterra (PI)
The courtyard and porticos at Monterosola (Photo: courtesy of Monterosola)
Castello di Fonterutoli
Looking out on Siena, the medieval hamlet of Fonterutoli has been tied to the Mazzei family for centuries. The earliest known reference to Chianti as a wine region appears in a letter penned in 1398 by Ser Lapo Mazzei, ancestor to 24 generations of winemakers. Today, the rich family history meets innovation and artisanal techniques, as well as a commitment to eco-friendly practices. Among the tour options, the Classic Wine Tour provides a basic introduction to the winery and its famous reds. Country-chic rooms and apartments are scattered across the hamlet, while the restaurant holds traditional cooking classes.
Via G. Puccini 4, Loc. Fonterutoli, 53011 Castellina in Chianti (SI)
Podere di Pomaio
The two brothers who founded this young wine resort overlooking Arezzo are strongly committed to green principles. The design cellar merges together local country heritage with modern bioarchitecture in the search of more sustainable wine making methods. The organic wines produced range from Chianti and Rosso Toscano to a rosé and more complex varieties, such as the signature Merlot ‘Clante’. Among the different tours available, the magnum option includes a small lunch along with the tasting session. The resort comprises two independent villas with a private garden and swimming pool.
19 Località Pomaio, 52100 Arezzo (AR)
Outside the cellar at Podere di Pomaio (Photo: courtesy of Podere di Pomaio)
Antinori, Tenuta Guado al Tasso
Tuscan winemakers for 26 generations, the Antinori family own several wine estates across Tuscany and beyond. Guado al Tasso is located in the coastal subregion of Bolgheri, 100km southwest of Florence. The influence of the Adriatic Sea pervades the area’s character and its wines, which have been gaining increasing attention in recent years. Tailor-made visits to the vineyards are available, while the tasting session offers the opportunity to discover lesser-known Tuscan reds and whites. Proximity to the sea is also evident on the menu of the Osteria del Tasso restaurant.
Via Vecchia Aurelia, 57022 Bolgheri (LI)
Badia di Morrona
A wine resort 25km from Pisa, Badia di Morrona stretches across 600 hectares of land. An exploration of its extensive vineyards and olive groves can be included in the visit, along with the olive press and the medieval abbey. But the cellars are likely to take centre stage, each level taking visitors to a different step of the wine making cycle. At the end of it, the tasting session explores a wide range of reds, whites and roses. Accommodation is available in elegantly refurbished farmhouses scattered across the estate, and the restaurant offers locally sourced Tuscan specialties.
Via di Badia 8, 56030 Terricciola (PI)
The Gaslini Alberti family crest in Badia di Morrona’s cellar (Photo courtesy of Badia di Morrona)
Carpineto, Appodiato di Montepulciano
One of five Carpineto estates scattered across Tuscany, the Appodiato di Montepulciano is open to visits. The standard tour starts with a scenic walk among the vineyards and continues in the Vino Nobile barrique room, before a tasting session involving five different wines. Those who are more interested in the local cheeses and cold cuts can swap the tasting session for a ‘merenda toscana’; a Tuscan picnic backdropped by the vineyards and the nearby lake. Both tours last around 90 minutes and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Strada Provinciale della Chiana 62, 53042 Montepulciano (SI)
Altesino
Altesino has long made a name for itself by pioneering techniques which contributed to the fame of Montalcino as a winegrowing region. Brunello is the undisputed top of the range, produced alongside four other reds, a white and vinsanto. Modern and sustainable facilities reflect an approach to winemaking devoted to excellence and innovation, pursued by the current owners for nearly 20 years. Guided tours cover both the wine cycle and the history of the estate, which is housed in a 15th-century palace.
Strada Provinciale del Brunello, 53024 Montalcino (SI)