Wine Tasting | Wine Cellars | Zinfandel | Portugal | France | Italy | Wine Tasting in Tuscany

If you want to visit a country which is steeped in history and culture then you can’t get much better than Italy.  If you also want to combine your love of history and art with your love of wine then one of the best places to go in Italy is Tuscany.  There aren’t many places better than Tuscany for wine tasting.  The region of Tuscany produces a number of varieties of grape, these can include:-

Chianti – Whenever I think of Chianti I can’t help but think of Dr Hanibal Lechter in Silence of the Lambs “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti,” of course there’s much more to this wine than that.  In the areas around Siena you will find several vineyards producing Chianti which will appeal to even the most discerning tastes.

The Tuscan hills make for great growing conditions and produce some of the best quality grapes you can find in Italy.  These grapes then go on to be turned into some of the most sought after wines.  San Felice near Siena and Rocca delle Macie near Castellina also offer visitors accommodation in local villas.

No trip to Italy would be complete without visiting some of the many historic buildings the country has to offer.  Luckily many wineries are located very close to medieval castles which simply helps to create the perfect vacation.  One marvellous example is the Castello di Uzzano famous for its Chianti Classico.  A residential villa is close by so you can stay there and enjoy the wine and the sights.

Montalcino – This area certainly doesn’t bring the standard down and you can tour the Castello Banfi estate at your pleasure.  There can be quite a bit of snobbery when it comes to wine so it may surprise you to know that the estate is only 25 years old which is just a baby in wine making terms.  However the 7,100 acres produce grapes of exceptional quality.  Plus if you love the romance of centuries old castles, you will love the 11th century castle which is here.

San Gimignano – This an amazing location for anyone who loves idyllic medieval small towns and towers.  The area is also renowned for white wine and Il Grande Prato which should certainly be tasted, even by the most demanding connoisseur.  Whilst you sip your wine and enjoy a light snack, sit and enjoy watching the sheep graze and find yourself relaxing.

Although the villa is set in only three acres, the situation amongst the hills provides the visitor with a view of the towers.  You can choose between staying in one of the seven guest rooms or you can stay for just an hour or so to enjoy some wine tasting.  OK, so you might need a bit more than just an hour.  Time does fly when you’re having fun.

Siena – Famous for architecture and one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in all of Italy.  If you can tear yourself away from the history you can go out and explore the wine tasting that Siena has to offer.  Head out of town and into the rolling hills to locate some of the most super wineries.  One example you might want to explore is the Villa Dievole which is only 45 minutes from Florence or half and hour from Chianti.  There is over 800 acres to enjoy there so you should be able to keep yourself busy.

If you wish to stay here for a night or more you can book yourself into one of the bedrooms which also offers a kitchen for those who like self-catering.  Although eating out in an Italian restaurant every night can seem like a wonderful idea, sometimes it’s nice to have the option of preparing dinner yourself.  They also serve a glorious breakfast if you don’t want to go to the bother of making it.  Once you’ve finished your breakfast you can take a tour of the vineyard and sample some wines.

If you don’t fancy the idea of taking a car everywhere with you (who would blame you, the Italians are notoriously bad drivers!) you can explore the region by bicycle.  However to visit the all the villas you want you really are recommended to hire a car or at least take part in an organized tour.

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