Taste the Best Wines of Italy at the Wine Road in Tuscany

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Italy (or you’ve visited it already), you probably heard about its famous wine regions and routes, such as those in gorgeous Tuscany. We’ve already talked about some of the magnificent cities in Tuscany region, but this time we bring you a real trip plan for a road trip you’ll never forget – the best wine road in Tuscany. This road trip is a combination of our favourite places in the famous Chianti wine region and some other nearby towns and cities that you just can’t miss while you’re in Tuscany.

Before we start, get our Cultural Places App and turn your phone into a virtual guide. 

Let’s taste some Italian wines…

First Stop: Florence

Best way to start this road trip is to arrive to Florence – the capital of the Tuscany region and one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. It’s the birthplace of the Renaissance in Italy and that is very noticeable from the moment you get there. Its architecture is so rich and beautiful, there is not a single spot that you woudln’t want to photograph.

Florence is full of great restaurants where you can start this unique wine experience. Be sure to visit Piazza del Vino, a great specialized wine shop, that is also a restaurant, so you can have a nice dinner and wine, and also buy a nice bottle to take it home. This is the place where we’ve tasted some of the best Tuscan wines – you’ll love it.

Florence

Now that you’ve explored magnificent Florence and relaxed a bit, it’s time to rent a car and get going. Make sure you’ve charged your phone so you can use our Cultural Places App for navigating to your next stop.

Pontassieve

Only 35 minutes away from Florence, set on the confluence of the Arno and Sieve rivers, there is a small town called Pontassieve. Drive along the narrow roads of this beautiful place and you’ll find many fantastic little restaurants where you can try authentic pasta or delicious pizza. Visit the historic Nipozzano Castle and famous Frescobaldi winery to taste great wine and admire the view over the vineyard.

Nipozzano Castle
© Roberto Amerini / CC BY-SA 4.0

Arezzo

The next stop is Arezzo, set about an hour away from Pontassieve. Arezzo is another small town rich with centuries of history, culture and art, so be sure to walk around and explore its piazzas, especially Piazza Grande with a mix of architectural styles, from medieval to Gothic-Renaissance. Visit Villa La Ripa, one of its many wineries where you can learn about the ancient history of the vineyard as well the winemaking process.

Arezzo

Siena

When you leave Arezzo head to Siena – one of the most beautiful and most visited cities in Tuscany. After about an hour drive, you’ll arrive in this gorgeous city, very rich in cultural and historical heritage, which makes it very interesting for exploring and photographing. After you finish your walk around Siena, go to one of its amazing restaurants, such as Ristorante PorriOne with awesome meals and even better wine selection.

Siena

Castellina in Chianti

After beautiful Siena, head to the most famous Tuscany wine road called Chianti. First stop on this road only 30 minutes away and it is Castellina in Chianti – a well-hidden little town with narrow cobbled streets and a long history reaching back to the Bronze age. Explore its wineries and enjoy its beautiful vineyards, and of course, try extraordinary Chianti Classico wines.

Castellina in Chianti

While in Castellina, take a day trip to Colle di Val d’Elsa (30 minutes away) and San Gimignano (45 minutes away), both are small, charming towns with great panoramic views over the vineyards in the surroundings.

San Gimignano

Greve in Chianti

From Castellina, we headed to Greve in Chianti that is 30 minutes away. It is the main market town in the Chianti region and is full of history – you must explore everything from its Franciscan monastery in the old quarter to the market on the triangular main piazza. Greve has quite a few famous wineries and one of the best ones is Castello di Verrazzano. You must visit this old castle and its vineyard and cellars, and taste their classic wines, olive oils and balsamic vinegar.

Nipozzano Castle
© Alfredo Borba / CC BY-SA 2.0

From Greve in Chianti head back to lovely Florence. Keep in mind that this whole region is something special and that every little town hides something worth exploring, so feel free to get off this path and explore the surroundings – you will not regret it.

Source: Google Maps