Best wineries in Tuscany: 2024 guide

Tuscany is a popular location for wine lovers. With coastal destinations, a warm Mediterranean climate, and hillside vineyards, there’s a huge range of wineries to visit across Tuscany.

The Tuscan wine region includes a variety of microclimates to grow some of the best grapes in the world. A Tuscan wine-tasting experience lets locals, tourists, and wine enthusiasts learn about the winemaking process – and taste some delicious wine, of course!

Let’s take a look at the best wineries in Tuscany, including must-try Tuscan wines to enjoy. We’ll also consider everything you need to know to plan your Tuscan wine tour.

Wine in Tuscany

Tuscan wine is known for its ancient history – and the region has exported wine across the world for many years.

In particular, Tuscany is known for its red wine. 87% of Tuscan wine is red, with Sangiovese grapes dominating Tuscan wine varieties.¹ These grapes grow best in direct sunlight, which is possible in Tuscany’s warm and sunny hillside vineyards.

However, some Tuscan wineries produce white wine, including Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Depending on the geographical conditions, each region of Tuscany produces a different type of wine, with its own taste and quality.

Must-try Tuscan wines

As one of the most common wine varieties in Tuscany, Sangiovese wine is a must-try. This dry red wine is full of rich flavors, including fruity notes.

The Bolgheri region, located on the Tuscan coast, is also famous for its supple red wines, such as Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia or Podere Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a popular Tuscan white wine. Vernaccia-based wine has a rich history in Tuscany, and it’s known for its powerful, floral taste.

Whether you like a full-bodied white wine or a rich red wine, there’s something for all tastes in Tuscany.

What are some of the best wineries to visit in Tuscany?

There are many great wineries to visit in Tuscany, including beautiful resorts and authentic, traditional Tuscan vineyards.

Let’s take a look at some of the best Tuscan wine tours.

Castello Banfi Wine Resort

Castello Banfi® is a beautiful wine resort located in southern Montalcino, near Siena. You can stay overnight, explore the Tuscan countryside, and spend time in the local vineyards and olive groves.

Book a Castello Banfi wine tour to try out a range of local food and wine, including 3 to 4 different Banfi wines.²

It’s easy to get to Castello Banfi from Florence by bus or car – and it’s only a couple of hours out of the city. It’s just over 12 miles from the town of Brunello and 44 miles from Siena.³

Prices can vary for your trip, depending on whether you want to stay at Castello Banfi or you just want to explore the winery. It’s best to contact the resort directly to organize your plans.

Avignonesi

Avignonesi® is one of the oldest wineries in Italy, situated in the Montepulciano region. This area of Tuscany is known for Vin Santo; full-bodied, sweet dessert wine.

You can enjoy a tour of the estates, including a look at La Stella and La Tonda vineyards. During the tour, you’ll also get to taste 4 wines, such as Il Marzocco Chardonnay Toscana IGT or Grandi Annate Toscana IGT.⁴

It’s best to drive to Avignonesi from Montepulciano or a neighboring town, as it can be difficult to get to the winery without a car.

Price: 45 EUR per person⁵

Fattoria La Maliosa

Fattoria La Maliosa® is a well-known winery, with plenty of natural wines for visitors to try out.

Situated in the hills of Tuscan Maremma, this winery is nestled between the Saturnia and Pitigliano regions, with quality white and red wines to try out, such as La Maliosa Saturnalia Bianco.

During your tour of Fattoria La Maliosa, you can taste 2 natural wines, as well as sample the farm’s local produce, like meats, cheese, and Tuscan bread.

This winery is accessible from Florence or Rome by car. Looking over the Tyrrhenian Sea, Maremma enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate and it’s close to towns like Manciano, Montemerano, and Saturnia.

Price: Tour prices start at 33 EUR⁶

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What are the best wineries to visit near Florence?

There are plenty of Tuscan wineries to visit near Florence, the region’s capital. Let’s take a look at some of the best options for your day trip.

Antinori Chianti Classico

Antinori Chianti Classico® is an iconic vineyard in the Chianti Classico region – and it has been producing wine since 1385. Situated not far from Florence, the winery enjoys the ideal climatic conditions for delicious aged wines.

There’s a range of different Antinori Chianti Classico wine tours, including the Tinaia Tour, Bottaia Tour, or CRU Tour. The Tinaia Tour lets visitors explore the Antinori family history and understand how the wine is made.

You can also taste 3 wines, including Vigna sul Tetto Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva, Cont’Ugo Bolgheri DOC, and Bramasole Cortona DOC Syrah. However, this selection can depend on the season.

It takes just under half an hour to get to Antinori Chianti Classico from Florence, making it perfect for a day trip.

Price: Tinaia Tour: 45 EUR per person⁷

Tiberini Azienda Agricola

Tiberini® has been producing top-quality wines for 7 generations, using diverse soil to create red and white wine varieties. This includes vineyards enriched with tuff, clay, and stone.

During a Tiberini wine tour, you can try 1 to 3 wines from the vineyards and learn more about the winemaking process.

Based in the Caggiole area of Montepulciano, you can drive to Tiberini Azienda Agricola from Florence in under 2 hours. There are lots of popular hotels in the surrounding area, too.

Price: Tour prices start from 65 EUR per person⁸

Tenuta Ruffino Poggio Caciano

Situated in the Tuscan hills, Tenuta Ruffino Poggio Caciano® produces wines like Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.

The winery runs a range of regular wine tours, such as the Ruffino Style tour, Tradition Reinvented, Mastery Since 1877, or Creative Bravura. Each tour explores Tuscan history and culture – and lets visitors try out a selection of wines.

The Ruffino Style tour includes a guided tour of Tenuta Ruffino Poggio Caciano’s cellars, as well as a tasting of 3 flagship wines, paired with a selection of food.

Tenuta Ruffino Poggio Caciano is only half an hour from Florence by car or under an hour by public transport.

Price: Ruffino Style tour: 40 EUR⁹

Planning your Tuscan wine tour: things to know

If you’re visiting Tuscany for a wine tour, you’ll need to plan ahead. This includes looking into accommodation and understanding how to find your destination.

Let’s take a look at a few ways to make the most of your wine tour.

What's the best time to visit wineries in Tuscany?

It’s best to visit Tuscany wineries in September and October, as this time of year is warm but not too hot. You can make the most of outdoor sights at the vineyard without feeling uncomfortable in the heat.

This is also the harvesting season for grapes and olives, meaning you’ll get to see the start of wine production in action!

Some wineries close at certain times of the year, so make sure to double-check before your visit.

Accommodation

You’ll need to plan accommodation for your Tuscan wine trip. It can help to choose a Tuscan winery that has a hotel on site, such as Castello Banfi Wine Resort. This resort includes a hotel and restaurants so that you can access everything you need during your trip.

You’ll likely need to choose a hotel in a nearby town or city, as many of the best wineries are nestled in the rural Tuscan hills.

Getting to the wineries

You’ll need to decide how to get from your accommodation to the winery. As many Tuscan vineyards are based in the countryside, driving is often the best option. However, there are some public transport links from Florence or surrounding towns.

Make sure to look into the logistics before you head out. If you’re traveling from Florence, you’ll need to leave enough time to get to your wine destination.

Most wineries also require booking a spot on a wine tour before you get there. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Bottom line: is a Tuscany wine tour worth it?

So, you might be wondering if a Tuscany wine tour is worth it. The answer is yes! There are lots of great wineries to visit in Tuscany, including Avignonesi, Tenuta Ruffino Poggio Caciano, or Tiberini Azienda Agricola.

The warm Tuscan climate, soil varieties, and hilly vineyard locations lead to delicious red and white wines for visitors to enjoy.

You can learn about local Tuscan history and tradition while tasting some great wine with your friends and family. What could be better?

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Sources:

1. Vivino
2. Castello Banfi
3. Castello Banfi
4. Avignonesi
5. Eating Around Italy
6. Winalist
7. Antinori
8. Wine Tourism
9. Ruffino

Sources checked on 03.12.2024