Wine Tours Around The Amalfi Coast and The Vesuvius

The Italian region of Campania is filled to the brim with incredible locations to visit, places to discover, local delicacies to taste and activities to engage in if you want to have a comprehensive, well-rounded, immersive travel experience. Discover many beautiful towns and cities on your way from Naples to Salerno, and once you’re there, tour the Amalfi Coast for a stunning, breath-taking visit of some of Italy’s most beautiful beaches and landscapes. But the fun doesn’t end here, because the area is also known for its production of wines. If you’re staying near Naples, remember to discover Mount Vesuvius and while you’re touring those parts don’t forget that excellent wines are produced there as well, and nothing says “Italy” quite like a wine tasting tour of Southern Italy. Let’s discover two wine tours along the Amalfi Coast and the Vesuvius.

Coastal Tour to the Tenuta San Francesco Winery.

Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

This coast tour will bring you from stunning Positano to the town of Tramonti in little under an hour of travel. In the town you’ll be able to see, along quaint streets and squares, many churches and chapels as well as castles and monasteries. The area is known for its vineyards and you’ll be able to visit the Tenuta San Francesco, a small family-run winery built in an 18th century farm and located in the regional park of the Lattari Mountains, the backbone of the Amalfi Coast. Here, halfway between sea and mountain, you’ll tour the estate and vineyards, discovering the production process and the features of the grapes used to achieve the local DOC wines. The immersive experience will include a wine tasting and a lunch, where the Tramonti wines will be paired with excellent traditional dishes typical of the region.
The Tenuta San Francesco winery also has a joint “B&B Tenuta San Francesco” with a few cozy rooms and, with a distance of 10 minutes by car from the sea, it would be a great location for your stay near the Amalfi Coast. While you’re in Tramonti, enjoying the wines produced by the winery (the most praised by visitors are the “Per Eva” and “E’ Iss” varieties), the Tenuta also offers cooking classes where you can learn local recipes from the cuisine of Campania, so be on the lookout for those!

Tour Around the Vesuvius to the Cantine del Vesuvio.

The Vesuvius is definitely a place to visit, as are the nearby towns and cities. The area is also known for its production of DOC wines. With this tour, you’ll be brought along the volcanic slopes of the Vesuvius to the Cantine del Vesuvio. Founded in 1948, the winery supplied local merchants and its wines found their way on the tables of homes and restaurants throughout the countryside. But 18 years ago, the founder’s son Maurizio Russo decided to make the winery take a different turn, transforming the establishment into a place that could provide an exclusive, unique experience. The quality of wines was improved and the production was limited, to ensure quality and achieve a precious wine. The winery’s doors were opened to welcome visitors seeking to tour the facility and taste the excellent wines produces by the Russo family. Now, the Cantine del Vesuvio sells directly from its own shop and through their online store, and offers tastings and other immersive experience to visitors. At the winery, you’ll find the unique Lacryma Christi wine in red, white and rosato varieties, as well as many other products such as other wines, spirits and even extra virgin olive oil. Stop by for a tasting experience, and the wines will be paired with local produce and dishes such as cured meats, cheeses, bread and bruschetta prepared according to Neapolitan recipes as the appetizer; spaghetti of durum wheat flour with a sauce made with heirloom Piennolo tomatoes as the main course; Pastiera Napoletana, a traditional local dessert made with ricotta cheese, candied fruit and wheat berries, will close the meal along with the Acquavite di Albicocche del Vesuvio, an apricot distillate. With this tasting menu, you’ll have a comprehensive immersion in the local cuisine and the possibility to sample every different variety of wine produced at the Cantine del Vesuvio, all made with local grapes.
The winery also offers cooking classes where you’ll learn how to make several local dishes by yourself: ravioli, eggplant parmesan, almond cake with Sorrento lemons. The winery hosts two cooking classes per day and they last for 3-4 hours. The shop is open every day of the week and tastings will take place from 11am to 4pm (Monday to Friday) and from 11am to 3pm (Saturday and Sunday). Check out the winery’s website to know more about the excellent experiences the Cantine del Vesuvio has to offer.

Best Wineries That You Can Explore Around Bologna

Bologna is a historical city with the demography of about four hundred thousand inhabitants. The city is more well known by the Italians than to the global visitors. Bologna is the largest city and also the capital of Emilia-sRomagna located in the northern part of Italy. It is famous for its food and fantastic wineries and having the oldest university in the western hemisphere, and an active student population both local and international students. The city is also known for its magnificent food, classical porticos and brick terracotta-roofed architecture, nightlife, and theatre.

Tenuta Santa Cecilia Alla Croara

tenuta santa cecilia croara
tenuta santa cecilia croara

They have good organic wines thanks to the fertile soils that are geographically described as “the land of chalk and yellow sands,” and a precisely supportive micro-climate. The wines are fully certified. You can get them by calling this number +39 051 6251905, or if you are looking for a place to drink. The address is Via Croara 7/H 40068 San Lazzaro di Savena (Bologna-Italy) Here are some varieties of wines produced at Tenuta Santa Cecilia Alla Croara. They include:

Pignoletto
Frizzante DOCG

·
The  grapes are naturally grown in the natural environment of the dell’Abbadessa and Parco dei Gessi. The vines are treated with sulfur and copper and at the same time protecting the human life and the environment, without any form of irrigation. The matured grapes
are usually harvested by hand and stored in small boxes. In the basement soft presses are used to conduct vilification along with organic biological
procedures to attain highest quality outcomes.

The organic cultivation of the land, an accurate hand selection of the grapes and the precise vinification produces high-quality products, and it is a glass of wine that has a dry taste of youthful and aromatic freshness. It is vinificated by using its natural yeast. Right at the end of fermentation, it is stored for six months in a stainless steel tank. It is later on bottled to produce high quality wine.

Umberto Cesari

It is a challenge that Umberto Cesari enthusiastically took around the 1960s, along with twenty hectares of vineyards right at the heart of Emilia Romagna. During the previous years, he could expand his vineyards, introduced different verities, and extraordinary, excellent new wines. But one thing consistently remains unchanged is his passion for wine. If you are looking for our wine shop just call +39 051 944732, at our store you can scroll the vine-rows. Taste our wines, and learn all the secrets of wine-making. We are open as from Tuesday to Friday consistent working hours as from 10-18 and on Saturdays as from 9-18 working hours. You can even call us at +39 051 6947811.

Vini Botti

The company of Vini Botti is found right in the heart of Colli Bolognesi in the locality of Monte San Pietro that ranges between 200-300 meters above sea level. It was established in 1973 by Valentino Bovina, the father of the owner, known as Fabio. In 1996, Fabio took current administration, expanding the land for the vineyards as well as the expansion of the winery. He transformed the company by using modernized technology and
innovative ideas on enological and agronomic. However, the objective of
respecting for the natural attributes of the area, the wine, and the vineyards.

The highlands have clay loam topsoil, the cultivation strategy of the vineyards are using these characteristics to their advantage. Technical engineers work along with the organization to attain advanced respect for the natural environment and human health. The company aims at producing high-quality wine. The firm provides red wines, which include Barbera, white wine such as Classic Pignoletto and other sparkling wines.

Our address is Azienda Agricola BOTTI-via Elio Roda
19/1-40050 Monte San Pietro (BO)-Italia. Call us at + 39 051 184 48944.

Tenuta Folesano

Folesano
Folesano

It is a fantastic location where Mother Nature is the ruler. The Etruscans selected the highlands of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines to build settlements, develop cities and fortified structures. Along with their philosophical agricultural proficiencies and by using stars, it was here that they cultivated the original vineyards. The Romans were the next group of people to settle and ruled the area for centuries.

During the Middle Ages, the arable land was under the rule of Counts of Panico, an excessively powerful bellicose family who continued with the cultivation of vineyards within their much-feared territories. Historical evidence shows this proof of winemaking dating back from the 16th century.

Address, Societa Agricola Folesano- via San
Silvestro 17-40043 (BOLOGNA). Call us at 051932204 or Mobile 3388952014, or
email us at [email protected].

Tizzano

Tizzano Farm comprises more than 200 hectares, almost thirty-five are planted with vines. The company is located in the Bolognese highlands neighboring Castelvecchio Di Reno. The soil is very fertile
due to its southern exposure, and the dry, windy and sunny weather of the
highlands forms ideal conditions that are favorable for the cultivation of
vines that has been practiced for centuries since the sixtieth century. The
wine-making procedures are a combination of modern techniques with ancient traditions. The attentive agriculture of old grape verities, with the current introduction of Pignoletto, the appreciation for the attributes of the product, the hand-picking activities merge with the most improved skills for the processing of the grapes that ensures that there is the production of high quality and prestigious final products. Today the wineries are owned by the Visconti Di Modrone, the descendants of the Marescalchi family. They control the wine and the agricultural productions of the farm.

Our address is Tizzano Societa Agricola S.r.l. via
Antonio Marescalchi, 13.40033- Casalecchio Di Reno (Bologna- Italy)

Call us at +39 051 571208 or +39 051 577665

Easy Wine Tour From Milan In One Day

Pavia - Ponte Coperto

If you are staying in Milan during your vacation and you would like to try out and discover more about Northern Italian wines, here’s everything you need to know to find what you’re looking for.
There are no vineyards in the country surrounding Milan, but you can reach an area that is famous for the production of quality wines in just under 45 minutes from the city. The wine production region is known as Oltrepò Pavese, and it’s not always included in most tours, and so not every tourist knows that such a suggestive place with great wine-related activities and experiences is just around the corner.

There are many places that are easily reached by car or train, and even by bus, if you’re staying in Milan. The city has great food, amazing shops and there’s plenty of stunning works of art and museums to visit. However, if you like nature or would like to know more about the produce and ingredients used to create the many delicious foods you can eat in restaurants and the renowned wines, going on a day trip to the countryside outside of Milan is the best option.
Here are some of the places you can visit, and where to go if you’re looking to have a wine tour.

Oltrepò Pavese, Pavia And How To Get There

You can get to Pavia from Milan in under 50 minutes, by train, but you will still need a car if you’d like to visit the wineries in the area, as they’re not connected by public transportation. Car rental is always recommended when travelling across Italy – or you could seek out a taxi service in the area, but that can quickly get expensive.
But while you’re in Pavia, you might as well enjoy the city, which is wildly different from Milan. The atmosphere is less hectic and you’ll have the chance to visit churches, cathedrals and the Visconti residence, all at a more relaxed pace.
While in Pavia you can also visit palaces and historical buildings, and you can visit the countryside and hamlets outside the city and find more stunning buildings and enjoy nature at local natural parks.

An area covering over 420 square miles known as Oltrepò Pavese is also part of the province of Pavia, and this triangular shaped territory is not very well known to foreign tourists, but Italians (especially Northern Italians) are familiar with the area because of its relevance as a wine production region. But visiting the area means that you’ll discover many stunning sceneries and landscapes unknown to most, such as smooth hills, medieval castles and villages, and you can enjoy authentic food and wines that belong to the local tradition.

What Wines Are Produced There?

Sparkling wines produced in this region are the most well-known, and the area of origin for DOC (controlled designation of origin) wines in Oltrepò Pavese covers 42 towns. The Bonarda is the most famous wine produced in the area and has a fruity taste without being sweet, and is well loved by many wine-lovers and restaurant goers. Most Oltrepò Pavese wines are paired with local dished made with mushrooms, truffles and game meats like boar or rabbit. Red DOC wines of Oltrepò Pavese go well with meat dishes, but can usually be paired with every dish of the typical Italian menu (antipasto, first and second course, side dishes and dessert). The Oltrepò Pavese Bianco is a white wine best paired with seafood and fish based dishes or vegetables. Sparkling wines like the Oltrepò Pavese Spumante go well as a cocktail before meals, or when paired with fish dishes. Other notable Oltrepò Pavese DOC wines are the Barbera, Riesling Italico and Riesling Renano.

Some Notable Vineyards Of The Oltrepò Pavese

Since the region of Oltrepò Pavese can be reached in under one hour if you’re based in Milan during your vacation, there are definitely a number of wine tours you can take part to by visiting some of the local vineyards and wineries.
Here are some notable vineyards located in the area of Oltrepò Pavese.

The Canneto Pavese winery was founded in 1961 and includes members from many local vineyards covering a total of about 400 hectares. Every member of the winery takes care to handle the grapes with the outmost care to produce excellent wines.

The Cantina Storica Il Montù doesn’t just deal in wine, but also in grappa, and organizes events throughout the year to showcase the local cuisine along with their own productions.

Terre d’Oltrepò is a society that merges two local wineries (the Cantina di Broni and the Cantina di Casteggio) and offers guided visits along with an extensive selection of wines that can be purchased at the associated locations.

Spumante

Amarone Tours: Best wineries in Valpolicella – Verona

Verona represents the main Italian tourist center due to its history. It’s the most famous town of Romeo and Juliet all around planet earth. An industrial city and bustling business center are located in Verona. This city is surrounded by famous territories known for wines production. The following are three famous wineries you shouldn’t hesitate to visit to enjoy cool wines and scenic beauty in Verona.

Zeni winery

It’s located near villages of Bardolino and Lake Garda. Zeni winery is situated on beautiful sceneries of Moreinic hills where you can enjoy a cool, inspiring panoramic view. It’s a family based wine producing Company. Currently, it’s run by the fifth generation of Zeni family.

Over 130 years, Zeni family has been enthusiastically committed to the best production of premium Veronese wines. Some of the most famous wines are known in regions such as Valpolicella, Recioto, Ripasso among others. Besides the classic wines, wine museum was created for the unique exhibition. This offers an interesting itinerary to visitors through the techniques of making the old wine. It presents the old pictures, tools, and documents used to make old wines. This museum is sub-divided into different areas. Each area is dedicated to present a particular process of wine production. This includes all stages from the vine growing to wine bottling.

Zeni winery has recently built a new wine cellar. This cellar is a structure that combines old tradition functionality with the modern. Impressive vaulted roof anchored on strong columns and a terra cotta floor represents this cellar. In this structure, you will find the oak barrels, barriques, and tonneaus. Zeni products age in the perfect condition of humidity and temperature at the cellar.

Are you planning to visit Zeni winery? Relax. A guided visit is introduced for you to wine museum at Zeni. It’s followed by a relaxing stroll. This is in the hills behind the wineries along the vineyards growing Estate. The tour then proceeds to Zeni beautiful barriques cellar. It ends here where the visitor tastes a selection of wines that are chosen among the best products of Zeni wineries.

Bertani wineries.

Bertani is one of the most famous wineries in Verona. Historical wine production is represented at Bertani. It started producing traditional wine many years back. It produced Recioto and Amarone wines back in the 1950s. It’s a unique place combining modern and old at the same time. Bertina winery owns vast hectares of vineyards, approximately 200 hectares, in Verona.

The cellar is situated at the winery headquarters located at Grezzana, North-East of Verona. This cellar is open for tours. It represents a clear example of industrial heritage. You can learn more about history that made this winery a unique expression of this land during a guided tour visit. Tools used in the past for wine production can also be seen in the cellar wine museum. Tasting of winery’s most famous wine is also possible and ends the tour.

Tommasi winery

Tommasi - Magnifica Oak Cask

Tommasi winery is one of the largest producers of wine in Valpolicella. It was founded back in 1902. It’s a family based winery. It’s located in Pedemonte. Currently, the winery is run by the fourth generation. It owns hectares of extended vineyard. This vineyard is located in the most productive hills. Best red wines have made Tommasi one of the most famous wineries in Verona.

Tommasi welcomes visitors and wine lovers for a guided tour. Tasting of famous Tommasi wine is possible for visitors. It also welcomes friends and visitors in it cellar. A tour to Tommasi Estates gives you a chance to know regions of Valpolicella Classica and its wine. It also represents a chance to understand the effort made and the passion involved in making each bottle of Amarone.

Visiting the historical vineyard, which is located behind the winery building, starts each tour. Tours learn how vines are grown. The tours continue to the fruttaio. This is where grapes are dried on a loft for Recioto and Amarone. Large Slavonian oak barrels are seen down in Tommasi cellar. Aging of Amarone is done using these oak barrels. Tasting of the most famous and representative Tommasi wines ends the tour.

What a beautiful and awesome moments? Make a day and visit our wineries. Enjoy to your level best. Taste the most famous wines you desire. Visit wineries impressive vineyards and other beautiful sceneries. Don’t forget to come with a friend and share this great moment and experience. All are welcome.

Chianti Wineries Map – Best Places To Tour For Wine.

When the word Chianti is mentioned in almost any conversation it is usually associated with the exquisite wines and historic region which both proudly share the name. Chianti, in Tuscany Italy, stretches between Florence and Siena. There are only a few regions of the world, which are not limited to a location on any map and are measured as more of a window through time, Chianti is one of them. These select few “glimpses” of many decades and centuries past, are not recorded by traveling miles or kilometers, but recognized as days and weeks spent in a place which standards of distance do not apply.

If Tuscany is truly the center of culture and refinement, which it is considered to be my many world travelers, then Chianti is the heart and its grapes are the life which flows from it. It would be reasonable and ordinary to notice the breathtaking scenes throughout the region, but traditional words do not apply. When the morning sun begins to smile upon the glorious valley which hosts the best chianti wineries, one feels required to discovery the surroundings.

Wondering where to go in Chianti for a memorable and spectacular experience, is best answered by “everywhere.” When traveling through a land which bears a name synonymous with great wine, it would be nothing short of a sin to not venture out among the vineyards of the world-renowned Sangiovese grapes and experience the wineries which produce the finest Chiantis in the world.

This Google Map is great for navigating the region: click here to see.

Best Wineries to visit in Chianti
Best Wineries to visit in Chianti

It made the most sense geographically to start with the oldest winery and work from the bottom of the map to the top.

The Start and the Beginning:
Chianti Classico is the oldest and most historic section of the area and is world renowned for the Chianti Classico wine. Chianti Classico, as a region is deeply rooted in cultural and history, recorded as far back as the 12th century. The founder of the Chianti blend, noted for its high ratio of Sangiovese grapes, is legendary and his family still operates the winery.

Barone Ricasoli Spa:
Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio is known to be the oldest winery in Italy, dating back to the 12th century, the famed Brolio castle rebuilt many times, still stands to reflect the passing of the centuries with exquisite and historic majesty. It was Baron Bettino Ricalosi who invented the Chianti blend in 1872 and his great grandson who now runs the fourth oldest family business on the planet. For the best place to understand how the tradition began there is no better point than from the birth of the wine and the oldest winery in the country. For those who love the traditional taste of Chianti Classico in all of its glory-the flavor has remained traditional and “earthy” and the excellence is still present.

baronericasoli

Castello Di Ama, Siena
A winery rich in history and culture, was first and the next stop is almost completely the opposite of Ricasoli. Instead of the castle it is a much more peaceful and modest area and the scenery seems more of an “old country” feel with a modern day twist. The families who revitalized the company came together to form a team in the 1960’s. Unlike the first stop, there is more of a modern feel and the art of the local contemporary artists is celebrated and combined for a new approach less dipped in old culture and more trimmed with present day. The modern selection of wines is really quite extraordinary and it is easy to forget they are relatively new kids on the block.

Livernano S.S. – Azienda Agrituristica – Agriturismo
If stop two was a trip forward to the contemporary we really fell back in time, dating back to an area inhabited 2500 years ago this little “charmer” of a winery is the definition of quaint. The surroundings are magical shadows from many centuries ago and it is easy to understand why the feeling of humility blended with pride seems to be the order of the day. Even the labels are understated and almost subtle in their approach to presenting an ancient prize which illustrates the precise feel for the surroundings. Flavors are very unique and the place is adorable.

Recine S.S. – Agricultura Vino
Owned by a Monastery until the 20th century, this ancient wine farm from the 12th century is rustic and almost a back to nature setting. The views across the hills are some of the best scenes in Chianti. Revitalized in the 1970’s and then carefully staffed by a group of wine experts from several countries of the world during the 1990’s this team has put together a great selection in a setting which should be painted with canvas and oils as opposed to digital cameras. The feel is as if the spirits of the monks never left, almost they are walking about, unseen making sure the scientists of wine keep making them proud.

Azienda Agricola Casanova – Sas Di Aldo Furini & C.
Started by an alchemist in the 1800’s the feel of the winery is the feel of a refined country family of the 19th century. The thumbprint was set deep by the Abbott whose religious philosophy of carefully preserving the history is present throughout the grounds. The wines seem to have a more bold flavor than many of the other stops, more of a bite, but not too intense, still flavorful and the staff was very proper but friendly at the same time.

Fattoria Castello Di Volpaia
This is the first instance where the entire village seems to be a part of wine making. Many of the homes and churches in the vicinity are actually housing wine cellars. The ground for the vineyards is admittedly some of the best in all of Chianti, even by competitors which seem to enjoy implying that the reason the wine has such success is its prime location. The selection was very good and each was noticeably more aromatic than others tasted. More info.

volpaia

Azienda Agricola Festeggiata
Of all of the places we stopped this one seemed to be the most reclusive, It was our first in Panzano and they seemed very quiet and more to themselves with their history and tradition. It was almost as if they had some type of “recipe” which made them stand out among the others. The wines seemed more rare in vintage and there was not a lot of information on prices in print. They did not appear to produce a very many bottles, but their wine may have been some of the best flavor in all of Chianti.

Azienda Agricola Monte Bernardi S.S.
Dating back to roots from the 11th century this area seemed noticeably different, the wines were not sold to the public until the 1990’s and were only available to local farms. Panzano provided a different scenery that the other areas. A river is one of the key differences in the flavor which seems to somehow bring another element into the vines. It sounded like a bit of local lore, but the flavor was noticeably different especially in the Chianti Classico. Winery  website.

Fattoria Le Fonti Di Vicky Schmitt Vitali
This was the most unimpressive yet stunningly simple of all of the wineries. Very basic and functional with no frills. It was not by accident or due to lack of success, it was the way they intended to preserve the tradition. The location was very close to the other two in the Panzano vicinity and the wine was just as striking as the somewhat fancier operations. Having the three close together validated the location of the soil theory which we had heard on our other stops. Replanted in 1994 they are simple in appearance and complex in quality. Link here to their site.

Castello di Verrazzano
Our last stop was a thousand year old castle. It is like we started at one end with a bang in Chianti and concluded at the other with fireworks. This was a remarkably self contained almost little village in and of itself. Not nearly as grandiose as the castle overlooking the Ricasoli vineyard but more of a functional castle not so much smoke as fire. Functionality through tradition, mixed with the modern scientists of wine making. The last glass of Chianti from the tour was as unique and splendid as the first.

After the Ball:
After 5 days in the wine country of Chianti, there was certainly nothing which could even come close to the individual universe each of of stops exhibited. Even though they were in the same region, the traditions and history of each ranged from ancient to modern in philosophy and approach. There is much to be said for the wonderful selection of accommodations in the area. Ranging from extravagant to very simple and functional, each had their charms, exactly like the wineries of the highly acclaimed section of the world. Amazing was the word for the adventure, one taste of culture and a single sip of grapes at a time.

5 Stunning Chianti Wineries you can Visit from Florence

The beautiful and historic city of Florence is a place of many wonders, and it’s no surprise it remains one of the most visited places in Italy. Apart from the fabulous architecture and art galleries, Florence offers you a chance to experience another of Italy’s wonders: the fabulous wines of the Chianti region of Tuscany. Food and wine make up a great part of the culture of this beautiful country, so we have looked at five amazing chianti wineries within easy reach of Florence.

#chianti

Castello di Verrazzano initially an etruscan and then a roman settlement, this castle is one of the most famous of all the Chianti wineries, and a tour of this magnificent and historic place is a must for anyone visiting the region. With a history of winemaking going back almost 1000 years, you will be taken on a wonderful tour through the estate, and encouraged to indulge in tasting some of the very finest wine produced in all the world. This is an experience never to be forgotten, and a very beautiful place to visit.

The Castello di Brolio is another fabulous castle and historic winery, and offers a variety of exciting tours. Easily accessed from Florence, take in the spectacular Tuscan countryside as you tour a place that is as enticing as possible, and enjoy fine wines in exciting tasting sessions in what can only be described as a spectacular setting. This family winery has been in the same family since the 12th century, and the wines produced here are simply superb. The wonderful gardens, stunning castle and quaint museum are a must, so make this one for your shortlist.

Castello del Trebbio is next on our list; this magnificent estate combines an historic winery, dating back many hundreds of years, with wine estate tours options, and allows you to enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery in Tuscany. Some of the finest wines of Italy have been produced here – and still are to this day – so make sure you enjoy a wine tasting tour. Relaxed and yet invigorating, the slow pace of life of Tuscany is evident all the time here, so take the time to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the region.

Fattoria il Lago is situated on the site of an ancient farm, once owned by notable Tuscan nobles, and is now a fabulous winery, olive oil producing estate and also offer tours of the wine production. Just a short distance from Florence, this is a place where you can relax and enjoy the location, take in wine tasting sessions and simply experience rural Italy at its best.

Finally, Torre a Cona is a great choice of place to visit and taste Chianti wines, and offers both a wine estate and activities in a quite wonderful setting. A choice of dinner on demand and cooking classes with excellent facilities – including a pool – and stunning views make this a very good choice if you are looking for a Tuscany holiday with wine as a feature.

The Chianti region is one of the most glorious of all in Italy, and any of the above wine estates make for a great place to visit or to stay when taking a holiday in the Tuscany region.

Interested in wine tours in the Chianti region? We offer chauffeured tours departing from Florence and Siena, for more information please click here.

A short guide about cycling in Chianti – Tuscany.

Have you ever thought about experiencing a day bicycle tour in the heart of the Chianti wine region? It can be a very original idea for spending a weekend in a different way. Many kinds of bicycle tours are offered through the hills of Chianti visiting vineyards, villas and olive groves. You will have the chance to enjoy stunning landscapes and obviously, to taste a glass of wine and some Tuscan olive oil on  bread.
Here are some suggestions to combine fun and adventure through the Chianti region. 2012 L'Eroica

South of Florence: Between Radda and Volpaia.

Radda in Chianti is one of the most popular Tuscan areas chosen by bike lovers, located in the province of Siena. This itinerary starts in Radda in Chianti and is 19 kilometres long. We can say that it’s a short route, but not so easy to cover, as it is it has slopes and steep elevations. For instance, you’ll find a steep rise towards Castelvecchi and Volpaia. Nevertheless, the effort is worth it. There you’ll enjoy a view of the Chianti landscape that seems to be really postcard perfect. This itinerary is part of a cycling loop check this website for the whole map.

East of Siena: Tour of Chianti from Castelnuovo Berardenga.

This great network of cycling routes around the Chianti region covers the four main municipalities of Siena. If is dotted with countless wineries that offer chianti tasting.  If you choose to take part in this journey, you will start from Castelnuovo Berardenga and you will have the choice to pedal for as long as long 98 kilometres. In certain areas, It can be a demanding tour, suitable for people who love working hard and are not afraid of long distances and steep rises.
Up and Down visiting Abbeys and Castles from Castelnuovo Berardenga to Castle of Montalto

Starting from Castelnuovo Berardenga you can choose this track that is just 28 kilometres. As a matter of fact, short itineraries can be the most demanding ones. The elevation profile is really varying. There are no long rises but at the same time, you won’t find any flat ground for almost 27 kilometres from Badia to Berardegna, as well as in the areas of the Monastery d’Ombrone and of the Castle of Montalto.

Towards Monteriggioni.

It’s a demanding itinerary,  51 kilometres long.
Is a tour of great historic interest but characterised by stunning views at the same time, above all in the Val d’Elsa. Tackling this route, you can choose to take a dirt shortcut, recommended for those who love riding mountain bikes.
The hardest part of the itinerary is the short but steep ride from Staggia towards the state highway Cassia, as well as the final rise to Castellina.

Towards Siena.

This 65-kilometre itinerary is one of the hardest ever. You really need a suitable bike to experience the demanding tour that starts from Radda in Chianti. The route is bumpy, with lots of bends, and it doesn’t present sudden elevations or drops however from start to finish there are more than 800 metres of difference in elevation.
A deviation towards the historic centre of Siena and the Certosa of Pontignano is strongly recommended. Don’t forget to fully enjoy the final part that goes through the authentic Chianti of San Sano, Lecchi, Ama and Andine.    

Berlucchi Sparkling Wines: a Brief History

The history of Berlucchi, the well-known Italian sparkling wine, is strictly connected to the engaging events experienced by the company that has the same name, and which is today on the top of the global oenology.

belucchi2
Berlucchi Winery Franciacorta Brescia Italy

The company was born in 1961, thanks to the lucky encounter between Guido Berlucchi, young countryman who was producing a simple wine called “Pinot del Castello” and Franco Ziliani, an ambitious winemaker, led by great dreams and expectations, who was interested in the idea of producing bubbly wine already at a early age, but he would have never imagined to reach such a great success.

The Beginning. 

The wine produced by Berlucchi with dedication and ambition, using grapes cultivated close to the Borgonato castle, presented unfortunately a problem of stability: once bottled, it tended to roil. And at this point Ziliani other than solving the inconvenience, confessed to Berlucchi his lifelong dream: to produce wines similarly to the French Champagne, high quality sparkling wines which can compete with the centuries-old French tradition.
The challenge was really ambitious even because, until recently, in Franciacorta we could only find very mediocre red wines, impossible to compare to the Champagne, beloved by Ziliani, who decided to start his ambitious project during his wine making training.

The First Italian Bubbly.

Giorgio Lanciani, Guido’s colleague and friend, takes part in the project.
In 1954, the three founded the “Guido Berlucchi & C.” Of course, their project took some time and many attempts before the production in 1961 of their first 3000 bottles of sparkling wine: the “Pinot di Franciacorta”.
The judgements were  immediately positives: the product was excellent and it could be compared with French Champagne.
The success of the new Italian wine was so overwhelming that the demand of production raised to the point that we can actually say that a new myth was born: the one of Franciacorta.
The winning characteristic of the product was the perfect price/performance combination: in fact it is Ziliani who believed that the selling point of their sparkling wines was the availability and the accessible price.
Now the production never stops; on the contrary, it continues to grow, thanks to the positive feedback of the consumers. The company can now get rich in new labels and renovate with new knowledge and technology.
The sparkling wine Berlucchi, in its classic variation, is straw-coloured with green reflections. It smells like white flowers and ripe fruits. Its flavour is embracing, fresh and lively.

Berlucchi 1961
The First Berlucchi Sparkling Wine made in 1961

The headquarters of Berlucchi wine is still today in Borgonato, community of Franciacorta, in the province of Brescia. The wine cellar is open from Monday to Friday (and a weekend per month from April to September) for guided tour and tasting itinerary. Don’t forget that you need to book a week earlier.

Villa Holidays In the Heart of Tuscany

The Soleado holiday home is situated on a beautiful hill resort in Pillo, in the municipality of Gambassi Terme. The Pillo village was founded thanks to the Old Via Francigena that crossed it and which even today numerous pilgrims still follow its historic route on foot. It is a pretty village set among the hills of the Chianti region from where you can easily reach the art cities and medieval villages. Therefore, Soleado is located in the heart of Tuscany, a few kilometers from the most important historic-cultural city as Florence, Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano; set among hills and the most important historical tracks, it offers the opportunity to enjoy pleasant days between history and nature at the same time. Soleado is not only that! The enogastronomic experience that awaits you will be unique! You really have to try flavors and smells of the Tuscan tradition through itineraries in old cellars and real winemakers ready to accompany you in this unforgettable experience. Nearby the Villa you can find “Villa Pillo”, a traditional Tuscan Farm located in the heart of the Chianti area. Because of a strong focus on quality in both the vineyard and winery, Villa Pillo is fast becoming a point of reference in the Tuscan wine world. Furthermore, they will be right the owners of the villa that on your arrival will recommend places where you can taste traditional Tuscan food or just where you can buy excellent fresh bread every day. The Soleado holiday home is thus the ideal place to spend your vacation in perfect harmony between relaxation and the desire to discover Tuscany’s artistic, landscape and food and wine attractions.

Amazing Tuscan Villa Stay with wine and food experience.

villaintuscany2

 

The Soleado holidays home is situated on a beautiful hill resort in Pillo, in the municipality of Gambassi Terme. The Pillo village was founded thanks to the Old Via Francigena that crossed it and which even today numerous pilgrims still follow its historic route on foot. It is a pretty village set among the hills of the Chianti region from where you can easily reach the art cities and medieval villages.

Therefore, Soleado is located in the heart of Tuscany, a few kilometers from the most important historic-cultural city as Florence, Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano; set among hills and the most important historical tracks, it offers the opportunity to enjoy pleasant days between history and nature at the same time.

Soleado is not only that!

The enogastronomic experience that awaits you will be unique! You really have to try flavors and smells of the Tuscan tradition through itineraries in old cellars and real winemakers ready to accompany you in this unforgettable experience. Nearby the Villa you can find “Villa Pillo”, a traditional Tuscan Farm located in the heart of the Chianti area. Because of a strong focus on quality in both the vineyard and winery, Villa Pillo is fast becoming a point of reference in the Tuscan wine world.
Furthermore, they will be right the owners of the villa that on your arrival will recommend places where you can taste traditional Tuscan food or just where you can buy excellent fresh bread every day.

Why stay here?

The Soleado holiday home is thus the ideal place to spend your vacation in perfect harmony between relaxation and the desire to discover Tuscany’s artistic, landscape and food and wine attractions.

tuscanvilla3

Lambrusco – Rediscovering this precious wine

Meet Lambrusco – a refreshing, foamy red wine, ideal for a family picnic, fresh egg pasta companion or an appetizer for a summer cocktail party alongside with a bowl of fruits or berries. Unlike Champagne, where the second fermentation occurs in the bottle, Lambrusco is treated by a method called Charmant – where the wine gets its bubbles while stored in large steel tanks, prior to bottling. However these days we see a variety of producers doing bottle fermented lambruscos.

saiorosso
Organic Unique high quality bottle fermented Lambrusco from Modena – San Polo di Castelvetro.

 

The origin of Lambrusco.

Being originally produced in Emilia-Romagna (northern Italy), this lower alcohol content wine is primarily made from the Lambrusco family grape, in fact most red wines have 13/15 alcohol degrees but lambrusco rarely has more than 11/12. Ranging from classic dry to an exquisitely sweet fragrant, the frothy drink has made a long way from its popularity peak in the 70-ies to a gradual decline due to mass production and then a revival in the recent years. The reputation of a cheap alike-soda is long behind and today, a great variety of tangy and delicious Lambrusco wines are available; in this article we shall discuss the frizzante type – lightly sparkling red ones.

The difference between secco, dolce and amabile

Depending on the tannin, and alcohol amount, Lambrusco can harmonize with a wide assortment of dishes. When picking up the right sort for a barbecue or a romantic dinner, make sure you understand the labels: secco for dry, amabile for medium sweet and dolce – for a sweet dessert wine.

Saio Rosso Lambrusco from Agriturismo San Polo Castelvetro di Modena.

This Lambrusco offers a unique experience, San Polo is a strictly organic producer, who use the bottle fermented method like in champagne. The wine is aged for 3 years before being consumed. It is robust and rustic but yet fruit and pleasant, and ideal for meaty pasta, and roast beefs sort of dishes.

Lambrusco di Sorbara from Cavicchioli, for example, will add an unforgettable air and a rosy scent to a light fruit dessert. It can be drunk on its own as aperitivo before dinner.

Lambrusco of Venturini Baldini, on the other hand – with its cheerful spirit of raspberry balanced by a touch of bitterness – is known to be best served with traditional pasta and local Emilia Romagna cuisine.

Lambrusco Grasparossa Amabile from Chiarli vinery, made by one of the oldest wineries dating back to 1860, has its cheerful berry overtone and goes along with a Parmesan cheese or Prosciutto di Parma.

The best Lambrusco wines are affordable for all Lambrusco prices vary from 5 euros to 10 euros per bottle, which is another great reason to include this fizzy wine into your menu.
Vittorio Graziano Fontana dei Boschi’s lambrusco, for example, has a delicious aroma encompassing a strong purple berry scent blurred with notes of salami. It is best to be accompanied by cold cuts like Parma ham or another cured meat. Unlike traditional Lambrusco wines which are best to be drunk young, this one goes just as well being slightly aged.

Lambrusco Concerto from Medici Ermete  has its multi-fragrant element providing a unique, persistent essence with a slightly bitter finish – it will fit perfectly into a barbecue brunch with an old-fashioned pollo alla cacciatora.

Ca’ Montanari Opera Lambrusco di Modena Secco  is one of the best choices to supplement down-to-earth dishes such as the Lasagne or tagliatelle alla  Bolognese. This dark colored, flowery-scented drink adds a long-lasting impression to any Italian-style classic dish.

Lambrusco is best to be served chilled

The ideal temperature for getting the utmost value is around 12/15 degree celsius. Serving it too warm might destroy the complexity of the multi-layer aroma bouquet: the alcohol, evaporating too fast will overlay the sophisticated perky fruit flavor for which this wine is so much appreciated.
***

Lambrusco red wines differ in hues, texture and sweetness-bitterness scale – each sparkling drink suits a different mood and occasion. Experiment with the wine-food combinations until you find the true spirit and the best match.

css.php