Visiting Chianti wineries: our guide
The Chianti region of Tuscany is world-famous for its rolling hills, scenic views, medieval villages, but also and above all for its exceptional wine! Indeed, from this land come valuable bottles, excellent wine products loved by wine lovers from all countries. The Chianti wine-growing area is wide and varied, offering wines of different caliber and with distinctive characteristics, which always stand out on the world stage.
That is why, if you are on vacation in Tuscany, you should devote a day to visiting the most renowned Chianti wineries. A tasting of local wines, accompanied of course by typical Tuscan dishes, is an experience that is sure to leave you with great memories (and a great palate of course!). In this article we give you some tips on how to organize your visit to the best Chianti wineries that offer tastings.
Chianti hills, among vineyards and wineries
Chianti historically was a very narrow area, including the municipalities of Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti. Today, however, Chianti is a much larger area, including also Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Barberino Val d’Elsa, San Casciano in Val di Pesa and Greve in Chianti. We can say that today Chianti straddles Florence, Arezzo and Siena.
Each of these areas offers wines with different characteristics.
Chianti Classico is an area of about 70 thousand hectares that is home to about 350 wineries that make some of the highest quality wines in the world. The wine produced in this area has a dry, velvety, savory and deeply vinous taste. And it is precisely these characteristics that make it so beloved.
Chianti wineries to do a wine tasting
There are so many wineries in Chianti that offer the opportunity to do a tasting. A particularly fascinating aspect of this experience is also being able to listen to the words of the people who make that wine: the stories of Tuscan winemakers have something magical and timeless about them!
You will discover what lies behind a bottle of Chianti: the hard work and passion for simple, good and genuine things, the respect for tradition, old-fashioned methods and the care of every single step in the care of the vine. All this and more will accompany your visit to the Chianti wineries. Moreover, it is very interesting to be able to take a tour not only of the winery but also of the vineyard.
And now, here are some wineries in Chianti that are worth visiting if you are in Tuscany.
Cantina Antinori
One of the most famous and renowned Chianti Classico wineries is definitely the Antinori winery. It is located in the province of Florence, in San Casciano in Val di Pesa, and still belongs to the historic Antinori Marquis family. The entire winery is designed to have a low environmental impact and is in fact built with natural materials and energy-saving technologies.
Among the most renowned bottles you can enjoy are Chianti Classico Badia a Passignano Gran Selezione, Solaia and Tignanello.
The cellar is developed entirely underground, which ensures that the aging of the wine in the barrels takes place without any air conditioning system; the temperature is the natural temperature of the underground environment.
You will not only taste an excellent wine but also visit a unique place.
Tenuta di Frassineto
The complex called Villa-Fattoria di Frassineto is located in the heart of the Val di Chiana. Due to its architectural features, history and geographical location, it constitutes a testimony, particularly important from the historical and artistic point of view of the settlements with Villa-Farm type, dating back to the 17th century and, later, modified in the 19th century.
Today in Frassineto it is possible to visit wineries and wine tastings.
Felsina
We move to the Chianti Senese near Castelnuovo Berardenga.
Fattoria di Felsina understood as a winery was founded in 1966 and with a courageous act at that difficult time in Italian viticulture, the owners chose to invest in the quality of the wine and the expertise of some young people. The management of the countryside was modernized without abandoning the spirit of tradition. In the span of a few years the hectares under vine became more than forty and the soul and organization of the winery also changed.
Today guided tours of the winery and tastings are organized for clients.
Visiting Chianti wineries: where to stay?
If you have decided to include a visit with wine tasting to Chianti wineries in your vacation in Tuscany, it is also important to choose the right starting point. Gargonza Castle is ideally located because, straddling between Arezzo and Siena and just a few kilometers from Florence, it allows you to reach the entire Chianti area without difficulty.
You can choose the Chianti winery to visit (or even more than one, why not?) and dedicate a day to this very pleasant activity!