We had a great time on our tour with Roberto from We Drive You Tuscany! We did the 8 hour San…read moreGimignano and Chianti Classico as well as the Pienza, Val d'Orcia, Montalcino wine and Pecorino cheese private tours with Roberto. This was my first trip to Italy, we enjoyed a comfortable ride throughout the countryside in the clean, air conditioned van! Roberto was so knowledgeable and made sure we knew all the best places to visit along with the history of the beautiful Tuscan countryside! He even gave us recommendations for our second leg of the trip to Rome. We will definitely use this service again!!

We had the pleasure of touring Tuscany with We Drive You Tuscany. Roberto was our driver and we…read morehad a beautiful Mercedes van that was new and comfortable. Bottled water was provided and he even stopped to get Fresh pizza for us. By the time we finished touring with Roberto for two days we felt that we knew so much about the area, history and culture of the region. Roberto's knowledge or art, history, food and culture was so impressive. The tour we did with Roberto was much more than him driving us from place to place. Each place we went was so carefully planned and curated. We visited wineries, vineyards and a sheep farm that makes cheese. With his help, we were able to visit every place we wanted to see as well as some smaller unknown, hidden gems. We saw so many beautiful landscapes and Roberto stopped frequently for us to take in the views! I cannot say enough wonderful things about Roberto. We hope to go back soon to tour Umbria and Florence with Roberto.

If you want a five-star experience in Tuscany, look no further than Klajdi Belaj, an exceptional…read moresommelier and guide based in Cortona. Klajdi doesn't just offer wine tours--he curates unforgettable, custom-tailored journeys through the heart of Tuscany that blend culture, cuisine, and personal connection. For me and my boyfriend, he arranged private visits to a local olive oil mill, a pecorino cheese farm, and two hidden-gem wineries--each one authentic, intimate, and far from the tourist trail. We didn't just taste wines; we learned why they paired beautifully (or didn't) with local foods, thanks to Klajdi's deep knowledge and engaging teaching style. He's not only an expert, but also warm, funny, and genuinely invested in making the experience special. For my birthday, Klajdi went above and beyond--waking up before dawn to drive us to a surprise hot air balloon ride over Siena, filming us from the ground, and seamlessly continuing our wine tour afterward. That level of care and thoughtfulness is truly rare. He also offers private cooking classes and villa dinners with expert wine pairings. And if you're planning a wedding or special event, Klajdi and his fiancée are a dream team--handling every detail with elegance and passion. We can't wait to return to Tuscany and book as many experiences with Klajdi as possible. Everything in Tuscany is better with great olive oil, world-class wine--and Klajdi. Highly, highly recommend! https://www.tuscanywinefoodadventures.com/

Klajdi was absolutely fantastic. He last minute accepted my groups request to do an olive oil and…read morevineyard tour in Montepulciano and was very accommodating. He was extremely knowledgeable, a level 3 sommelier and was not only a great driver and guide, but has extensive understanding of the area and the vineyards. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for day trips from or to Cortona.

Had a great Cinque Terre Walk About tour with our guides Naomi and Luca. Both brought their…read morepersonalities and knowledge of the area to the tour. You should be proud to have them as employees. Since they went the extra mile and smile, I have a little suggestion. It's best done to the Aerosmith song "Walk this Way". Enjoy... Walk About ( To the song Walk this Way by Aerosmith) Cinque Terre lovers There's a tour like no other Who can fill with your day with so much fun From the bus to the train Their always there to explain As you travel town to town in the sun Always with a smile They go the extra mile Naomi and Luca should really be praised For the hard work they do I have a suggestion for you How bout giving them both a raise Walk About We all shout Without doubt Don't cop out Just give them a raise Seaside villas Lined up and down the hillas Stretching up the Italian Coast With breath taking views So many we never knew An experience we all will boast Speaking for the rest These two really gave their best A credit to your industry by far So maybe tomorrow You can give them some more Euros And on Yelp I will give you 5 STARS Walk About We all shout Without doubt Don't cop out Just give them a raise

We did Sienna, San Gimignano and Pisa tour from Florence. It was AMAZING thanks to Adela. She was…read moreso informative, knowledgeable and resourceful. Has great energy, which really set the tone for our group. It is no wonder the company has a 4.9 star review on Google! Great experience

Such a fun day exploring the foods of Bologna! First we were picked up promptly, first thing in…read morethe morning (the sun hadn't come up yet) at our hotel in a passenger van, and drove to the first experience which was the cheese factory/farm. We actually got to see how the whole processing of making Parmigiano Reggiano,from start to finish, which was very enlightening. I have to say their Ricotta cheese is the best I have tasted from all over the world. Next we drove to a family owned DOP balsamic vinegar vineyard where we were able to see the process of making balsamic vinegar. Did you know it takes years and years to make just a small amount of vinegar. Very fascinating to hear and to taste. We got to compare balsamic venegar that isn't DOP and some that is. We were also able to taste the 25 year old, and 50 year old vinegar. This is tightly guarded as it is quite an arduous process, and very, very, time consuming just to get a few bottles out of the 25 and 50+ vinegar. Let's just say it's yummy. Make sure you buy a bottle while you are there. I didn't, and I could kick myself as it's more expensive is the USA from the same vineyard. Then it was off to the place where the prosciutto di Modena is made. That was interesting as well all these ham hocks hanging up, and the process of how the most tasty prosciutto is made. Final stop was to have lunch at a cantina on a sprawling estate. Great views. Did I say FOOD, lots, and lots of Italian food and wine. Very tasty and a good variety of Italian dishes. Then off to our hotel we go. We had our driver drop us off closer to city center so that we could enjoy the city before heading back to our hotel since this was or last night in Italy. She was very happy to oblige us. Such a fun day. I highly recommend this tour.

We had a fabulous tour with Italian Days! We saw how they make Parmegiano Reggiano, Prosciutto and…read moreBalsamic Vinegar. Not only did we get to taste the finished product, the process that goes into making them was very interesting. Alessandro, our tour guide, was excellent at explaining all the steps for each. We had a lovely breakfast after the Parmegiano Reggiano tour. After touring the Prosciutto company, we had a lovely five course meal including wine. I highly recommend Italian Days.

This is a wonderful food tour by an American & Italian dual citizen who's lived in Florence for…read moreover 20 years and has been guiding for most of them. She knows the shopkeepers by first name and by the quality and pricing of their goods. A truly friendly lady who really enjoys her work.

My family and I had a great tour with Alessandro. Florence…read moreis paradise for foodies, and he knew some great places for us to try and was able to explain the background of the food. Some of the old places won't be around much longer, given how things are changing. Taste it while you can. It was a great experience for us, and, if you love food, this will make you happy.

TL;DR - this tour is a delight to those who truly care about the entire winemaking process,…read morehistory, and culture. My wife and I planned our dream vacation to Italy with a focus on food and wine. Our time in the Florence area mandated the intentional trip to my (and now OUR) favorite winemaking area - Montalcino. We spent months planning and researching and came across this wonderful local company - "Italy & Wine Tours." Upon review of their website we were captivated by their intentionality to have the time be an intimate and thoughtfully curated all day adventure from Florence through the Chianti region, into the romantic hills of Val d'Orcia, and onto the hillside of Montalcino. To our delight - on the day of the trip we found that we were the only couple who signed up to go that day. Our tour guide Nicolò (who was INCREDIBLE and has formal WSET training/certification) was joined by the delightful daughter (Ippolita) of the company's owner. It was the best experience traveling with them. From the moment we were introduced to the moment we were dropped off at the end of the day we never stopped talking, laughing, sharing stories, and learning more about our favorite shared passion - Italian wine. Now onto the WINE! I won't spoil your trip with too many specifics, but our tour began from the beginning - how did Brunello di Montalcino come to be? We toured the streets of Montalcino and immersed ourselves in local history, tradition, etc. following the city, we were off to the first winery. The first winery focus was on the (traditional) aspects of Brunello. The centuries old family fortress made it abundantly clear. It was an idyllic location through the cellars, learning about the soil, property history for pilgrimages, ancient Rome, and crusades. We sampled 4 wines produced by the site which trended towards elegant, refined, and approachable. During the tasting we were blessed with a delicious and traditional private Italian lunch. Afterwards we went to the second winery which was slightly more modern (in winemaking style) but nonetheless a delight. We dove deeper into soil composition, weather, aging conditions, and micro-factors. The wine at the second location was big, bold, wonderfully complex and personally my preferred style. We concluded our time thanking our hosts and guides over and over again with multiple bottles in hand to bring home and shared with our family. We sincerely hope you (the reader) get to experience Italy and Montalcino in the same way we did. Personal highlights / Why choose this company: - historic, locally/generational owned wineries - not large corporate productions. - 2 production styles helped compare/contrast the same type of wine helping me choose future bottles more accurately. - The tour guides / owners. They care about you, and hospitality is so genuine. Please support companies like this. Thank you so much Nicolò and Ippolita. You are forever in our hearts and we hope our paths cross again in the future!! *David & Kenzie (Seattle, WA)

Our Montepulciano wine tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Italy, and much of that was…read morethanks to Niccolò. From the moment we left Florence, he transformed what could have been a simple drive into a fascinating journey through Tuscany. We spent the day discussing Italian history, culture, education, and different perspectives on life, which added tremendous depth and meaning to the experience. Niccolò is knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about sharing his country with visitors. By the end of the day, he felt more like a friend than a guide. The wineries themselves were equally impressive. We especially appreciated visiting family-owned vineyards where generations of winemakers have preserved traditions while producing exceptional wines. The hospitality was warm and authentic, and each winery offered a unique glimpse into the rich heritage of the Montepulciano region. The wine tastings were outstanding, but it was the stories, family histories, and personal connections that made the experience truly memorable. This tour provided far more than wine tasting--it offered an opportunity to experience the culture, people, and traditions of Tuscany in a meaningful way. If you are considering a wine tour from Florence, I highly recommend this experience, and if you are fortunate enough to have Niccolò as your guide, you are in for a remarkable day. Thank you, Niccolò, for making our day so special and for sharing your knowledge, insight, and enthusiasm with us. We will remember this experience long after the last bottle of wine is gone.

Hand-crafted pasta since 1912, the owner Giuseppe has been in the family business since 1950, is…read moreextremely friendly and informative, and made us feel welcome for our free, private tour. During World War II, the Nazis took over the building, a villa, making it their headquarters in 1944. The family had to walk for two days to Florence while the Germans occupied their home. Once the Nazis fled from Allied Forces, they returned home and were the first pastificio (pasta factory) of 36 in Pistoia to resume operations after the war. They are the only remaining pastificio of the original 36. The factory has been somewhat automated since 1950, but many of the pastas are still handmade. They have numerous varieties of pasta, including their signature brands, made with only Tuscan flour from the Pisa area. They recently unveiled a pasta in the shape of Pinocchio characters called "Le Bugie" ("the lies"), the result of a scholarship competition in the local schools. The factory employs only six people, but they produce a wide variety of pastas using old family recipes and processes. The small river behind the factory once spun the turbines beneath the building which allowed them to resume operations so quickly after the war. Special drying units maintain constant temperatures between 32 and 35 degrees Celsius (90-95 Fahrenheit) , ensuring that the pasta does not break, reducing waste, and resulting in quality products. Pastas take from 24 hours to six days to dry depending on the shape. The bronze pasta forms used to give the pastas their various shapes result in a special consistency not found in mass produced brands (De Cecco, Barilla). Their pastas take much less time to cook because the pasta from the brass forms allow the boiling water to saturate the pasta instead of cooking it from the outside. The water they are boiled in also has much more starch then that of the mass produced brands, allowing the water to be used to thicken sauces before serving. The valley in which the villa sits is quiet, green, lush, and much cooler than smoldering Florence, so it was a breath of fresh air, literally, after a month in 100 degree Florence and its wall-to-wall tourists. Giuseppe is working on adding a small gift shop and cafe, culinary demonstrations, and possibly pasta making and cooking classes in the near future, but in the meantime a tour of their operation is a must if visiting Tuscany and tell him CombatCritic sent you! CombatCritic Gives Pastaficio Chelucci Tour The Coveted 10 Bombs Out Of 10 ... IT'S THE BOMB ... More Bombs Are Better!

From the owner: Production of hand-crafted pasta utilising bronze forms as has been done for over one hundred…read moreyears. Our facility has been in the family since 1912 and was confiscated by the Germans during World War II, serving as their headquarters in 1944. We were the first of 37 pasta factories in Pistoia to reopen after the war and are the only remaining open to this day. We offer tours of our facility by appointment.

My family took a beautiful horse tour through the Tucson countryside. This was our favorite…read moreexperience during our vacation throughout Italy! The lovely staff were extremely kind and accommodating and made sure the experience was enjoyable for all experience levels--we are beginners and felt very comfortable. Our guide took plenty of beautiful pictures, as well. The view and experience as a whole is one we will remember for the rest of our lives, I cannot recommend it enough!

I just got back from Italy and Simona from Florence Country Life made one of my dreams come true. I…read morereally wanted a quintessential Tuscan hillside horseback ride where I could trot and gallop through wine vineyards. Other companies I contacted were only able to offer trail rides with horses head-to-tail. Simona orchestrated a private ride for me with a local horse owner in the Tuscan hills. I was picked up by their driver, Marco, in downtown Florence and delivered to a modest horseback riding school in Rufino, about 35 minutes outside Florence. There I was greeted by the owner and a bi-lingual instructor. The three of us set out on our horses, walking through neighboring gravel streets, behind homes where locals came out to wave to us as we passed. As we walked further up the countryside, we trotted alongside family gardens, and then took off into a gallop in an open field. Further up the hills, we galloped again right through grape vineyards. Our guide pulled some fresh figs off the trees and we enjoyed a snack along our way. At the highest point, I could see all of the towns below. It was truly breathtaking. On the way down, we walked through olive groves and enjoyed a few more figs. By the time we got back to the stables, my heart was full as one of my life-long dreams had been fulfilled. Marco drove me back to Florence and it was back to the city life. Simona called us on the way back to ensure the ride met my satisfaction and welcomed me back to visit them again if I were ever so fortunate to return. Thank you, Simona, for arranging such a special ride for me. It was beyond my expectations, yet so simple and without worry.

We did the truffle hunting experience as a group of 40 the day after our wedding. Vittorio was very…read morehelpful in making sure that we had a bus big enough for the group and gave clear instructions on where to meet him in Florence for our pickup. Our group loved learning about truffles, meeting the dogs, and exploring the woods. We even found 4 truffles that day, though Luna ate one. The lunch is absolutely delightful. Each course is paired with wine and you get to try fresh bread with all of the different truffle oils and butters. I could eat that truffle pasta every single day. You are served in the family home and are treated just like family. It's really very special. At the end of the tour, you can buy wines, salts, or truffle oils. They also sell beautiful candles and plates. This was the perfect post-wedding activity and was so much fun. We left at around 11am and got back by 5pm.

This is an amazing experience to do if you're in the Florence area. The farm is located about 40…read moreminutes away from downtown Florence and is worth renting a car. The roads to the farm are windy and narrow, but the views are incredible. Once we arrived, we were greeted by Francesca (our host and guide). She offered us coffee and water, as well as mosquito repellent since it was summer time. She has a brief overview of what we were going to do. Then we went and got Choco, our truffle hunting dog. He's a friendly and energertic Lagotto Romangnolo. He's specially trained to find truffles, but not eat them. Since it was July in Tuscany, Francesca reminded us that she respected the dogs and if Choco was too hot, we would have to end the hunt. Then we went off on a short hike through the woods. As soon as we got into the woods, Choco stopped and started digging. Francesca and Choco work extremely well with each other and respect each other. Francesca dug up a small (about the size of a button mushroom) white truffle! These are not in season, but it still smelled fragrant and Francesca said she would keep it since it was good quality. For the next half hour we continued to walk through the forest and found 2 black summer truffles and another white truffle. The black summer truffles are not as aromatic as the white ones, but had an earthier smell. Francesca also pointed out other plants and vegetables along the way. When Choco was tired, he let us know by sitting at our feet which indicated it was time for pictures lol. We then walked back to the farmhouse where we said good bye to Choco and ate an amazing 4 course lunch with tons of truffles. Even though it was hot, they provided fans and ice water to keep us cool. I was shocked by how much food we got and the wines served with lunch was incredible! We were so full after lunch! Francesca and her family made sure we were comfortable and well fed. Their hospitality was so generous and we loved every minute we were there. *Helpful Hint* Wear long pants and good sneakers because the forest has lots of branches and thorny plants. The other people in our group wore shorts and it was unconfortable for them to walk around.

We were in Cortana in August 2023. We did the Lake Trasimeno bike tour with Andrea, including a…read morewine tour of Baldetti. We had the best time. It was so beautiful and Andrea was knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Andrea accommodated our requests for specific points of interest. The electric bikes were top quality and the route was easy and showed us a lot of the rural Tuscany countryside. The wine tour was super. Highly recommend Andrea and this tour. It was a great day.

I've taken two wine tours with this company and they far exceeded my expectations! The drivers were…read moreprofessional and prompt in picking us up directly from our hotel in Cortona. The selection of wineries was perfect- from the stunning old world, traditional style like Villa S. Anna to the rolling hills of a modern winery growing hydroponic vegetables next to the vineyard. Wine Tours Cortona arranges a perfect taste of Tuscany that includes a ride through the beautiful countryside with history and friendly chatter with your driver. You will feel safe in the hands of these professionals, whose air-conditioned vehicles are also pristine and comfortable to ride in. They can accommodate private tours for 2-8 guests. Each stop includes a tour of the winery, tasting and usually a light Tuscan snack with the wine. It's obvious the drivers know the area and winery staff well. I appreciated that we didn't feel pressured to buy anything, but both trips I ended up shipping a case of wine back to the United States, as well as purchased some bottles to enjoy on the rest of our vacation! Communication is on point with this company; expect a prompt response and ease of booking for this five star luxury experience at an affordable price. I've shopped around and they are by far the best value for the day in the area. A truly exceptional company all around!