Imagine our excitement when we stopped in town to pick up some beer and wine for our fridge, and…read morestumbled into one of the highlights of our trip! We had been on the trek to Greve, and not purchased anything, nor had any great experiences. On the way back to our farmhouse (Antico Borgo San Lorenzo) we stopped in town to purchase some vino for our fridge. We walked in here, and were warmly greeted by Manuela. She insisted that we come sit at the rustic table, and try some wine with her. What an experience! Before we knew it, there were 5+ bottles open - plus olive oil, balsamics & bread. We were delighted as she guided us through local wines. It was a far better experience than we had found in Greve. After an hour we realized that locals were coming in & filling their own bottles with wine - something we had never seen. They have 2 reds, and 1 white on tap to "fill your own bottle" - for 1.5 euro a liter! You can purchase a bottle there, or fill your own. We immediately emptied all of our water bottles, and purchased straw covered chianti bottles to refill with house vino. The kids filled and corked bottles for the next 30 minutes. We left with: (3) 2 liter water bottles of their premium red, a giant chianti bottle of white, several bottles we enjoyed at their table, and the BEST balsamic we've ever tasted. But the biggest thing we left with was a smile. This place is the real deal, and worth a stop if you're in the Siena area. It's a fun little local find you'll want to treasure.

What an amazing place! Outstanding service, the people are warm and hospitable, always going out of…read moretheir way to make you feel special!

The owner is so friendly and funny! You have to visit him…read more We wandered in here after walking the streets of Monterosso for a while; just to take a glance at what was being sold/offered here. The owner immediately struck up conversation and started us on a tasting spree of his delicious limoncello varieties! Between 'shots' of his homemade limoncello, we sampled some of his fresh jams & preserves as well. So tasty! He was SOO friendly and gave us so many great recommendations, we definitely did not walk out empty-handed! So whilst in town, you must make sure you stop by this adorable little shop that's filled with so many Italian treats! I promise, you won't regret it! :)

Came to this spot to do a wine tasting however they couldn't take us the same day. We were just…read morelooking to try some wines of the area to make the right purchases. We ended up staying outside for drinks but the wine selection was limited. We liked the Rosso they had and got a bottle to drink there. We enjoyed ourselves sitting outside people watching and letting our feet rest.

This cafe in Siena is located on one of its twisty, inclined streets near Piazza del Duomo. There…read moreare three separate doorways; one seems to be for food, one for booze, and one for coffee and pastries. The coffee door is imprinted with "KAFA Forest Coffee". We were walking along and just wanted a coffee to sip as we sat and relaxed on their covered patio. It's a great place to people watch. I went inside and ordered 2 Americanos at the counter. The helpful barista understood my English perfectly and my cups of espresso were ready quickly to take out to the patio. The coffees were bold and strong; quite enjoyable. We sat for ten minutes or so until another customer sat at the table next to us and lit up a cigarette, smoke blowing in our faces (unintentionally). Smoking on a restaurant patio is fine in Italy. They also serve pastries, small sandwiches, and gelato.

This was an amazing tour and total experience! Our tour guide, representative, wine educator, etc…read morewas excellent! Her knowledge of the property, the amazing history, and wine was so very nicely portrayed in her excellent tour. The history here is stunning too. Wines were so very good that we bought a case to be shipped back home, to the states. Check on buying wine, as they price it with shipping. The property is gorgeous and historic! Highly recommend this particular winery to visit and tour when visiting the area!

I was so excited to visit Castello di Verrazzano and I'm disappointed that I did not have a…read morepositive experience. As a Black woman from the U.S., I faced poor customer service and discrimination. My tour guide, Tomaso, was rude and condescending. First, he ignored me and other people of color in my group by not speaking to us or even giving eye contact at the beginning of the tour. Second, Tomaso told me that I wasn't allowed to record videos as this was the owner's rule and he demanded that I delete any videos from my phone. I felt that he was singling me out and trying to embarrass me. This "policy" was not shared in writing or verbally in advance. Also, I've seen other guests post videos on social media, even days before my visit, which included Tomaso's face. The energy of the tour felt unwelcoming. During the tasting, no one followed up to ask how I was enjoying the wines or if I was interested in purchasing. It felt like the establishment didn't care about my business. Next, the staff said I could take photos with my wine in front of the amazing terrace view, then they refused. The castle shouldn't schedule tastings right before closing if guests will be pushed out. The only reason I didn't leave a one star review is due to a good experience with an outstanding staff member. Sole was very nice and offered me a ride to my car! She's the kind of employee who should be rewarded for going above and beyond and providing wonderful service to guests. Overall, the castle was beautiful, but the tour was dry with no enthusiasm and the service was lacking. Some staff seemed more concerned with showing attention to white guests and heading home than providing a memorable visit for everyone. I envisioned a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would leave me feeling enlightened, supported, and valued. Instead, I felt dismissed, excluded, and disrespected. I will return to Tuscany, but to a different winery that prides themselves on excellent service and fairness for all.

Delicious food, good wine and friendly service. Cozy little spot you might walk past but stop in!!!read more

We walked by this wine bar and store and decided to take a look inside. So much wine and liquor!…read moreIt's a cute store. We decided to take a break from walking and have a glass of wine. Wish we had more time to do their wine tasting. The man helping us with the wine was friendly and very nice. He was patient with us and helped us pick the wine to try. The two ladies at the entrance to the store weren't as friendly.

oooh, this place is dangerous. it's food and wine porn. we're talking good stuff, and priced as…read moresuch. there's wine, there's cheese, there's all manner of balsamic and truffle treats. there are cakes and crackers and pastas and sauces and jams. it's sort of amazing how such a seemingly small space can be packed full of so many delicious ways to separate you from your money...... and it looks good doing it. maybe that's what makes you feel good about just leaning into it. after all, you're worth it. right?

Never really ate because the service was very slow. We got up and left. It looked good. I'd try it…read moreagain when I go back to Lucca, which I probably will. When I go back & everything is up at least to par, I'll increase my rating.

When in the lovely town of Lucca, you must spend time and have a meal and vino at Toscano Tipica…read more The food is magnificent and the owners & staff are amazing...they treat you like family. Try their mixed meats/cheeses for a starter. You can't go wrong with either of their pastas and pizzas. Listen to the server about their wines. They are absolutely the best. You won't be disappointed..oh, and visit their store. They have the most lovely gifts & wine to take home.

Were able to snag an outside table walk in but certainly they fill up quickly and a reservation…read moreprobably would have been better. We grabbed a bottle of wine on a warmer June afternoon after a day of exploring, which was definitely refreshing. The location isn't much as it overlooks a pretty bare piazza. The service can be a bit on the slower side, especially when I walked in and tried to get the bill. But still if you're able to get a table it's a pretty quaint wine bar. It seemed like they had some flights/tastings, which would have been an interesting option.

Title: Great wine selection, but disappointing service from our server Noemi…read moreWe visited Enoteca Pitti Gola because it was recommended by Wine Spectator, and the wine list truly is impressive -- an extensive and well-curated selection of Italian wines. We were two couples and went for some wine and light snacks. When we arrived, there wasn't a table available for four, so we had to sit separately. Once a table behind our friends became available, we asked to move so we could sit closer together, but our server, Noemi, wasn't very accommodating and seemed somewhat annoyed by the request. We mentioned that we wanted to share a few dishes and asked about portion sizes, but Noemi didn't explain things clearly and wasn't very friendly. She insisted the plates weren't meant for sharing, which turned out not to be true. The wine itself was excellent, and the snacks were good -- but the overall service from Noemi felt unfriendly and not very customer-oriented. I'd still recommend the place if you're interested in trying great Italian wines, but be aware that the service experience may not match the quality of the wine.