A truly beautiful winery! What's even more important is that for years, they've been raising heir…read morecrops organically since 1988, but switched to a practicing biodynamic agriculture in 2000 (no human intervention at all-which means using various plants to remineralize the soil, utilizing the forest for insects and temperature control, and of course, absolutely no watering!) We came here in a full-day private wine tour- so keep in mind our experiences might differ slightly from others. However, we had a lovely tour of the facilities and explanation of the process, practice of biodynamic agriculture, and evolution of the land. After which, we sat down to taste a wide variety of wines, including of course the Chianti Classico, Reservas, and some special blends as well. The most delicious and impressive was their Batár wine, which is a surprising white (Chardonnay & Pinot Blanc) which was smooth and luxurious... difficult to describe but an absolutely delicious and rare flavor! Very unusual for this region, and they're known for it! A must try!!

Last week I had the pleasure of touring Querciabella with Daniela Cappuccio. Daniela's ability to…read moreexplain (in English) the excitement of the wineries vegan approach to growing grapes and making fine wine was engaging and exciting. Daniela is a true professional and brought great enthusiasm to the tour.

What a beautiful winery in the heart of Chianti! This winery is so homey feeling and the owner is…read moreso kind! Love the stories they shared about the symbolism of the black rooster and their olive oil is amazing! The view here is drop dead gorgeous and I'm so glad we were taken here on a wine tour! This was my favorite winery we toured!

We stopped at this charming little winery while driving through Tuscany and I'm so happy we did!…read moreThis was an adorable little tasting room with a friendly, complimentary tasting. All the wines were tasty and we purchased a couple of bottles of local Chianti that never made it home from Italy with us. Americans see Chianti wine as being crappy or in big wicker-wrapped jug bottles but that's not the case in Italy. Chianti wines are amazingly good and reasonably priced. The family-run vineyard and tasting room had a nice set-up and everyone was super friendly. They even had a sampling of the olive oil that is made from the olive trees on site. The photographic opportunities are good here as well; their stone building and grounds are gorgeous. Worth a stop if you are on the road and happen to pass by!

Wow - from the moment we arrive the staff was gracious and accomodating. Grounds are spectacular…read morewith beautiful pool, pool house, gym and comfortable seating for all. The villa is surrounded by rows of olive trees (make sure to take home some fresh olive oil !). Rooms were well appointed, clean, modern with excellent air conditioning throughout (it was hot outside!). The common areas had plenty of seating, were well kept and made for several nights of enjoyment with our friends (we rented the full villa and were dully impressed. Thank you for a wonderful stay !

Villa Calcinaia has it all! Apartments in 12th and 13th century buildings you can stay in, nestled…read moreamong the vineyards and rolling Chianti hills. Fun, hands on cooking classes full of delicious Italian specialities. Incredible staff that make you feel like you're part of the family. And, the wine! Oh so much amazing Chianti wine! Since moving to Italy about 8-months ago, we've already visited Villa Calcinaia twice and have no doubt that we'll be back many more times. It's the perfect jumping off point for trips to any of the Chianti towns (Greve is walkable, Strada and Panzano in Chianti are both only 10-15 minutes drive, and Castellina in Chianti about 30 minutes), San Gimignano and Volterra are only an hour away, Florence, Pisa, and Sienna are also close. You could easily spend weeks here and not come close to seeing everything the region has to offer.

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.

"The Little Farm with Great Wine".... and GREAT PEOPLE!…read more We loved our visit to Casaloste. Christine showed our big family around the vineyards and cellar on a hot June day. She was so warm and fun. We all walked away knowing more about Chianti Classico and feeling like we made a friend in Tuscany. Also we loved Rocco -- the friendly Great Pyrenees. The wine is good, the views are beautiful, and it doesn't get more Italian than Chianti.

This was a very lovely winery down a dirt road. The wine tasting experience was good, but the…read morewines were very expensive for the wine that was available for sale by at least double than other wineries in the area. We also felt that they were trying to justify the cost with the descriptions of the wine. We didn't buy any wine at this winery.

Best culinary experience of my life!…read more I don't take this review lightly and I mean every word of this title. I first met Paulo in Oct 2021. My wife and I were looking for an 'authentic' wine tasting experience near Florence (something close enough for my wife and I to ride a moped through Florence). Paulo didn't have the most reviews online but every review I saw was 5 stars. This piqued my interest..."there's something here". We find ourselves walking in the front door of an old mom and pop shop bodega/general store. Paulo greets us warmly and we walk down some stairs to his basement. We're greeted by a pre set up tasting table that just looks fantastic. Paulo goes on to teach us about the components of the tongue and how the various fruit, nut, cheese, combinations hit the senses that just so happen to pair perfectly with his Rose wine--and that was just the beginning. To this day we continue to recommend him without reservation to all of our friends (with 10+ friends being able to experience his tasting, and each agreeing this was one of their best memories in Italy). We also continue to order his wine and olive oil direct to the US and his wine currently occupies the top shelf on our wine rack. Paulo, you're awesome!!

Went into this wine tasting blind with a party of 12 and was quickly amazed by the owner Paolo and…read morehis shop/ tasting room. The tasting ( in my experience) was much more than wine tasting but a combination of cheeses, jams, mortadella, prosciutto, and of course wines which he makes. The first course included a rosé style wine and a few different cheese all of which were different ages, topped with different jams including a truffle blackberry jam and cashews which were absolutely incredible! I will not spoil the rest of the experience but if you're looking to go wine tasting in true Tuscany with generations of experience look no further. I can't wait to go back

Absolutely incredible service -- Thomas went above and beyond!…read more We had the pleasure of having Thomas as our driver in Siena, and we honestly couldn't recommend him enough. It was a Sunday in Italy and we were completely stuck with no transport. Thomas arrived in a lovely, air-conditioned van, helped us with our bags, and immediately went out of his way to make sure we had the best possible experience. As soon as we got in the car, he told us all about Montepulciano -- the best vineyards to visit, what prices to expect, and how to get around. We hadn't booked anything, but Thomas contacted his friends and organised everything for us. He even took us to our hotel, waited patiently while we checked in, and never rushed us. He then arranged a taxi to collect us after our vineyard tour and even negotiated the price for us -- something we never asked him to do! At the vineyard, he personally walked us in and introduced us to his friends. Thomas truly saved our day and turned what could have been a stressful experience into one of the highlights of our Italian trip. He was incredibly kind, patient, generous, and genuinely wanted us to have the best experience possible. If you have the option to book this service, do it! And if you get Thomas as your driver, you're incredibly lucky. Thank you so much, Thomas, for making our experience so special!

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!!