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.

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.

**I Girone de' Ghiotti -- Florence, Italy **…read more Before leaving Florence, we had to make a stop at the viral sandwich spot everyone seems to rave about--and I'll admit, we arrived before opening, second in line, slightly skeptical about whether the hype was actually deserved. **OH. MY. GOD. It was.** This was hands down one of the best sandwiches we've ever had. The bread was fresh and perfectly crisp on the outside while still soft enough to hold all the incredible fillings together. Everything tasted fresh, balanced, and thoughtfully put together. The menu has around 18 different combinations, and while they're happy to make some adjustments, I actually appreciated that they encourage you not to over-customize. Their combinations are designed so you can taste each ingredient the way it's intended. We went with **the Suicida and the Golosa**, and both were absolutely delicious. Each had its own personality, with layers of flavor that somehow worked perfectly together without becoming overwhelming. There's something about standing in line on a little Florentine street, watching these sandwiches being prepared, and then taking that first bite that makes the whole experience even better.

This was an off-the-beaten path/hidden gem that we stumbled upon when visiting Florence. My husband…read moreand I took the train in from the cruise port and ate an early breakfast on our ship. By the time we arrived and scoped out the Duomo, we were definitely ready for lunch. We were walking down the crowded cobblestone streets and decided that wanted a sandwich for lunch. We made a quick left turn and saw a line of people waiting. We weren't necessarily sure what they were waiting for until we inquired. Most people were waiting for sandwiches - SCORE! We decided to get in line and realized how quickly the line was moving. Traffic was being moved by their workers who were assisting with menu suggestions. We quickly got up to the front of the establishment and realized how tiny it is inside. It was so cool to see an actual Italian deli in action. From what I heard, they source their ingredients from local farmers, too! I ordered the La Rosa and my husband ordered the Gregorio (in honor of our friend Greg!). We waited outside for a few minutes while they prepared our order. The sandwiches were absolutely delicious and the bread was surprisingly crispy. The cost was super reasonable, too, for how much food you are getting. We will be back!

I found this gem of a wine shop while exploring Oltr'Arno one afternoon. I stopped in and…read moreunfortunately didn't know enough Italian to really communicate what I was looking for. I am very grateful to the owner for communicating with me in English. He took the time to explain the relative merits of each bottle he had for sale, including where they came from, the background of the region, etc. When I asked for recommendations, explaining that I prefer full-bodied Chiantis and Sangioveses, he made his recommendations and explained why he was recommending each. To his credit, he never steered me towards the unduly expensive selections. As he was ringing up the four bottles I purchased, I spied a bottle of grappa. He explained how it was made and suggested I try a bottle. While I have not yet gotten to try the wines (I almost don't want to open them!), it was a great shopping experience for authentic Italian wine straight from Italy!

This shop was exactly what we needed to make sure authentic and unique wines from Tuscany made it…read morehome to the United States with us! The wine tasting was thorough and included details about their origin as well as wine flavors. We had help picking out wines to send home for gifts as well as for ourselves. Our wine was delivered in exactly the time they estimated and was well packaged. We will definitely stop here again if in Florence and order again in the meantime.

We had the best time with the lovely and knowledgeable Laura at Enoteca Pontevecchio. We sampled…read moredelicious wines, including Sting's label, and the most amazing olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Easy to ship a case home. It is a special place to visit in Florence.

I Vinaio an itsy bitsy little wine and beer shop on Via delle Carre, near Piazza San Jacopino. The…read morewines on tap cost around €2- €5 a bottle and all come from Tuscany or Sicily. I bought a red "Morello" that was amazing for only €3 here. Unlike most wine stores in Florence, this store also carries a wide selection of artisan beer. Though there is no beer on tap, their prices for bottled specialty beer are not extraordinarily high, so it's easy enough to come and try a couple from their selection to find one you really like. The owners are very knowledgeable, so if you are unsure of what to try, just ask them and they will help you select the perfect wine or beer to fit your tastes. If you are in the mood for something bubbly, they also have prosecco on tap, how amazing is that?!

From the owner: In the University zone of Bologna you'll find fine wines from all Italian Regions, including…read moreBarolo, Amarone and Brunello di Montalcino. Here you also can find French wines, sparkling wines including Franciacorta and Champagne, raisin wines, grappa and other spirits at a friendly price! Vini scelti da tutte le regioni d'Italia, vini francesi, bollicine, vini passiti, grappa e altri distillati al giusto prezzo! Consegne gratuite a Bologna e Casalecchio di Reno per importi superiori a 30 Euro.