Private Wine-Tasting Tour in the Tuscan Countryside

7h · private, up to 6Free CancellationSmall Group

Duration: 7h
Type: Private, up to 6
Cancellation: Free, up to 24 hours before
Price: From €189 / adult

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About this experience

Private Wine-Tasting Tour in the Tuscan Countryside is one of the tours on this page, lasting about 7h. Worth knowing: it runs as a private tour, so the group is just yours and it centres on tasting. Prices start from €189 per adult. Open the booking page for today's availability, the start time and the exact meeting point before you decide.

What to expect

Tuscany makes far more than Chianti. Within a few hours' drive lie the home of Brunello, the white wines of San Gimignano, the coastal estates of Bolgheri and a scattering of smaller appellations, each with its own grape, soil and style. This page is a primer on Tuscan wine, written so that a tasting in the countryside makes sense whichever estate you end up visiting.

A short map of Tuscan wine

Sangiovese is the backbone of most Tuscan reds, but it changes character from place to place. In Chianti Classico it tends to be bright and savoury. Around Montalcino, a local clone often called Sangiovese Grosso produces Brunello, a powerful, long-lived red. Around Montepulciano the same grape, locally called Prugnolo Gentile, makes Vino Nobile. On the coast, Morellino di Scansano is a more approachable Sangiovese-based red.

Not everything is Sangiovese. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a dry white with a slight almond note. Along the Tyrrhenian coast near Bolgheri, estates make blends based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. These became known as Super Tuscans, wines that deliberately broke from traditional rules and later gained their own recognition.

Reading a label

Italian labels carry a lot of shorthand. A few terms are useful to know:

DOCG is the highest classification, with strict rules on grapes, yields and ageing.
DOC is a step down in strictness but still a controlled place of origin.
IGT allows more freedom, and some famous Tuscan wines have carried it.
Riserva means the wine was aged longer than the standard version.

How to taste, step by step

A tasting is a structured way of paying attention. First look at the colour, which tells you about age and grape. Swirl the glass to release aromas, then smell before you drink. When you sip, notice whether the wine feels light or full, whether acidity makes your mouth water, and whether tannin leaves a drying sensation on your gums. Reds are normally tasted from younger to older, and lighter wines before heavier ones. Plain bread and water between samples reset the palate.

There are no wrong answers. Describing a wine as cherry, tobacco, leather or herbs is an attempt to pin down what you notice, not a test.

On the estate

Many Tuscan estates are mixed farms. The word fattoria means a farm, cantina is the cellar, and an agriturismo is a working farm that offers food or lodging. Olive trees often grow among the vines, and extra virgin olive oil is made in the same season as the harvest. Vin Santo is another traditional product, made from Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes dried on racks and aged in small barrels.

Taking wine home

If you hope to buy wine, it is worth thinking in advance. Airlines restrict liquids in hand luggage, so bottles normally travel in the hold, well wrapped. Some estates ship abroad but rules differ by country, and import taxes vary. A mixed case of different appellations can be a good way to remember the day.

Food that suits each wine

Tuscan wines were made to go with local food, and the pairings are intuitive. Sangiovese reds suit tomato sauces, grilled meat and aged pecorino. Vernaccia pairs well with vegetables, fish and fresh cheeses. Brunello is a wine for roasts, game and slow-cooked dishes. Sweet Vin Santo is usually served with almond biscuits, and the contrast between the crunch and the sweetness is the point.

Useful information

Tell the organiser about allergies, pregnancy or dietary needs when you book, as these affect what is suitable.
Do not wear perfume, since scents get in the way of tasting.
Eat before tasting and drink water between samples.
Check airline and import rules before buying wine to take home.

Know before you go

Tasting is measured in small pours, and spitting is perfectly acceptable.
Different appellations taste very different, so keep an open mind about styles.

Frequently asked questions

▸What are Super Tuscans?

Super Tuscans are Tuscan red wines made outside the traditional rules, often with international grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Several are now among Italy's most famous wines.

▸What is the difference between DOC and DOCG?

Both are controlled designations of origin, but DOCG has stricter rules and is the higher tier. DOCG wines are also tasted and tested before release.

▸What is Brunello made from?

Brunello di Montalcino is made entirely from a Sangiovese clone grown around Montalcino. It has long ageing requirements before it can be sold.

▸What is Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?

It is a Sangiovese-based red from around Montepulciano in southern Tuscany. The local name for the grape there is Prugnolo Gentile.

▸Is Montepulciano the same as the Montepulciano grape?

No. The town of Montepulciano in Tuscany makes wine mostly from Sangiovese, while the Montepulciano grape is grown mainly in Abruzzo.

▸What is an agriturismo?

An agriturismo is a working farm that offers accommodation, meals or both. Many Tuscan wine estates also operate as agriturismi.

▸Why do tasters swirl wine?

Swirling adds oxygen and releases aromas from the wine, which makes the smell stronger and easier to describe.

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