Wine Escape: half day Tour from Florence to Chianti with local food tastings

Chianti is a red wine produced in the Chianti zone of Tuscany, between Florence and Siena, made primarily from the Sangiovese grape. The wine has one of the longest documented histories of any Italian denomination, with production records dating back to the 13th century. Chianti Classico — produced in the historic heart of the zone — is considered the superior designation and is identified by the Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) seal. Chianti wines are known for their characteristic combination of red cherry flavours, earthy notes, firm acidity, and often-present tannins, which make them natural companions for meat-based Tuscan cuisine. On this afternoon tour, you taste Chianti wines directly at two boutique estate wineries in the region where the wines are produced.

This afternoon Chianti tour includes visits to two boutique estate wineries in the Chianti hills. At each winery, a guided tasting of Chianti wines is included — typically three or four wines per stop, covering a range of styles from the estate's production, often including a Chianti Classico, a riserva, and a Super Tuscan if the estate produces one. The focus at both stops is quality over quantity: these are small, family-run estates selected for the authenticity of their product and their willingness to engage directly with visitors. The two-winery structure allows a meaningful comparison between two producers' different approaches to the same territory.

The Chianti wine zone occupies the hill country of central Tuscany between Florence and Siena, stretching roughly 70 km from north to south and 30 km from east to west. The landscape is defined by a sequence of ridges and valleys at altitudes between 250 and 600 metres, covered with vineyards, olive groves, holm oak woodland, and the characteristic dark cypress trees that punctuate the hilltops and roadsides. The historic Chianti Classico sub-zone — the oldest and most prestigious — runs through the municipalities of Greve in Chianti, Panzano, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, and Castelnuovo Berardenga. Surrounding it are the broader Chianti appellations: Chianti Colli Fiorentini to the north, Chianti Colli Senesi to the south, and several others. The area is also known for its medieval hilltop borghi — villages such as Volpaia, Vertine, and Montefioralle — and for the grey Romanesque pievi (country churches) that rise out of the vineyards at intervals along the ancient Chiantigiana road (SR222), which connects Florence and Siena through the heart of the wine zone.

Not necessarily. A stop at Piazzale Michelangelo is always included on the return journey to Florence, but the exact timing depends on the season and the pace of the day — wine tastings, traffic, and the time of year all affect when the group arrives at the viewpoint. In summer, when daylight lasts until 9pm, the stop often falls during the golden hour; in autumn and winter, the tour may arrive earlier in the afternoon with different light conditions. Either way, the view from Piazzale Michelangelo — sweeping across the Arno, Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and the hills of Fiesole — is genuinely unmissable at any hour of the day.

The Chianti wine zone begins approximately 15–20 km south of Florence, and the first winery stop on this tour is typically reached in 30–45 minutes by road. Transport is included throughout: the tour uses luxury Mercedes minibuses, minivans, or Mercedes Sprinters depending on group size, with free Wi-Fi on board. All transport between Florence, the two wineries, the village stop, and Piazzale Michelangelo is included in the tour price. 

Cancellations are free up to 24 hours before the tour departure. For cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time, as well as in case of no-shows, the full amount will be charged.