When asked what's the best way to see Tuscany, I reply - The choices range from DIY (do it yourself) to a chauffeured driven limousine with a private guide. The answer depends on what do you want and feel is the right price for you. DIY is most restricting. You get lost, spend too much time looking for what a friend or guide book recommended. You don't know the time/distances ratios, the roads, especially the ones not on the map. When you travel that far, DIY is a bad investment.
A bus tour for 25 to 50 people you cover a lot of ground but don't see as much. Buses can't get too far off the main highway to small dirt roads or get though the gate of a family vineyard where you have to walk the last mile in 90+ weather or have to park a 30 minute walk to the Ufizzi Gallery in Florence, but you do see highlights and a city tour will show you the way back on your own - but take the tour first, you'll have a better idea of what you want to do on the next visit, but I advise Caution though, ask your driver or guide about the .......(CONTINUED)
Group 1 offered as Half or Full Day
Tours - Chianti Classico Area,
San Gimignano and Monteriggioni,
Montecarlo and the Hills of Lucca,
Lucca: Art, History and Wine
Casentino: the Unknown Tuscan Wine Region,
The Tower and Wine in Pisa and
Medici Villas and Wine Tours listed below
Note - Half Day tours do not include lunch and only visit one winery
Group 2 offered are special
Full Day
Tours to high end vineyards - includingMontepulciano & Brunello,
Siena and Chianti,
Montaclino & the Nobile,
Sassicaia and the Coastal Wines,
Massa Marittima & the Monteregio,
Morellino and the Maremma, and the
Valdarno Area - listed separately CLICK HERE
PRICING AT THE END OF EACH GROUP
BASIC INFO - We offer half-and full-day guided tours to the below wineries by private car or mini-bus with an english speaking driver/guide leaving from Florence.
Included are wine cellar visits, tastings and other sightseeing as noted. Excursions may be scheduled for any day and are conducted in English or other languages. Pick-up service from other locations is possible. There may be a additional cost depending on location. A traditional 3 course lunch w/local wines is included at select local restaurants.
If you prefer to have lunch on your own at a country inn outdoors or in a village pizzeria. Your dirver can suggest an alternate and we will deduct $50 p/p from your invoice. You make the choice when you book.
Tour # 1, Chianti Classico Area The keys to open the world of Gallo Nero. Badia are Passignano and the Greve town center are the gateway to the world of Gallo Nero. The wines from Chianti Classico region, an area of 7 subzones from whch the wine is produced and are by Galla Nero, a black rooster on the label, generally more well known and of better quality than those from the other six areas. The program
9:00 Departure from Florence or your location
10:00 Arrival at Greve in Chianti and visit the market square
11:00 Visit to the winery Fontodi and wine tasting
13:00 13:00 Lunch at Cantinetta di Rignana
14:30 Walking along the Antinori vineyards at Badia a Passignano or around the small castle of Montefioralle
16:00 Visit the cellars of Casaloste and wine tasting
Tour # 2, San Gimignano & Monteriggioni - Driving from Florence to Siena, you see the towers on the hill of San Gimignano and you immediately sense the taste of Vernaccia. Arriving in Monteriggioni, walking through the old walled town's portals, you imagine the strong, full-bodied wines produced in the surrounding countryside
The program
9:00 Departure from Florence or your location
10:30 Guided visit to the cellars of Fattoria Panizzi and wine tasting
11:30 Guided visit to the town center of San Gimignano
13:00Lunch with local wines at restaurant La Mandragola
15:00 Short stop in Badia a Isola or guided visit to the winery San Donato with wine tasting.
16:00 Guided visit to Monteriggioni
Tour # 3, Monte Carlo and the hills of Lucca -
Montecarlo is a little-known medieval village off the tourist route where wine makers take aFrench approach to white wines. The landscape is dotted with red stone noble buildings, the historic walls of Lucca, and hills adorned with olive groves.
The program
9:00 Departure from Florence or your location
10:00 Guided visit to the village of Montecarlo
11:30 Visit the winery Michi and wine tasting
13:00 Lunch at the restaurant Giulio in Pelleria in Lucca
15:00 Guided visit of Lucca
16:30 Visit the winery Terre del Sillabo and wine tasting
Tour # 4, Lucca: Art, History and Wine - Lucca and the famous Ville Lucchese The stunning architecture of the villa gardens in the Lucca hills, excellent wines produced by aristocratic ladies, and French grapes harvested in the Tuscan hills.
The program
9:00 Departure from Florence or your location
10:30 Guided visit to the Italian garden in Fattoria Villa Maionchi and wine tasting
13:00 Lunch at restaurant Giulio in Pelleria in Lucca
15:00 Guided visit of Lucca
16:30 Guided visit of Villa Torrigiani in Camigliano
Tour #5, Casentino: the Unknown Tuscan Wine Region - Peace and wines in convents and wineries.
Along ancient Roman stone roads in the high mountains, pilgrims found peace and wines in old convents and monumental wineries. The Castle of Pomino and the Frescobaldi estates are of interest in this little-known area also known for being the source of the river Arno.
The program
9:00 Departure from Florence or your location
10:30 Guided visit to the 15th century monastery in Vallombrosa
11:30 Visit to the Pieve and castle in Romena
13:00Lunch at restaurant L'Antica Cantina in Poppi
15:00 Guided visit of Poppi
16:30 Visit of the Frescobaldi estates and wine tasting
Tour # 6,The Tower and Wine in Pisa: From Boccaccio's native village to the Piazza dei Miracoli. Starting in Certaldo, along ancient roads to a modern winery producing high-quality wines from French grapes, through the medieval villages of Lari and Castelfalfi, this excursion ends at the magnificent Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa.
The program
9:00 Departure from Florence or your location
10:30 Guided visit to Certaldo
11:30 Visit to the winery Villa Pillo and wine tasting Lunch at restaurant Il Camino in Gambassi Termi
13:00 Lunch Optional or at a reccomended restaurant.
15:00 Guided visit of the medieval villages of Lari and Castelfalfi
16:00 Guided visit to the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa
Tour # 8, Valdarno Area .... The Valdarno was one of the main transportation ways from Rome to northern Italy. Today, between highways and railways, you can find Renaissance monuments and fantastic wines along this history-filled river.
The program
9:00 Departure from Florence or your location
10:30 Visit the winery I Selvatici in Montevarchi and wine tasting
11:30 Guided visit to the town center of Montevarchi in Valdarno
13:00 Lunch at restaurant La Torre in Figline
15:00 Guided visit of the Figline town center and the Serristori Palace
16:30 Visit to the winery Fattoria di Gratena and wine tasting
PRICE PER PERSON - GROUP 1 TOURS
Full Day - 900 AM to 600 PM
Half Day - 900 AM to 200 PM & 200 PM to 700 PM
Participants
Full Day
Half Day
6
$210
$117
5
$232.50
$124.50
4
$271.50
$139.50
3
$310.50
$171
2
$403.50
$124.50
1
$770
$575
If you prefer on full day tours that include lunch, you can choose to eat on your own and can deduct $50 per person from the above full day prices
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
We offer half- and full-day guided tours to Tuscan wineries by private car or mini-bus. The tour includes wine cellar visits, wine tasting, and lunch or a Tuscan snack (merenda). Half day tours do not include lunch. Winery excursions may be scheduled for any date. Lessons can be conducted in any language that is requested at the time of booking. Pick-up service from participant's location can also be arranged.
A $25 non refundable deposit is required to block space. Payment in full required on bookings made less than 30 days prior to lesson and all final payments are non refuddable.
Late bookings 7 daysor less are subject to a $25 late fee per person, maximum $100 no matter the size of the party.
Changes due to winery or sightseeing locations that may be closed on certain days of the week, weather, road conditions, national holidays, etc. beyond our control will be substituted for with comparable sites.
Included: vsitis to wineries, tastings as scheduled, admissions to s/s sites listed, use of vehicle including english speaking driver/guide, tolls, parking and fuel. Not
included are gratuities to driver or any local guides.
Your vacation or travel plans can be changed by circumstances beyond
your control,
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