mibrownidgirl

I don't want to start a war of words but where would you suggest is the best city to really enjoy wine and what type is the best in the region. Either red or white is fine, perhaps even sweet if it is a desert wine. I believe I read limoncello is a favorite...somewhere I am hoping to book a private tour with about 8 people and we are not sure what port stop (s) would make the most sense. The problem, of course, is we want to see every possible sight there is to see too. The ship is going to Florence, Rome (been there before) Naples, Venice and Ravenna. All wonderful places but I really would like to get the official winery taste test in too, even if it isn't at a winery ! Will I have trouble bringing some back to the States? I'm not sure if there is an allowance number. I also want to purchase olive oil to take home. Which reminds me, I'd better take along a lot of bubble wrap.

Rastaguytoday

Look for wine skins. They work perfectly.

You won't have any trouble bringing back wine. The duty for bringing in wine above your "allowance" is nil.

Just make sure you declare the wine. I've never had customs stop to write out a bill for $3.00 or so.

bilboburgler

In terms of generalisations and where good wineries are going to be close where you are going

Florence Is close to Tuscany and would be my number 1 choice
Rome nah
Naples, nah
Venice near Valpolicella (Amarone and Ripasso) would be my number 2 choice
Ravenna.

But of course any restaurant or wine bar will have wines from close by and far afield maybe even from outside Italy.

I understand it is possible to find drinkable white wine in Italy, after many years of testing I think the odd fizzy is pleasant but Italy's pride and joy is its reds.

simpsonc510

For me it's chianti classico. A great red from Italy's chianti region, which is outside of Florence.

I did a tour when the cruise ship I was sailing on was docked at Livorno. The tour went to a winery (name escapes me now). It was OK... a nice trip across the countryside. But my favorite was the day trip my DH and I took to visit Castellina in Chianti and a couple of wineries. It was a small group tour we organized through our hotel near Siena, and not from a cruise ship.

Enjoy your cruise!!!

StCirq

Tuscany would be my choice, too, but everyone's taste in wine varies, so you really need to do some "research" ahead of time so you know what appeals to you.

Limoncello, by the way, isn't wine. As the name suggests, it's lemon liqueur. It's well worth trying though!

stevewith

The port of Livorno is the usual port for cruises that include an opportunity to visit Florence, and if your main objective is wine, not art, then booking a winery tour for this cruise stop is better than your other choices.

If you want to take the time and expense to go to the Chianti wine region, which is near Florence and has lovely scenery, that is a good option and you can probably find many companies that cater to the cruise ship port in Livorno.

However, another terrific option is the super-Tuscan winery region around Bolgheri, which is much closer to Livorno, and the wines are highly regarded. It is not quite a scenic as the Chianti area, so if your group is more excite about sightseeing in Italy than being wine experts, then Chianti might make the more rewarding excursion.

Limoncello is not a wine but a liqueur from Sorrento. You are likely to be able to find it no matter where you go when your ship stops in Naples. Best thing to do would be to buy a bottle to bring back on board with you to enjoy on the deck one evening, after dinner. It is best when it is chilled (even put in a freezer), so if you have a mini-fridge in your cabin, use it. But don't put ice in it.

if you are looking to buy quality olive oil, you can probably get some great stuff right in the port of Livorno. You might try posting on cruise

stevewith

--- hit the "submit" key too fast

You might try posting on cruise message boards for specific recommendations for wine tours and good shops for olive oil in the port of Livorno (you can also buy good quality olive oil in Rome if you have the time).

kybourbon

Rome's port, Civitavecchia, would be close enough to arrange a tour to the area around Orvieto for white wines.

From Livorno, you could visit the areas around Volterra and San Gimignano. Some nice red wines from the area and also San G's white wine Vernaccia.

http://www.vernaccia.it/territorio.aspx

You should also sample some of the Vin Santo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vin_Santo

>>>Will I have trouble bringing some back to the States? I'm not sure if there is an allowance number.<<<

The only problem is having to put it in your checked luggage. Perhaps if you buy enough, they will pack it in a styrofoam lined box and you can check it as you would a piece of luggage. Many places will have these boxes like this:
http://www.astrofoam.com/wine_packaging.htm

stevewith

The wines from around the San Gimignano/Volterra area are not very special, and if you are going to spend more than an hour traveling to a winery, you might as well go to the more scenically lovely Chianti hills.

bilboburgler

Interesting point Steve, in my view the wines of St Gim are about the only drinkable whites made in Italy, so if mibrownidgirl likes whites then go there

bobthenavigator

If wine and olive oil are among your priorities why are you on a cruise ship? You cannot experience Italy from a ship. Why not add time before or after the cruise and spend time in Tuscany or Piemonte.

asps

In 1685 the poet Francesco Redi published a poem cursing people who do not like Vernaccia white wine from San Giminiano ("Se v'è alcun a cui non piaccia la vernaccia / vendemmiata in Pietrafitta / interdetto, maledetto, fugga via dal mio cospetto" - "If there is anyone that does not like the Vernaccia wine / harvested in Pietrafitta / banned, cursed, better flee out of my sight").

However, even finer white wines are made in Alto Adige/Südtirol (nowhere near a cruise port).

bilboburgler

I'm with Redi