Does anyone have any input on the Chianti area of Tuscany?? I'm searching for information about wineries, tours, accomodations. The pictures I've seen are beautiful (heck what pictures of Italy aren't!) and my husband and I both really enjoy wines so I'm thinking about spending a little time there. Still trying to figure out our itinerary for the Tuscany region. Thanks!

Chianti sits between three "counties" though the biggest chunk is based around Siena. Good place to start is to review the Siena web site which is very large and takes a bit of getting used to. There is also the Chinati producers own web site which lists the 100+ large producers, if open times etc. General surfs on this site for Tuscany is also good as are any of the sainted Stu Dudley's articles

Isu,

We stayed at Hotel Residence San Sano in the tiny village of the same name. Absolutely wonderful! You can see it at ww.chintinet.it

Ancient stone village building with just a few rooms, beamed ceilings, terra cotta floors. Breakfast served in the garden under the arbor, weather permitting. Dinner optional by reservation.

They have a pool and the village itself is just off the Chianti hwy about 20 minutes north of Siena. Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The only other commerical business in San Sano is a family run trattoria. Excellent food!

During our 4 nights stay we did a trip to San Gimignano and Volterra (long day), another to Siena, visited Castello di Brolio and tasted there. Also had a fabulous lunch at La Badia di Coltibuono and a tour of their cellar and gardens. Also drove to Greve and toured the leather factory and the Rampini ceramics store (excellent).

Hope this gives you some ideas. Buon viaggio!

Most of my stuff is about the region south of Siena - which I think is much more charming & scenic than Chianti.

Stu Dudley

I agree with StuDudley. On our first trip to Tuscany, we stayed in San Gimignano and used our rental car to explore the Chianti area. We very much enjoyed our stay. From there we moved to southern Tuscany (Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino, San Quirico) and have returned every year. If you & your husband really enjoy wines, you need to meet Brunello. Hope this helps...

Let me just put in a good word for the Chianti area. Driving (is it the 220? the Chiantigiana) is lovely. Driving from the north toward Greve, parking and walking up to Montefiorello ( a nice long up hill walk) and then getting back on the road is quite nice. I don't dismiss the Val d'Orcia but I like Chianti, too. I know people that make a yearly trip to Radda in Chianti, and all those folks that have moved to Chiantishire must be going for something!

On ther other hand, Chianti isn't the only place in Tuscany they grow grapes and make wine. I prefer Brunello de Montalcino wine, and there's a number of wineries to visit around Montalcino: Banfi, Barbi, etc. Also there's Montepulciano wine. Both of these are in southern Tuscany, a very scenic area.

We usually split our Tuscany stays between Chianti and Val d'Orcia. The exceptions would be bigger towns like Lucca and Florence.
I think Chianti is lovely and has much character. We usually stay at greve (we love Podere Torre), but have also stayed in Panzano.
Great vineyards, restaurant and nice towns.
How much time there are you thinking of?

There's a very good range of info about the Chianti area on http://www.greve-in-chianti.com (Greve being the market town of the Chianti Classico zone) and info on a broader area of Tuscany at http://www.bella-toscana.com/