We are going to visit Pienza in May of 2010. We would like to drive around the country side
and visit some wineries for tasting,however I do not like the idea of driving after. How do most of you deal with this? Is a tour the way to go? Thanks bxl

Don't do it. Someone who lives in Italy should back me up on this as I'm not entirely sure, but I believe Italian police, like police in France, can pull you over without probable cause, blowtest you, and arrest you if you're over the limit, which isn't much of a limit.

I deal with it by buying alcohol and drinking it when I have no intention of driving.

Why don't you take turns being designated drivers and the dd can spit out their wine after they taste.

I live in Italy and I don't do it. Italian wine is meant to be eaten with food, so Italian wineries will often give it to you with small bites of food -- so spitting it out is not really an option.

Apart from threats from the police, the fact is that driving in Italy is quite demanding and requires your attention.

If wine tasting at the wineries is very important to you, arrange for a driver. But many Italian towns have an enoteca or wine store where you can sample the local bottlings, or get advice about which winery to visit, etc. Such as these places in Pienza

http://www.enotecadighino.it/eng/indexeng.htm

http://www.emporiofattorie.com/enframe_ib.htm

http://www.deliziedellavaldorcia.it/england/home.html

Visit the entoche first, ask about the wines and the local producers, taste them in the store, and if you still want to go to a winery, ask the proprietor to help you arrange it.

It's not really like Napa where you can drive around and just randomly stop at a tasting room on each side of the road. Many vineyards are more "working farms" than fancy tasting rooms. Many require an appointment.