Does anybody have suggestions on wineries in Tuscany that I should not miss? Thanks!

Monica, There are hundreds and Tuscany is large. Where is your home base?

Try contacting Dario, he is normaly very helpful [email protected]

Monica-- I visited Tuscany last summer on a group tour and I would have to say the winery of San Gimignano was very cool. We were able to set up a wine tasting at the vineyard and to also purchase wine and olive oil. They give you the option of taking it with you or they will mail it to your home (which takes about 3 weeks). Along with the winery, they also have a small village that is about 700 years old...just overall great area of Tuscany. Here's their website if you wanna look into it. http://www.torciano.com/<BR>Hope that helps...and enjoy Tuscany!

Brunello di Montacino. We didn't make it there. The wine at stores in the States goes for around $45. It is worth it.

Second Vote for Tenuta Torciano San Gimignamo they have great Baladasserre "super tuscan " chianti classico riserva ,vin santo ,vernaccic all DOCG www.torciano.com

In Chianti area there are goods wineries, one is S. Felice, it's in Castelnuovo Berardenga, far from Siena 30 minutes by car, I reccomend to you to try Il Grigio S.Felice 1997.<BR>Another is Badia Coltibuono, Gaiole in Chianti-Siena, after there is Riecine, in Gaiole in Chianti too.<BR>In Montalcino there is a winerie in the centre of this village, its name I think is the fortress, in italian is la fortezza, but you can't to find it because it's relly a fortress where inside you can try lots of differents kinds of Brunello di Montalcino.<BR>Best wishes.<BR>Betty.

ops...sorry for my terrible English...You can to find it because it's relly a fortress.<BR>Sorry again.<BR>Betty.

Castello Banfi - just south of Montalcino. http://www.castellobanfi.com/ Nice wine store & restaurant - you must book ahead to eat. American owned.

Bob,<BR><BR>My home base is Montalcino.<BR><BR>Monica

We really liked Altesino in Montalcino. Banfi is much larger and also a great experience.

Monica, Great choice--you will love Montalcino. Where are you staying?<BR>From there, I suggest Fattoria Barbi just south of town and Castello Banfi is also worth a visit. You are in the best wine region in Italy--hard to go wrong. Try Trattoria Schiame in town. The Enotoca Fortezza is also a must. Good luck and report back.

bump

Not sure why this was bumped up, but let me recommend <BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=1297567<BR><BR>for quite a bit of good info from Elaine (and from me) there.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

If you are a regular customer at a local wine shop ask them to see what they can do ffor you. Look at bottles of you favorite Italian wines and see who the importer is. If a particualr name pops up, have your wine shop contact them on your behalf to see if they can make appointments for you. This will assure you of top notch treatment.<BR><BR>Secondly, visit various enotecche. That way you can taste a wider variety of wines than you will at a single winery. The Enotecca Fortezza in Montalcino and Enotecca Baldi in Panzano are two of my favorites.<BR><BR>Ask at teh hotel or the property you are staying at if they can reccomend something local. If you go to the same restaurant twice, and it is a wine oriented restaurant, let them sugegest the wines on your second visit. If you like it start up a wine conversation and they may reccomend a visit to a particular winery.<BR><BR>Lastly, while driving around, you will see signs that say "Venditta Diretta" or direct sales. Stop in and they will offer you a glass or two of their current offerings. Some of these wineries will be tiny properties and the owners will be happy to show off. SOme will be closed and some will just pour you a tiny taste and then stand there staring at you to get you to buy a bottle. <BR><BR>In Montepulciano, Avignonesi should be open to the public, they have a web site. In Montalcino, I love Argiano and I understand that they are open to the public (if nothing else the property used to be). In Montefollonico, Innocenti is located right in the middle of town. Its a mom and pop winery that makes some of the best Vino Nobile di Montalcino around. You get to see the winery just by going in to buy a bottle. Not much English is spoken. If they have any Riserva 1995 left, snap it up. 1995 was a superb vintage in Montepulciano, possibly as good or better then 1997. You should call first. Montefollonico has a wonderfully quaint historic center and is also home to La Chiusa, my favorite restaurant of Toscana.