Wineries to visit in the San Gimignano area
 

We are staying in San Gimignano in September and would like to participate in wine tastings. We have discussed going to Greve or southern Tuscany for winery tours, but are not sure if it is necessary to travel to these areas or if there are wineries closer to San Gimignano. Would appreciate recommendations.

In San Gim you're close the the Tuscan wine road, route 222, if I recall correctly, that leads to Montalcino and passes the Banfi estate, a great place to taste wine. In Montalcino there is a wine tasting emporium in the antique castello with an amazing selection of wines, particularly Brunellos, to try. Approach at your own risk.

Or, you can just stay right there in San G., towards the end of the main drag, bear off to the right, to a lovely little restaurant that does wine tastings with appetizers, and has a great view of the Tuscan countryside to boot. Don't know the name (and I think there's more than one there) but it shouldn't be too hard to find-we stayed for a few hours and had a great time, and the table of Germans next to us were for sure probably having an even better time.

If you want to taste the local white wine of the town, you can visit one of several vernaccia estates. Here is more information on the wine and the wineries in the immediate area; although this is a DO wine, it is not to everyone's taste.

http://italianfood.about.com/library...y/aa030998.htm

We went to Banfi, had lunch, and toured their winery. It was nice. I don't recommend drinking all that good wine and driving back to San Gim.

San Gim is probably closer to the Chianti region, just north of Siena.

I don't know of any wineries in the San Gim area, but I'm sure there must be. ((b))

Well, just to clarify, S-222 is not near San Gim. but is in the heart of Chianti. And, it goes no where near Montalcino and the Banfi winery--that would be 50 miles from S-222. However, all 3 areas have good wineries to visit. The best tastings are at enotecas in the villages. Seek out Vernaccia near San Gim.---a unique white you may like.

If you read the article I posted, you will find several wineries mentioned which you can visit in or very near SG and specializing in the DO vernaccia.

Here is a cool site which will introduce you to the vernaccia wines of SG, both red and white. And yu can listen to La Traviata while you read!

www.vernaccia.it

Sorry, did not mean to say the red vernaccia wines, but the red and whites of SG.

My daughter's favorite white wine comes from San G - Passoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG. You shouldn't have a problem finding wineries in the area.
http://www.mormoraia.it/en/benvenuti_en.php

Ok, I will also be in Tuscany in Sept. and we will be in Montepulciano, Montalcino, Siena and Figline Valdarna.
Suggestions for Wine tours in these areas?
Thanks,
BB