jessvs

What is the best half-day wine tour that can pick you up in Florence?

nospam

You can find a number of vineyard tours available when you arrive in Florence. Go to the tourist information office next to the big church (Santa Maria Novella) across the street from the main train station. They will point you in the right direction, and prebooking is not required.

jessvs

Thanks -- that's helpful. We're also looking into individualized tours ... does one have to book those very far in advance? I know Luca is very highly recommended on this forum so I emailed him. Any others?

Steve_James

Jess - Here are some bus excursions to the Chianti area:

www.caftours.com/en/regtoursac.htm

http://www.sita-on-line.it/CentralSI...lSITA-IT.htm#5

www.enjoyflorence.com/english/tour_List.html

For personalised tours try:

www.hillsandroads.com/ (Siena-based)
www.stefanogiusti.com (Florence-based)
www.autonoleggio-firenze.com (Florence-based)

Hope this helps ...

Steve

jessvs

Thanks Steve.
All those links look great.

jessvs

I am trying to book a 'wine tour' with Luca, who comes very well recommended on this forum. But in the itinerary he sent us, it seems like we're only going to spend an hour at a winery??

Here's the itinerary. I'm interested in what people think:

9.30 : Pick up at Your Hotel in Florence ( Which one ? )

10,30 - 11.30 : visit fo Montefioralle ( medieval village ) + quick stop in the square of Greve in chianti

12 - 13 : wine tasting in a winery + light lunch ( included )

13.30 - 14.20 : visit of Castellina in Chianti ( medieval village )

15.30 : back to Your Hotel in Florence

hipvirgochick

You'll get more first hand about Luca from others, but I think he suggests 2 tours in particular because they're familiar, interesting and he knows how long they take. Also, he gets great feedback about them.

After checking many different websites and Fodorites reviews we decided to go with The Accidental Tourist at http://www.accidentaltourist.com/

They offer both 1/2 day and full day including what appears to be great food and unlimited wine (I asked)

Flame123

We used Luca for 2 full-day tours about 3 weeks ago and highly recommend him. If you are interested ONLY in wine tours, you have to tell him. He is a private tour guide, i.e. he will take you and do whatever your interest dictates. He told us that indeed there are people who only are interested in the wineries and so he plans about 3-4 wineries during the day and they go mostly only to those places. There is not more than one hour to spend at any winery. After being given a small tour of the place, you can sample the wines and then buy some if you like. How much more time can you spend? Try writing to him again and specify exactly what you want to do on your tour. He is great!!

macanimals

Visiting a winery and wine tasting in Italy (or France etc.)is not done easily or more importantly, politely in a hurried or quick fashion. So called 1/2 day wine tasting expeditions can be done in the states without ofending anyone and can include several stops. Not so in europe in my experience. This is not necessarily a negative, just different--you will meet the locals and have more of an experience. A visit just takes more time. Paul