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Chianti is an area of Tuscany, Italy made famous by the red wine of the same name. It has much to offer for a visitor interested in wine, food and natural beauty. Many of the wineries are open for a tour and a tasting, and some offer accommodation services as well.

[edit] Cities

• Florence
• Siena
• Greve (Greve in Chianti)
• San Casciano in Val di Pesa
• Radda
• Castellina
• Gaiole
• Panzano
• Castelnuovo Berardenga

[edit] Understand

Chianti is above all a wine region. The Chianti DOCG appellation is divided into seven subregions (Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Montalbano and Rùfina), of which Classico is most famous.

The Chianti Classico region in turn is defined by the towns between Florence and Siena: Greve, Panzano, Castellina, Gaiole and Radda. Almost all the famous Chianti estates are located near to one of these towns, although Rufina is to the East of Florence.

In addition to the red wine, many producers make the dessert wine Vin Santo del Chianti as well as "Super Tuscan" wines that do not adhere to the DOC regulations. Some also make olive oil.

[edit] Get in

From abroad, usually the best way to reach Chianti is to fly to an airport in Tuscany, such as the Pisa or Florence airport, or some other major airport in Italy. Alternatively, from Central Europe one might want to take a train to Italy. Once in Italy and preferably in Tuscany, you have to find your way to Florence; this will be easy as the city has good train connections to the rest of the country. From Florence there are several alternatives to get to Chianti: rental car, bus, taxi, etc.

Precise instructions are difficult to give since it depends so much on from where you are departing and exactly where you will be staying (in Florence, in Siena, in Greve, or some other place in the region).

[edit] Get around

Chianti is easiest to explore with a car. The most likely place to begin the trip is Florence, where rental services are abundant. The most important road to know is the Chiantigiana from Florence to Siena, as it penetrates the heart of the region, Chianti Classico.

Without car, the region is accessible with SITA buses from Florence. The hills of Chianti are a magnificent place for bike tours. Cycling you can enjoy at best the beautiful landscape of this region. You will rarely be cycling in flat roads, but you will also seldom have to climb steep passes (only, be ware of the hot hours of the day in the Summer). You can start from Greve, for example, where you can rent a bike.

[edit][add listing] See

For someone interested in museums, churches and such things it is not necessary to leave Florence or Siena. However, the Chianti area can be an excellent base from which to explore Tuscany as whole without having to stay in these crowded cities. The countryside is beautiful, and absolute gems that should be visited are the hamlets of Montefioralle and Volpaia, and the beautiful towns of Greve, Panzano, Radda and Castellina.

[edit][add listing] Do

The region is an invaluable treasure for those who are interested in exploring the eno-gastronomic culture of Tuscany.

See also: Wine tourism#Italy

With serious competition only from a few neighboring regions in Tuscany and from Piedmont, Chianti is one of Italy's prime wine regions. The best way to tour the wineries and sample their products is on the last Sunday of May when many producers throughout Italy open their doors for the festival of Cantine Aperte. Tastings are free and reservations unnecessary, so if you like wine and happen to be in Tuscany at the time, this is a fantastic opportunity for you. You should however keep in mind that not all the wine produced in Chianti is exceptional and that some of the best producers do not even participate in Cantine Aperte, so it makes sense to plan ahead and be choosy.

Olive groves are also the region's pride, and while it is not normally possible to visit an oil press, olive oil can be purchased directly from the producers. Olives are pressed in November and December and the olio nuovo or new oil, which is very piquant for the first several months, is especially prized on bruschetta and ribollita.

[edit] Chianti Wine Tours

• 2Be Travel Designers - Chianti Wine Tour, [1]. , Phone +39 334 9363263, (email: info@2beinsiena.com). A journey discovering the wineries of the Chianti, which introduces the visitor to both the area's age old wine producing traditions and the latest, most innovative vineyard technology. Behind each and every twist in the road we are greeted by landscapes dotted with small chapels, castles, and medieval villages all of which more than worthy of visit. A professional service offered by licensed drivers speaking english.  edit

• Chianti Wine Tour Adventure, [2]. , (email: info@winetouradventure.com). During the morning we will visit a winery to learn about wine making process and Chianti production rules. At the end of the visit you will enjoy some great Tuscan wines as Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, Supertuscan and Grappa, as well as a selection of fantastic local olive oils. Afterwards, we'll move to the winery restaurant for lunch. Professional Tours made by expert and licensed drivers speaking english  edit

• Angela's Tuscan Wine Tours, [3]. . Licensed tour driver-guide Angela Saltafuori offers a range of private and shared wine tours of the Chianti Classico wine zone, the Brunello zone and Chianti Castles route. Tours include two tastings, light lunch and a special visit such as a mediaeval village.  edit

• Discovery Chianti Bike & Walking Tours, [4]. , (email: info@discoverychianti.com). Discovery Chianti is the most natural way to explore the wonderful land of Chianti. Only those who are native to this beautiful region can help you discover and really appreciate all its unique full beauty and charm. The Discovery Chianti team is composed entirely of people who were born and have grown up in the area.  edit

[edit] Wine producers

• Casa Vinicola Bartali, Strada dell'Abate 3, 53035 Castellina Scalo, Monteriggioni (SI), ☎ +39 0577 304049, [5]. 08.00-12.00 / 14.00-18.00. Producing wines and olive oil since 1927, facilities along the Chianti Route. Visits and Degustations by appointment. (43.41486795209986,11.211140155792236) edit
• Castelli del Grevepesa, Via Grevigiana 34, 50024 Mercatale, San Casciano Val di Pesa (FI), ☎ +39 055 821911, [6]. A cooperative producer with some good wines for an excellent price. No tours available though.  edit
• Castello di Querceto, Via A. François, 2, 50020 Greve in Chianti (FI), ☎ (+39) 055 85921, [7]. 10.30-17.30. From traditional Chianti to more modern Super Tuscans. Tour and tasting 10 €/person.  edit
• Fattoria Selvapiana, Località Selvapiana, 50068 Rufina (FI), ☎ +39 055 8369848, [8]. One of the best producers in the exciting Rùfina subregion of Chianti.  edit
• Fontodi, 50020 Panzano in Chianti, ☎ +39 055 852005, [9]. Chianti Classico and Super Tuscans. Also olive oil.  edit
• Querciabella, Via di Barbiano 17, 50022 Greve in Chianti FI, ☎ + 39 055 8592 7777, [10]. Award winning Super Tuscans.  edit
• Villa Cafaggio, Via San Martino in Cecione 5, 50022 Panzano in Chianti (FI), ☎ 055/8549094, [11]. Quality producer of Chianti Classico. Visits from Mon to Sat by appointment.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Ristoro Di Lamole, [12]. It has a wide balcony with panoramic views out over the hills, and depending on the time of year you will get a great sunset as you eat. The staff speak good english, and the customers are a mix of locals and Americans, with a few British as well. A starter, main and bottle of local vintage wine will cost around €30 per head, plus tip, and they won't let you leave until you've made a serious dent on the bottle of complimentary limoncello.

• Villa Bordoni, [13]. Part of the hotel by the same name, the Villa Bordoni restaurant is made up of two intimate rooms which open onto an Italian garden, perfumed by the bouquet of Florentine roses that wind their way along its stone walls. For those who prefer to dine under the stars or watch the sun set slowly behind the Chianti hills, candle-lit tables are dotted amongst the palms and box hedges. In the cooler months, the fireplace is lit to make a crackling fire. The wine cellar is carved directly out of the bedrock upon which the Villa stands. Formerly a dungeon attached to a fortified watchtower, it dates back to the 11th century, and is all that remains of the original structure. Many hard-to-find vintages and Tuscan wine icons such as Querciabella, Fontodi, La Massa and Poggio Scalette are present in the list of reds, whereas amongst the whites there is a strong preference for the northern regions of Alto Adige and Friuli.

• Restaurant Villa Sangiovese, ☎ +39 055 85 24 61 (fax: +39 055 85 24 63). Panoramic view out over the vineyards, olive trees and cypresses of the Chianti hills.  edit

• Personal Chef in Tuscany, [14] An excellent restaurant in your home, that is our definition of the Personal Chef We directly cook and lay the table in your own home. The minimum price per person for groups of up to 10 is Euro 30 per person including groceries.

• Authentic Tuscan cooking class [15] in a Chianti villa, one-day tailor-made course up to 6 people. Enjoy a fantastic cooking course in a spectacular villa from the 1500s in the Chianti hills. You will learn everything you will need to know to prepare an authentic Tuscan meal with a hint of international twist from the antipasto course to the dessert. Carry back with you the ability to recreate an enviable Italian dinner at home, from homemade pasta, lasagne, panzanella and ribollita to tiramisu and schiacciata con l'uva.

[edit][add listing] Drink

If you want to go to Chianti, the natural assumption is that you want to drink the wine. It is made with the sangiovese grape, although lesser quantities of other grape varieties may be added. There are different philosophies of making Chianti: some prefer traditional blends with sangiovese and other local grapes (including white ones), some use international varieties such as merlot, and finally there are those who use only sangiovese for their Chianti.

The taste of the wine depends a lot on the producer's decisions, but also on the exact place where the vines are grown. Sangiovese is known as a rather difficult grape to grow, and differences in the land affect the taste of the resulting wine. Traditionally Chianti is a light wine with high acidity with a slightly bitter but fruity taste and berry aromas. As international markets demand high-fruit, high-alcohol wines, Chianti is changing as well, and more modern versions have a fuller, although less recognizable taste.

[edit] Get out

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