Opinions please for wine tasting and lunch in Tuscany.

[bethwildphotography]

Hello everyone. My husband and I will be renting a car from the port in Livorno and plan to drive to San Gimignano for a small stop and onto either a farm or winery for a wine tasting and lunch on a terrace with a view. Then we would just like to walk around and relax and head back to the ship. Maybe stop by Volterra if time allows.

 

Here are a couple of lunch options that I have found via this forum and TripAdvisor. Does anyone have any personal experience or other recommendations for the area? We will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary so we would like it to be special.

 

Thank you!

(We will be on HAL Nieuw Amsterdam sailing July 23)

 

View of San Gimginano on a farm.

http://fattoriapoggioalloro.com

 

This one has rave reviews but a couple of people say it is a bit touristy. But most reviewers give it 5 stars.

http://www.verrazzano.com/en/the-castle/#nogo

 

This one is where the Mona Lisa was painted.

http://www.vignamaggio.it

 

This one looks like it is just a winery where we could do a wine tasting on the terrace or in the vineyard?

http://www.aziendamontefioralle.com

 

 

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[nativenyer]

Hi - we are going here in Sept - check it on Trip Advisor. Torciano Vineyards http://www.torciano.com/USA/winery/visit-torciano/ - BUT, all these tour tastings are multiple pours - this one is 8-10 pours and reportedly generous. Yo're going to drive a rental car from there to Livorno ?

[Andym]

We did San Gimignano and Volterra AND Torciano Vineyards http://www.torciano.com/USA/winery/visit-torciano/ with the cruise ships tour.

It was fantastic and as nativenyer says, the pourings were multiple, I had 13 different wines and also generous. The wines were spectacular and the owner is very proud of his wines. We had a very nice lunch and he teaches you all about pairing the wines with foods.

 

Leave the driving to someone else and enjoy the day

[nvbabe]

A group of six of us went to Vignamaggio September 2008 and had a wonderful private lunch and tasting. Whole bottles were left on the table for us to enjoy! Beautiful winery.

[bethwildphotography]

Wow! I had no idea that the wine tastings were so generous. That does require a driver. :). Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm so very excited!

 

 

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[Papa C]

We did a wine tasting at Tenuta Buonamico in Montecarlo last fall. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Tasted about 8 wines and also a small tasting of Grappa.

[Hlitner]

The wine tastings can be too generous :). We have oft driven along the S-222 wine route and stopped in small wineries that have signs indicating they are open for tastings. Most are small family owned growers (many sell their grapes to larger co-ops for pressing) who can be quite friendly. As the designated driver I have to be careful and truly just do "tasting" as opposed to guzzling :).

 

Hank

[-Lew-]

 

A group of six of us went to Vignamaggio September 2008 and had a wonderful private lunch and tasting. Whole bottles were left on the table for us to enjoy! Beautiful winery.

We did a tour, wine tasting and lunch at Vignamaggio in 2012. I can't say enough about the entire experience...the gourmet lunch was fantastic...over the top!! Vignamaggio is believed to be where da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.

 

We're planning to tour and dine at Castello di Verrazzano in October 2015. Our daughter and son-in-law dined there a couple of years ago and still rave about it.

 

Enjoy your cruise...

 

Lew

[anniversay/grad trip]

I have booked a wine tour with lunch included that is rated highly on trip advisor for this August. The tour company is Rome Cabs The cost of the tour is 550euros for up to 8 people (so fairly reasonable if you share with other cc members on your sailing as we are doing) Here are the details:

 

 

 

From Livorno Port: Your English speaking driver will meet you next to your ship holding a sign with your name at 8:00 AM, and your day will begin with a relaxing drive through the Tuscan countryside to your first destination, Monteriggioni

 

Tour TripSan GimignanoMonteriggioniWine Tasting in Chianti with LunchTimeDuration: Full Day

DepartureDeparture from: Livorno

 

Monteriggioni (Tuscany)

 

Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Monteriggioni fulfills one’s imagination of what a Medieval walled village would be like. Perfectly preserved, when you set foot through its entrance gate you find yourself stepping back in time to early 13th century when the Sienese built this hamlet as a strategic military fortress on the border of their arch enemy, Florence. The roughly circular shape of the town actually follows the natural contours of the elevated ground upon which it was built. The fortified walls total 570 meters in length with 14 towers and 2 gates: one facing Florence and the other facing Rome.

 

Monteriggioni was so prominent at one time that the great Tuscan poet Dante Alighieri referenced to Monteriggioni’s 14 towers in his famous Divine Comedy. ( BTW translated from Italian into English by John Ciardi, must be a distant relative there are so few Ciardis out there.)

 

Historic Renaissance buildings once owned by local aristocracy and a Romanesque church with a simple facade dominate the lovely square. A pedestrian-only zone, the village is perfect for a stroll exploring the charming streets, gardens and small businesses of the town.

 

 

San Gimignano, Tuscany (Italy)

 

From here you will head to your next Tuscan destination, San Gimignano: the impressive hilltop town informally nicknamed “the Medieval Manhattan” for the many towers that define its distinctive and unforgettable skyline. It is also fondly known as “San Gimignano of the beautiful towers” (San Gimignano delle belle Torri). Today only 13 towers stand, a significant decrease from the original 72 that centuries ago graced its skyline.

 

San Gimignano is a distinctive Medieval town whose historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its main square, Piazza della Cisterna, is a special treat for all visitors offering a taste of what the town has to offer. A beautiful well on whose steps crowds gather to admire the beauty that surrounds them is the focal point of the square. The square is encircled by eclectic Medieval buildings from various eras, imposing Romanesque and Gothic Palazzi (palaces), and lofty towers. Some of Tuscany’s best gelato shops are located in this square, as well as cafes, ceramic shops, local boutiques and enotecas where you can purchase the famous Vernaccia wine of San Gimignano that has been produced since the 13th century and enjoyed by Italy’s most illustrious among which were Lorenzo the Magnificent, Dante Alighieri and Michelangelo Buonarroti.

 

San Gimigano’s history is as rich as its beauty, and spans across 2 millennia to 3rd century BC when it was once an Etruscan settlement. Later on during the Roman Republic it is said that two noble brothers by the name of Muzio and Silvio fled Rome to this region and built two castles: Muccio and Silvia. Castle Silvia was renamed San Gimignano in 450 AD when Bishop Geminianus intervened to spare the castle from imminent destruction by Atilla the Hun’s followers. A church was dedicated to the Bishop who later was canonized into sainthood, and a village began to grow around the church and flourished into a developed city heavily involved in the trade of agricultural products such as Vernaccia wine and saffron. Due to its location along Via Francigena, during the Middle Ages San Gimignano became a rest stop for pilgrims who traveled to and from the Vatican.

 

With trade came wealth and well-to-do families of merchants and moneylenders erected towers to establish their economical power. At their peak during the 14th century, 72 towers were erected - the higher the tower, the greater the power. Although other cities such as Florence had towers erected, centuries of war and urban development have more than decimated them. It is astonishing that so many towers have remained erect and so well preserved in San Gimignano.

 

 

Chanti, Tuscany (Italy)

 

 

From here you will head to the glorious region of Chianti to Renaissance farm estate Villa le Corti for lunch at their traditional Osteria del Principe and sample the silky olive oil and delicious wine produced at the winery from grapes grown on their 120 acre vineyard on your visit to the winery. (*** see "please note" section below for prices***)

 

The elegant 17th century Renaissance Tuscany villa with romantic gardens belongs to the Corsini family whose lineage reaches as far back as 1427 when the villa, a fortified tower at that time, was owned by the Corsini family. With much care and dedication, the current Corsini family members have ensured the Villa and the farm estate continue to prosper and produce elegant wines and organic olive oil.

 

This marks the end of your Tuscany and Chianti tour. From here you will enjoy a countryside drive back to your accommodation in Florence or Port of Livorno.

Thank you for choosing Stefano Rome Tours for your day tours and shore excursions. We look forward to showing your our beautiful Italy!

Please Note Please note

 

 

* Winery Tour, Lunch, Wine Tasting (3 wines) and Olive Oil tasting is 35 Euros per person.

Advanced reservations by us for the winery are required, cancellations must be made at least 7 days in advance. Payment for wine tour and lunch must be made by customer to the winery on the date of the tour.

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[bethwildphotography]

Well, I had decided on Vignamaggio and they are closed for a private event the day we are there. So, Verrzzano it is. We may also stop at other smaller places along the day depending on the driver and timing. Thank you everyone for your feedback. :)

 

 

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[-Lew-]

 

Well, I had decided on Vignamaggio and they are closed for a private event the day we are there. So, Verrzzano it is. We may also stop at other smaller places along the day depending on the driver and timing. Thank you everyone for your feedback. :)

We won't be visiting Castello di Verrazzano until October 2015, so we would be very interested in your thoughts when you return.

 

Enjoy your cruise...

 

Lew

[bethwildphotography]

Will do, Lew. Thank you!

 

 

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[illiniwahoo]

We LOVED Castillo di monterinaldi! So much cheaper then the big commercial wineries. Private tour, lunch in our own private dining room in a Tuscan villa, made by the grandmother of the owner. The spent four days in Tuscany and this was the best place we went by far!

[jsaadat]

Another place to add to list. My review.

Sovestro in Poggio Winery

Localita Sovestro

5 of 5 starsPosted Aug 30, 2012

"Visit for the Day or the Week !!!"

We were lucky enough to be able to visit Sovestro during our European Cruise in July. I had done some research on line for what to do in our Florence port because we wanted to stay away from the tourist crowds. We rented a car from Sifra (Hertz). With our car waiting for us when we got off the ship, we ventured into the amazing beautiful Tuscany Country side on our way to an anticipated winery tour and wine tasting lunch at Sovestro. (Pre-Book online with them works best as they fill up fast). The drive itself was work the car rental.......... but truly the highlight of our 1s day cruise was our visit to Sovestro. Tucked in the hills just outside of the medieval town of San Gimignano we arrived about 1/2 hour before the tour started. We used that time to explore the grape vineyards and olive trees. A warm wind added to the beauty of this wonderful family run Vineyard. The property not only offers this fantastic tour but amazingly wonderful lodging as well, perfect for a romantic getaway. The owners are a husband and wife team, Fausto and Susanna. Wine and Olive oil are the primary products produced here. Our tour was giving by Fausto and started with an overview of how the farm came to be and how they got into the wine and oil business. We then toured the wine making facility and all the manufacturing was explained to us, different grapes, different wines etc… we learned a lot. After the tour we ventured up to the main house dining area with was very rustic and although remodeled, it maintained an spectacular rustic ambiance of an Italian country villa. The tables were very formal with white linen table cloths and napkins. The wine lunch was not only hosted by Fausto, he also took us step by step with each of the food and wine parings. It was a magnificent experience, one I hope we get the opportunity to enjoy again. We spoke to some couples that were staying on the property and they could not say enough about how much they were enjoying their vacation. If you only have one day, please take time to reserve this quant small group tour. If you are lucky enough to have more time, it is highly recommended that you book a stay Sovestro. I promise you will enjoy.