Wines, fine landscapes and art are the best reasons to visit Tuscany

Ahh Tuscany, home to rolling sun baked hills, an artist’s retreat for over millenia, producer of rich “Super-Tuscan” wines… Tuscany, the very name evokes romantic images. Come bask in the light that artists have put to canvass for centuries, drive through the vineyards of Italy’s most famous wine regions and enjoy the fabulous food culture that comes from these noble hills.

Few words are sufficient to evoke so much. Etruscan hills, cypress trees, villages, medieval and Renaissance cities. We can take you out from Siena, in the Chianti hills. Or close to Livorno to have access to the Super Tuscans of Bolgheri. The beautiful city of Pienza, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti and San Gimignano, all worth a visit, exploring the winding streets and tiny treasures of the courts and giving a brief look at the private gardens. Comfortable meals and of course a visit to the cellars, or an afternoons on farms, where production of wine and olive oil are synonymous.

The most important red grape variety in Tuscany it’s Sangiovese, there are fourteen different clones of Sangiovese, Chianti is in some way the Italian Bordeaux and if you really want to know this wine you will need 5 full days of wine tourism and tasting to grasp the subtleties of each of the huge differences, sub-regions, micro climates, and of course the great influence of the earth.
Tuscany, nestled in the heart of Italy, halfway between the cooler, European North and the drier, more Mediterranean south, not only enjoys a perfect climate but boasts a surprising variety of landscapes and habits, hard to find in such a small region.
It  is bound by the Apennine mountains, up to 2.000 meters high, and the Thyrrenian Coast, a milder habitat that not by chance the Etruscans ancestors selected to settle 27 centuries ago. In between lay the rich valleys where cities of merchants and of art as Florence, Lucca, Arezzo and Pisa developed in medieval times as proud, independent city-states. The valleys are separated by low, still steep hills which, with their  enchanting, artistic vineyards, woods and olive groves, and their ancient stone villages,  form the picture perfect, archetypal Tuscan landscapes. Here, in addition, the best traditional cuisine is found, and here the greater Tuscan wines are produced: the Chianti, the Montalcino and Montepulciano and the Maremma hills.

The artistic heritage is absolutely unmatchable. It reveals naturally in the churches, in the smallest old towns, an turns out to be almost  overwhelming in Florence, Arezzo, Lucca, Pisa, Siena…
The legendary picture-perfect landscapes. Well, they are real! The hills with vineyards and olive groves,  the mild Mediterranean coast, the Medieval towns are all there, as if designed on purpose. And, in between, endless trails to walk – if you wish – from winery to winery without worries.

The Chianti region, is derived from the Etruscan civilization. Its name comes from the Latin “Sanguis Jovis” meaning “blood of Jove”. Many other varieties have prospered, and no more than Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot on the Tuscan coast. The whites are not of secondary importance as Vermentino and Vernaccia di San Gimignano, are both good examples.
The fresh white wines, along the Thyrrenian coast especially, the classic young Sangioveses, austere Riservas, and the Supertuscans, of course, offer the perfect glass for every dish and moment. Among over 35 DOC – appellation wines – the “Classics” Chianti, Nobile, and Brunello stand like monuments in a lively town.
By far the most famous of the Tuscan wines, Chianti is a red wine produced in the Chianti region and is made from the Sangiovese grape which gives it a note of summer fruit and a hint of spices. Not all Chianti wines are created equally though and there is a general consensus that Chianti Classico wines are of a much higher quality. This is due to the fact that they are produced in a very small region that is known specifically for Chianti production and are also held to a much more stringent standard in terms of the winemaking process.

Bolgheri is the land where the Supertuscan IGT bland was born in 1968. This “terroir”, to use a French word, made the luck of a few wine producing estates.
On request it is possible to organize day trips to visit wineries in the Bolgheri DOC area and to include visits to local oil mills or to producers of other typical products, in accordance with the wishes of visitors. All wineries are usually closed during the grape harvest

Brunello di Montalcino has become one of the most sought-after DOCG wines by wine connoisseurs from all over the world.
Its depth of flavor and full-body feel make it an instant favorite among red wine lovers. Aged for at least four years and made entirely of the Sangiovese grape, this elegant red wine offers a fantastic opportunity to break away from the traditional Chianti tour.
Your personal tour will involve leisurely winding your way through the hills of Tuscany to a one on one meeting with the proprietors of the wineries. You will discover the intricacies of crafting the Brunello di Montalcino wines and have the opportunity to explore the extensive cellars. During the tasting, your experienced guide will teach you the proper techniques to use in order to fully appreciate the wines taste and feel.

Are you looking for a luxurious personalized vacation to Italy to fulfill all your needs and indulge your every desire? Visit our Luxury Gourmet and Wine Tours  page then contact us and let us take it from there.