Ultimate Guide To The Best Wineries In Tuscany, Italy

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If you are planning a trip to Tuscany and love wine, visiting the best of Tuscan wineries is an absolute must. Wine is a huge part of Italian culture and Tuscany region produces some of the finest wines in the world.

As a certified sommelier who has explored top California wine regions like Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles, I can confidently say that Tuscany is my absolute favorite wine region in the world. My love affair with Tuscan wines and their Sangiovese grapes started long ago with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

I spent a week in Tuscany staying at an agriturismo and exploring the rolling hills, ancient cellars and family-run vineyards of this magical place.

From tasting exceptional wines while looking out over the sweeping views at Enoteca La Fortezza (a 14th-century fort) in Montalcino to exploring the 13th-century underground wine caves at Ercolani in Montepulciano and enjoying the best lunch with vineyard views at Quercito di Castellina, I have experienced the absolute best wines and wineries that Tuscany has to offer.

Whether you are looking for world-class wines like Brunello di Montalcino, a bold Super Tuscan from the Tuscan coast or the perfect Chianti wine, I have put together the ultimate list. Here is a look at the best wineries to visit in the heart of Tuscany.

Overview of Tuscany’s Best Wine Regions

The heart of Tuscany beats for Sangiovese. This local wine grape produces the most incredible wines with a beautiful garnet hue and classic tasting notes of tart cherry and leather.

What drove me to the wines of Tuscany is this particular grape. I absolutely love the hue and notes of Sangiovese and it is my favorite grape variety. And Sangiovese is the grape used in most Tuscan wine regions.

Tuscany is home to over 40 wine regions and appellations (DOCGs and DOCs) but here is a quick breakdown of the most popular wine regions of Tuscany.

Chianti Classico

The Chianti Classico, the most famous Tuscan wine region, sits right between Florence and Siena. It is famous for its rolling hills, olive groves and strict winemaking rules. You can easily add Chianti as part of your Florence itinerary.

In Chianti, you will find incredible family estate options here, including the spectacular organic winery Querceto di Castellina, alongside highly popular historic properties like Castello di Verrazzano, Castellina in Chianti and the architectural marvel of Antinori nel Chianti Classico.

Montalcino

Located south in the province of Siena, this area produces the legendary Brunello di Montalcino. These are exceptional full-bodied wines made entirely from Sangiovese grapes. They are built to age for a long time and offer an unforgettable experience.

Popular wineries in this area include legendary names like Biondi-Santi, Castello Banfi, the sweeping estate of Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona and my favorite Podere Le Ripi.

Along with being the wine capital of Tuscany, it is also one of the best towns to visit in Tuscany. Many tours offer trips to Montalcino and Val d’Orcia as one of the day trips from Florence.

Montepulciano

Montepulciano is famous for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the wine region that started my love affair with Tuscany. It is a historic medieval town with deep cellars carved directly into the rock.

The red wines of Montepulciano are easy drinking and offer a truly unique wine experience. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is my favorite daily drinking red.

When visiting Montepulciano, you must visit the popular estates like Avignonesi, Salcheto and the underground Ercolani.

Bolgheri

Head to the Tuscan coast to find the birthplace of the bold Super Tuscans. Wineries here use grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This coastal strip of land produces some of the most sought-after fine wines in the world of wine competing with the likes of Napa and Bordeaux.

You cannot talk about Bolgheri without mentioning popular giants like Tenuta San Guido (home of Sassicaia) and Ornellaia.

Best Way To Visit The Wineries Of Tuscany

If you want to skip the hassle of booking tastings and driving yourself, taking guided wine tasting tours from Florence and Siena are a great option. I have included a few top-rated day trips below.

Having said that, if you want the best way to truly experience the best wineries across these different regions, planning the trip yourself and renting a car is an absolute must.

Driving gives you ample time to explore smaller places and rustic farmhouses at your own pace.

Now let’s look at the best wineries of Tuscany.

Best Wineries in Montalcino

Montalcino is the undisputed king of Sangiovese grapes. The wineries here produce the world-famous Brunello di Montalcino and the lighter Rosso di Montalcino.

Brunello di Montalcino is the first DOCG (highest designation of quality) of Italy and at its finest, it is considered one of the best wines by most in the wine community.

Here are the best wineries to visit in Montalcino:

Podere Le Ripi

Podere Le Ripi is a beautiful biodynamic family estate with a famous golden cellar built from natural clay.

Visit this winery to try exceptional wines including their highly sought-after Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino. Brunello in a bottle is pure magic to me!

Best Experience: Taking their vineyard tours is an unforgettable experience. Walk among the grape vines and olive trees while learning about their unique winemaking process. They have several winery tours at different price points.

We tried the wine and food pairing experience and it was incredible! I loved how most of the wineries follow organic or biodynamic farming and let the terroir speak for itself.

Mastrojanni

A historic estate with sweeping views of the Val d’Orcia. It is also one of the best agriturismos in Val d’Orcia area if you want to stay overnight.

If you don’t know what an agriturismo is – it is a farm stay where you stay in a villa eating farm to table food, amongst olive groves, vineyards and farms making their own food. It is truly a unique experience and Mastrojanni is one of the most popular and best agriturismos in Tuscany.

Mastrojanni is known for producing some of the best traditional full-bodied wines in the region.

You can enjoy traditional Tuscan lunch and delicious wine tasting at their restaurant while staying in one of their rustic farmhouses.

If you prefer wine tasting only, you can take a guided tour and tasting.

Enoteca la Fortezza

While not a traditional winery, I highly recommend visiting Enoteca la Fortezza in the town of Montalcino itself. It is a wine bar inside a 14th century fort. If you want to try a range of different wines of Montalcino in one place, visit the Enoteca la Fortezza within the fort.

For the Fortezza and the views alone, this fortified town is a must visit even if you are not into wine.

These are the wineries we visited but if you like something more popular and traditional, also visit Banfi, Biondi Santi and Maté.

Best Wineries in Montepulciano

Montepulciano is a gorgeous hill town and home to the amazing Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine.

My love for Tuscan wines started with Vino Nobile. It is one of the ancient wines of Italy and a perfect introduction to Sangiovese.

If you want to stay in a cute hilltown in Val d’Orcia, Montepulciano is a great town to stay.

Montepulciano is also a great town to take a stroll, taste the wines at one of the Enotecas (wine bars), visit a salumeria and enjoy a lovely breakfast or lunch.

Cantina Ercolani

One of the incredible things about the wineries in Montepulciano is that the cellars are carved right into the stone and Ercolani is one of those.

For the best experience, take a guided wine tour deep into their 13th-century underground caves. It is a completely unique wine experience you will not find anywhere else.

You must try their excellent wines including their signature Vino Nobile and sweet Vin Santo.

Avignonesi

If you want to visit a proper vineyard with sweeping views, visit Avignonesi. This winery also offers cooking classes if you are into it.

Best Wineries In Chianti Classico

The area between Florence and Siena is all pretty much Chianti but if you want to try the best, you need to visit the Classic Chianti.

Chianti Classico is the region surrounding Greve and Radda towns. The drive is very pretty with rolling vineyards and quiet towns in between. Chianti wines are more earthy, rustic and oaky compared to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

There are many many wineries in this region to choose from but these are my favorites.

Pro Tip: Even though Chianti Classico area doesn’t seem too big in the map, the roads are windy and hilly so be cautious and account for some extra time.

Querceto di Castellina

If you want to visit a family run organic winery with incredible vineyard views, you must visit Querceto di Castellina.

They produce incredible Chianti wine that perfectly highlights the beautiful garnet hue and tart cherry notes of the grape.

We loved this spot. You can enjoy wine tasting experiences on their terrace or try their exceptional extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegars.

I also highly recommend their homemade Tuscan lunch and wine tasting experience. It was one of the best foods I had in Italy and still remember the taste of fresh tomatoes, yumm.

Castello di Verrazzano

If you love medieval castles and fine wines, Castello die Verrazzano is one of the best wineries to visit in Chianti Classico. They make the best traditional red wines that represent the heart of Chianti.

Best Experience: They offer some of the best food and wine pairings in the area. You can enjoy good food alongside your tasting in their historic cellars.

The wine and food tastings come in several courses so be prepared to go on empty stomach if you plan to visit.

Visiting a medieval castle and tasting wine with vineyard views was another moment where I felt so grateful for these experiences and wondered how I made it this far. I felt like I could stay there forever.

If you have time and are able to drink more wine, add another winery or two like Antinori nel Chianti Classico to your visit and visit the towns of Radda and Greve.

Best Wineries in Bolgheri

Bolgheri and Super Tuscans broke the rules to create some of the best wines in Italy and the world. These wines are on par with the best of Bordeaux.

Only con is that Bolgheri is about two hours away from Florence and Siena but it is only an hour away from Pisa. If you are visiting Pisa, the wineries of Bolgheri are perfect to add to your Tuscan itinerary.

Tenuta San Guido

This iconic and highly exclusive estate started the entire Bolgheri wine revolution.

They are the creators of most famous Sassicaia. This is a legendary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that changed Italian wine forever.

Tastings here are highly sought after. It is a bucket-list destination for serious wine lovers. Be sure to make reservations if you want to visit this iconic winery.

Castello di Bolgheri

This historic estate is located right in the charming town of Bolgheri.

They produce exceptional Super Tuscan blends using Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Taking a guided tour of their ancient cellars is a wonderful experience if you are visiting the beautiful town of Bolgheri.

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While these are the top 4 or 5 wine regions of Tuscany, there are many more wineries and wine regions all around Tuscany like in San Gimignano, Maremma, Carmignano (very close to Florence) and more. You will surely find a winery anywhere you visit in Tuscany.

FAQs About Visiting Tuscan Wineries

Do I need a car to visit Tuscan wineries? 

You can definitely take guided wine tasting tours from major cities like Florence or Siena for easier logistics.

But renting a car is the best way to truly explore the rolling hills and smaller towns of Tuscany at your own pace.

Driving gives you the ultimate freedom to choose the best wineries and stop at different towns of Tuscany.

We rented a car in Chiusi and dropped it off in Florence and it was ideal for our road trip in Tuscany.

Do I need to make reservations to visit wineries? 

Yes! Unlike many wineries in Napa or Sonoma where you can often have open hours, most Tuscan wineries are by reservation only.

It is highly recommended to book your wine tasting experiences and vineyard tours well in advance.

Where to stay during winery visits in Tuscany?

For convenience, I recommend staying in Siena.

Siena is about an hour away from Chianti, Montalcino and San Gimignano so you can visit multiple wineries and wine regions during your stay.

If you want to stay in smaller towns, choose and agriturismo in Montalcino, Montepulciano or San Gimignano.

Where are the best wineries in Tuscany?

The best wineries are spread across four main wine regions.

The most famous wineries of Tuscany are in Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Montepulciano and the coastal area of Bolgheri.

If you are looking for somewhere close to Siena, visit the wineries in San Gimignano.

Which are the best wineries in Tuscany to have lunch? 

If you want to experience wine tasting with lunch, look for the big ones.

Castello di Verrazzano, Castellina in Chianti and Mastrojanni are fantastic options. They offer incredible traditional Tuscan cuisine and good food paired perfectly with their excellent wines.

What are the best wines in Tuscany? 

The absolute best wines include Brunello di Montalcino, bold Super Tuscans, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and wines of Chianti Classico.

All of these except the Super Tuscans use the popular Sangiovese grape of Tuscany. These are all world-class wines that you must try during your visit. You can’t go wrong with any of these.

What is the best wine tasting drive in Tuscany? 

Driving through the Val d’Orcia or taking the Chiantigiana road (SR222) through the Chianti Classico region are the best routes.

The views of the vineyards and olive trees along these roads are spectacular.

In Val d’Orcia, visit some of the best towns of Tuscany like Montepulciano, Montalcino, San Quirico and Pienza.

If you drive through Chianti Classico, you will pass through the towns of Greve and Radda.

We drove along these highways on our trip to Tuscany, stopped at all these towns and it was the most beautiful trip. I personally loved the Val d’Orcia drive. It is one of the most beautiful road trips to take in the world!

In May, we also found colorful wild poppies along with rolling vineyards and cypress trees.

What are some of the most beautiful wineries in Italy? 

I personally loved Castello Verrazzano, Mastrojanni and for something modern the Antinori nel Chianti Classico.

Of course, there are many more beautiful wineries depending on what part of Tuscany you visit.

Where are the best small towns in Tuscany specifically for food and wine tasting? 

Montalcino, Montepulciano, Greve, Radda in Chianti and Bolgheri are the best small towns for foodies.

If you love white wines, San Gimignano is also a great town to stop for a food and wine tasting. They are all full of historic cellars and great restaurants.

You can also stay at agriturismos like Mastrojanni and Casteglion del Bosco for a true farm stay.

What is the most expensive wine in Tuscany? 

Masseto is often considered the most expensive wine in Tuscany. It is a legendary Merlot from the coast.

Older vintages of Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino also fetch incredibly high prices in the world of wine.

What should I visit during a road trip in Tuscany? 

If you want to plan an epic road trip in Tuscany, you should visit the historic center of Siena, the medieval towers of San Gimignano and the incredible landscapes of the Val d’Orcia.

Make sure to map out a few vineyards along the way. The best road trip must include the most beautiful Val d’Orcia region.

Final Thoughts

As a certified sommelier, I have spent years visiting incredible wine regions all over the world. I have explored the most beautiful wine estates of Napa, explored the best wineries of Sonoma County and Paso Robles but Tuscany is easily one of my favorite places for wine tasting in the entire world.

Tuscany is one of the best destinations in Europe and must be part of your Italy itinerary. Wine tasting and driving through Tuscany for a week was one of my favorite trips ever!

Every single region offers a completely unique wine experience. You can taste organic Chianti wine with food at Querceto di Castellina or experience the gold standard of Brunello di Montalcino at the historic Biondi-Santi.

You can explore the 13th-century underground caves at Ercolani in Montepulciano or discover the birthplace of the Super Tuscan at Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri.

Winemaking, like cooking, is an art and it is in places like these where you can truly acknowledge the effort and skill it takes to make the best wines. Even if you are not a wine connoisseur, give wine tasting in Tuscany a try and you will not regret it!

If you are planning a trip to Italy, check out other popular places to visit on your Italy trip like the beautiful Amalfi Coast, best towns of Lake Como, comparison between Venice and Florence and Portofino or Cinque Terre.

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