Everything You Need to Know About Doing a Tuscany Wine Tour
Last Updated: August 12, 2023
If you’re like us, you’ve seen the movies of the rolling Tuscan countryside. You’ve dreamed of sipping wine at an Italian villa overlooking rows and rows of lush grapevines. But it can seem a bit inaccessible to enjoy the Tuscan countryside if you’re short on time while traveling in Italy. But did you know that you can take a day tour from Florence into the Tuscany wine region? We did a wine tour from Florence into Tuscany and absolutely loved it. Below we’ll tell you everything you need to know about doing a Tuscany wine tour, to decide if it’s right for you.
Sure, you’ll spent your first few days in Florence ordering cappuccinos and gelatos and admiring architectural masterpieces like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Ponte Vecchio. But once you’ve done all that, consider venturing out from Florence on a day trip into the Tuscan countryside.
Because let’s be honest, eventually, you may get tired of the Florence tourist traps (No offense, David).
So once you’ve seen the statue of David, we recommend leaving Florence for a day trip to the Chianti region in Tuscany, where some of the best Italian wines are made. Here is our guide with everything you need to know for a day trip wine tour in Tuscany from Florence.
Complete Guide to Taking a Tuscany Day Trip from Florence into Wine Country
In our Tuscany wine tour guide, we discuss:
Should you do a wine tour day trip from Florence?
If you love wine, consider spending an afternoon in the Tuscan countryside sipping wine with the experts. And if you don’t love wine, taking a wine tour like ours may very well change your mind.
How long is a Tuscany wine tour from Florence?
It depends on which wine tour from Florence you choose. Some highly rated tours are as short as 4 hours and 45 minutes. These shorter tours can be a good option if you are planning other activities in your day.
We opted for a slightly longer tour—our tour was around 7 hours round trip. We picked a longer tour because we were excited to see more of the Tuscan countryside. As we describe below, our tour included an extra stop in the charming village of San Gimignano, which we thought was definitely worth it. Which is why we think our longer tour was the best wine tour out of Florence.
Plus, you may think that by doing a shorter tour you’ll leave time for another activity later in the day. But, realistically, after drinking wine in Tuscany all day, we wanted nothing more than to relax in our hotel. (Unfortunately we had to catch a train that same night to Naples, which we do NOT recommend after a wine tour).
What is included in a Tuscany wine tour?
The guides at each vineyard walk you through the intricate process of wine production, the differences in barrels, grapes, and fermentation levels. The good news is that after 15 glasses of wine, you nod in agreement as if you’ve mastered the art of oenology.
Is a Tuscany wine tour worth the cost?
You definitely get your money’s worth on a wine tour in Tuscany. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said 15 glasses. Although I wouldn’t recommend drinking every glass… just kidding, we definitely did and remember the experience enough to talk about it!
On our wine tour, not only did we get generous amounts of wine to try, but the tour also included some delicious food samples. Each glass of wine was thoughtfully paired with bruschetta, truffle oil, balsamic vinaigrette, fresh bread, or fine cheeses. So on the wine tour in Tuscany you get a good amount of food included as well.
Plus, on our Tuscany wine tour, transportation from Florence was included. A comfortable air conditioned, van picked us up near our hotel in downtown Florence, along with about 5 other passengers.
What stops are included in a wine tour in Tuscany?
On our wine tour in Tuscany, we stopped at 2 Italian wineries in the Chianti region of Tuscany. At each winery, we learned about the history of that vineyard. And of course we sampled various wines from each.
After the two vineyards, our wine tour guide took us to the the quaint village San Gimignano.
San Gimignano is an old town with plenty of Italian shops, including leather bag stores and gelaterias. The best gelato shop in San Gimignano was Gelateria Dondoli, with some of the best gelato we have ever tasted. San Gimignano is truly an oasis from the hub of Florence and a step towards Tuscan tranquility.
Each stop along the Tuscany wine tour offers plenty of photo opportunities. If you’re like us, you’ll realize that yes, a day in the Tuscan countryside outside Florence is truly what dreams are made of.
What will you learn on a Tuscany wine tour near Florence?
- Your favorite type of wine. Ours was the Brunello di Montalcino.
- A local perspective of how Italian winemaking has been passed down from generation to generation.
- How to measure the quality of every wine bottle you come across at your local liquor store.
- How to swirl and sip your wine like the experts do and pick up on its subtle flavors, like a true sommelier.
As the Tuscany wine tour wraps up, you also get the chance to buy some wines and have them shipped to the U.S for free.
Additionally, if you’re in Italy for a longer period of time and are traveling south of Florence, check out our article about kayaking on the Amalfi Coast and our 2-day Rome itinerary for first time visitors.