I am in the process of planning an Italy trip and would like some advice on which wineries to visit. I will be staying in Sienna. I'm preferably looking for day trips (semi-short distances).
As a rule, I usually enjoy the smaller, family style wine tours as opposed to a commercial style tour. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Do a search, there are many threads on this subject.

We went to Tuscany (and stayed in Sienna) for our honeymoon in Sept. '04.

We used these sites to help with hotels, passports, etc.

Some info on wine pricing.

wineries

And our nightmare bringing back so much wine.

If you want any info (on Sienna, etc.)... send an e-mail to... mattwagner 'at' comcast 'dot' net

Thanks mwagner,
I read your story. What a bummer. 5 years ago I had a trip to France. When returning home, we were very worried about the "limit" of wine we could bring back etc and how Customs would react if we exceeded said limit. To make a long story short, we carried a total of only 8 bottles back. When we landed in Boston, I can't tell you how many cases of wine I saw rotating around the luggage belt. They all had been checked. Perhaps that is the answer? I didn't see anybody getting stopped trying to get through the customs gates.
Anyway, thanks for the links. I will study them closely.
Also, its almost your 1st anniversary. Congrats from someone who just celebrated his 2nd.

The Banfi winery outside of Montalcino is a great place to visit. Have lunch in the Taverna. One of the best meals I've ever had. 5 course tasting menu was only $55 Eu and included all the Banfi Brunello (and other Banfi wines) you can drink. I had about 7 glasses and had to go lay down in the rental car afterwards. The winery tour takes about 90 minutes and is very informative. This is a link to a website listing the Montalcino wineries http://www.consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it/
Montepulciano, not far from Montalcino is a pretty place to visit with many places of interest for wine enthusiasts.

quote:

Originally posted by Cork Off:
I am in the process of planning an Italy trip and would like some advice on which wineries to visit. I will be staying in Sienna. I'm preferably looking for day trips (semi-short distances).
As a rule, I usually enjoy the smaller, family style wine tours as opposed to a commercial style tour. Any thoughts or suggestions?

There's a book called either Touring the Wine Country: Tuscany or Touring in Wine Country: Tuscany. It's edited by Hugh Johnson I believe...it's a very good book and will guide you around the wineries in the area. My wife and I were there last month for our wedding...wonderful place.

Dat
Hook 'Em!

CO,

While in Siena, I really enjoyed going to Il Campo, parking myself at a table at one of the outdoor cafes for the better part of an afternoon/evening, and drinking wine and watching people go by.

J3

we enjoyed Dievole in Tuscany

When in Toscana search for this wine:

Lacrima d'alba.

Don't tell anybody. It's a secret.

Cultor

Bring back good notes for me. I am going next year.

I will reiterate what I have said about this many times...

San Giusto a Retenanno in the Chianti region is a must for anyone staying in that part of the world. Not only do they make 4 very good to excellent wines (Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, Percarlo -- Sangiovese Super-Tuscan, and Ricolma -- Merlot Super-Tuscan) but they make the best olivo oil I've ever tasted. It is a small winery located in a centuries-old fort that few people know about. You can taste everything they have available for sale.

While I haven't been, the winery I'd be most interested in trying in Montalcino is Ciacci Piccolmini. A medium-small winery, their wines are, imo, near the very top of the quality pyramid in Montalcino yet they remain reasonably priced.

I might also look into contacting Marc de Grazia directly. They represent many of the best smallish (and very small) producers in Italy and might be able to tell you who and how to contact wineries that might interest you.

a

quote:

Originally posted by jcubed:
CO,

While in Siena, I really enjoyed going to Il Campo, parking myself at a table at one of the outdoor cafes for the better part of an afternoon/evening, and drinking wine and watching people go by.
Did the same thing several years ago. It's one of my all time favorite people watching places.

J3

Montalcino-
Barbi winery does a tour every hour, with a tasting room and store. Small-ish, it seemed.
In the town of Montalcino the one and only true enoteca/tasting "restaurant" is Ostriccio. Odd that a town like that has only one place to taste sitting at a table and snacking. The servers are knowledgeable and helpful. Many places you can stand and taste what they sell, but nothing like Ostriccio (oops, it's in the main square on the south side, has a 'Slow Food' sign in the window.

We spent a week in Sept '03 in Tuscany with a convertable (after another week split between Roma and Firenze).

1. get a convertable
2. town of Fonterutoli - set up a tour
3. Greve - great market day either sat. or sun.
4. our favorite chianti town BY FAR was Castellina - we went 3-4 times, picnic in the park. very close to Sienna
5. remember to get a convertable
6. stay in a secluded agritourismo - we had our own house with kitchen (was a stable in past centuries) with our own deck, garden and views. and our own kitchen. each night we made our own dinner, saving big $$$, eating great food from markets, drinking DREAM bottles of wine shopped at local enoteca's. oh man...
7. Castello Brolio was pretty cool, we went to the castle, not the winery. not a must-do.
8. i mentioned Castellina and Greve, but hit all the towns (Radda, Gaiole, etc.) Radda has an interesting park as well with lots of local flavor
9. Panzano is also a nice town - if you are into cemeteries at all there is a really interesting one there.
10. last time i will mention a convertable. we just hit the road every day and explored.

Sienna is nice and truly beautiful, but even in late sept. pretty crowded. i really advise getting out and about into the chianti country.

sorry if i sound too excited, but we have already made our reservations for sept' 06 - staying 2 weeks in chianti plus 4 nights in firenze!!

good luck, Jake

Lucky B'rds.


Do the self-catering thing.
And the convertable!

In 2002 we stayed in a house at Montespértoli (the latest of the Chianti DOCG's). Not at all touristic, therefore rather quite and close to Firenze and the Chianti Classico trail.
We could see the towers of San Giminiano in the distance, ... er... when we would stand on the little wall surrounding the swimming pool.

Have a great trip.