Wine Holidays Chianti Classico

The Chianti Classico area stretches for about 70.000 hectares between the provinces of Florence and Siena, known to have had a historical conflict in medieval times for the control over the area's smaller villages. This territory, characterized by green hills covered in vineyards and olive groves, fortresses and castles is the perfect location to plan your next wine tasting, winery tour or weekend getaway under the Tuscan sun.

The area of Chianti Classico is probably one of Italy's most popular locations for wine tourism and it offers an ample range of wine tastings, experiences and plenty of wineries to visit. Chianti Classico DOCG (controlled and guaranteed designation of origin) is an appellation reserved for wines produced in the oldest Chianti area with stricter regulations compared to Chianti DOCG. Chianti Classico must age for a minimum of 12 months and its blend must contain a minimum of 80% Sangiovese grapes. A Chianti Classico DOCG can always be easily recognized by a black rooster on the bottle's neck.

Chianti Classico's area is known worldwide for its excellent wines, which you'll have the chance to taste during the many wine tastings you'll take part in while visiting some of the beautiful wineries of the area, surrounded by green hills and cypresses. Nevertheless, the food in this area is no less delightful. During your time in Chianti Classico, we recommend trying: ribollita, lampredotto, peposo alla fiorentina, Finocchiona IGP.

Throughout your winery visits and wine tastings in the Chianti Classico area, you will have the opportunity to taste various shades of the Sangiovese variety, the most popular in the area. Other local varieties that can be found are Canaiolo Nero, Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Fogliatonda, Malvasia Nera, Mammolo and Pugnitello, as well as some international varieties like Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

Any season is a good season to visit Chianti Classico's area and discover all the wonders this territory has to offer on top of wine tours, tastings and winery visits. Visiting during spring or autumn will allow you to avoid large crowds and enjoy a more pleasant climate, as summers in the area tend to be rather hot. From late spring to autumn, the villages in the area come alive with festivals and other events, where culture, good wine and good food play a key role.

Chianti Classico's area offers a multitude of options for wine tastings and winery visits to match your needs. During your wine tours, we recommend passing by these lovely medieval villages: Greve in Chianti, Panzano in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga. Most of these sites are connected through the Via Chiantigiana, a scenic route connecting Florence to Siena crossing the beautiful Tuscan countryside.

The average price of a wine tasting with winery visit in Chianti Classico is around €47.50. Depending on the experience, prices range from €26 to €69. Booking in advance ensures availability and the best prices.

Here are the top wineries to visit in Chianti Classico:

• Tenuta Campomaggio
• I Fabbri di Susanna Grassi
• Casale dello Sparviero
• Il Borgo Machiavelli
• Cantina Castelvecchi
• Bindi Sergardi
• Poggio al Bosco Winery
• FATTORIA SANT'APPIANO

Here are the best wine tastings to book in Chianti Classico:

• Castle tour & Wine tasting at Castello di Meleto in the Chianti countyside
• Chianti Classico wine tasting at Tenuta Folonari
• A Taste of Tuscany: Tour, Wine Tasting and Food Pairing at Villa Cerna in Chianti
• Wine Tasting with Lunch or Dinner at Casa Sola in Chianti
• Wine Tasting with Tuscan Platter at Casale dello Sparviero in Chianti Classico
• Castle tour with Light Lunch & Wine tasting at Castello di Meleto in Chianti
• Wine Tasting and Tour in the Vineyards of Villa Mangiacane in Chianti Classico
• Beyond Gastronomy – A Journey Elevating Every Flavor in Chianti Classico at Savignola Paolina