Archive for 'Wineries & Breweries'

The Chianti region of Tuscany is the most famous wine region of Italy and is home to countless incredible wineries producing delicious Tuscan wines. However, if you have found a villa in Florence or a villa in Siena and are looking for a nearby winery in Chianti to visit, then one that we recommend and one of the most picturesque and charming that you could possibly hope to visit is in the region is the Villa Spoiano. Browse our amazing villas in Chianti and get planning a foodie trip to Tuscany that includes plenty of delicious local wines and a wine-tasting session to help you learn more about the history and production of wine in the region in this special gem of a winery.

There are lots of different wineries that one can choose to visit while on vacation in Tuscany but if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are looking for a pretty, respected, and nearby winery to head to on a day trip out of the city then few options could be as ideal as Castello di Nipozzano. Located high on a hillside in the municipality of Pelago in the Chianti wine region, near Florence, overlooking the towns of San Francesco and Pontassieve and the ancient Roman road, the Cassia Vetus, it has long been a point of strategic importance in guarding the city of Florence. It has also been long recognised as a rather special architectural gem and has been a winery that is opened to the public and a foodie destination since the 20th century. A truly magical and utterly beautiful place to sample some delicious local wines, it is a must for wine-lovers who are spending time in Florence.

Italy is not a famous beer-producing country, unlike many of its neighbouring European counterparts further north. If you are planning a holiday in Tuscany, you are likely to be thinking of evenings spent sipping wine on a terrace, meals accompanied by excellent vintages and wonderful local wines, and day-trips to some of the region's incredible wineries and vineyards both small and intimate and massive and famous (read about some of our favourite Tuscan vineyards here). However, despite this long history of wine production and this reputation for being excellent producers of wine over beer, a craft brewing scene has developed in Tuscany in recent years, as it has in many far flung places the world over. If you're planning a trip to Tuscany and like wine well enough but can't quite give up your beer (and who can blame you; does anything hit the spot quite like a cold brew when you're on holidays?), then never fear! Read on to our guide to some of the must-see and must-sip craft beer spots that can be found in Tuscany.

Today, in fact, there are over 100 craft breweries in Tuscany alone! Despite the restrictions and intense specifications that are enforced in the production of craft beers in Italy, the industry has flourished in the region. The oldest example of one such establishment dates back to 2006...

If you are a wine-lover and you have ever considered Tuscany as a holiday destination then you are seriously in luck; the two couldn't possibly be more compatible. Over the years, we have written about the various incredible vineyards, wineries, shops, bars, experiences, and varieties of wines that you can look forward to upon visiting Tuscany but we thought it about time to compile a list of some of the most unique, interesting, and memorable wine experiences of all that can be had in this beautiful region of Italy...

Wine-lovers who are looking for a perfect holiday destination will find few locations as perfect as Tuscany. There is absolutely no shortage of incredible wineries to choose from and endless places to sample, taste, learn about, and buy wine in Tuscany. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Montalcino, in particular, you will find that there is an especially intriguing and unique winery in the area: Podere Le Ripi.

With a distinct and very unique layout employing innovative planting methods, beautiful architectural elements, and attractive landscaping, it is visually striking and a particularly picturesque winery, which is no small claim amongst the abundant stunning wineries of Tuscany. It is also an incredible experiment in biodynamic viticulture that has yielded some absolutely delicious results.

Established in 1998 by Francesco Illy, of the famous Illy coffee empire family, this winery is made up of 75 acres of biodynamic vineyards that are set across two opposite mountainsides and nestled between a forest, olive groves, a vegetable garden, and fruit trees. Located in the stunning Tuscan landscape of Montalcino, the views from the winery are breath-taking, taking in great swathes of the surrounding landscape. Beginning back in 1998 with the site in Castelnuovo dell’Abate on the eastern side of Montalcino, the winery was since expanded in 2017 to an additional site at Il Galamppio for vineyards on the western side. Both sides boast uncontaminated oceanic soil, but with each belonging to different geological areas, as well as pure air, all of which gives the vineyards optimal conditions to grow the ideal raw ingredients necessary to produce delicious wines.