A fascinating tour through the best wineries in Tuscany, where you will meet producers that made wine history both in traditional wineries and futuristic, state-of-the-art cellars.
TOUR INCLUDES
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- Private motor coach
- 2 nights accommodation
- 2 breakfasts
- 3 lunches (including wine)
- Entrance to 5 – 6 wineries (depending on the itinerary) with wine tastings
- Tourguide
PROGRAM:
Day 1 : Wine Tour of Chianti
Departure from your hotel
Arrival at Castello di Monsanto; guided tour of the winery with tasting 2/3 wines. The Bianchi family have been producing this pioneering Chianti Classico since 1962. It was, in fact, Mr. Bianchi who first decided to remove from the blend the traditional white varietals malvasia and trebbiano to only grow Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino; further to this Bianchi replaced the old “Governo alla Toscana” process, involving re-fermentation, leaving the grapes to macerate up to two weeks. Castello di Monsanto is a truly unique place. Located underneath the stately rooms on the ground floor, the impressive ageing cellar (almost 300 mt. in length) took six years to build and connects the new cellar to the old cellar, dating to 1740. Products: IGT Toscana Chardonnay (100% Chardonnay. One half of the grapes are vinified in steel; the other half in new and refill French oak barriques); Chianti Classico DOCG (90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and Colorino. Ageing: half in Slavonian oak casks, half in French oak barriques, followed by a further 3 months in bottle); Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG “Il Poggio” (90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and Colorino. Aged 18 months in new and refill French oak barriques, followed by a further 12 months in bottle).
Departure for Gaiole in Chianti
Arrival at winery Capannelle; visit to the winery and the hi-tech wine-vault. Tasting of wines from the estate. A state-of-the-art winery; owner James B. Sherwood, president and major shareholder of Orient Express Hotel ltd, radically renovated the old farmhouse to make it a jewel of technology and elegance. This winery only produces great wines. The underground wine cellar (10 feet) guarantees optimum conditions and temperatures for wines to attain exceptional elegance and quality. Nothing is left to chance; fermentation only in steel; ageing in 30 hl French oak barrels and 225 litre barriques replaced each years. A wine vault in the basement houses premium bottles held for some of the best known restaurants in the world. Products: Capannelle (Chardonnay 100%. 70 % is matured for 8 months in new barriques; the remaining 30% is left in steel tanks); Capannelle Chianti Classico Riserva (Sangiovese 90%, Canaiolo and Colorino 10%. Aged 18 months in 16 hl barrels, followed by one year in bottle).
Lunch either at winery Capannelle or in a typical Tuscan “locanda” in Gaiole in Chianti (based on selected package)
Return to your hotel/accommodation.
Day 2: Wine Tour of Cortona
Departure from your hotel/agriturismo
Arrival at Avignonesi’s Fattoria “Le Capezzine”; visit to vineyards, wine-cellar and vinsanto cellar. Cortona’s oldest and best known winery, the Avignonesi estate is located in Valiano, a short distance from Cortona and Montepulciano. Based in a stately 19th century building housing the wine-cellars, the superb “vinsantaia” (the vin santo cellar), a shop and the guest quarters, “Fattoria le Capezzine” is the Avignonesi headquartes in the Cortona DOC area. The estate spreads over 19 hectares, 7 of which devoted to vine-growing. Products: Sauvignon Blanc Cortona DOC (85% Sauvign.blanc, 15% Chardonnay; vinified in steel for 4 months; 3 month ageing in bottle); Il Marzocco Cortona Doc Chardonnay (Chardonnay 85% Sauvignon Blanc 15%. Aged 6 months in barriques, followed by a further 12 months in bottle); Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (85% Prugnolo Gentile, Canaiolo Nero 10%, Mammolo 5%. Aged in large barrels for 18 months, followed by a further 9 months in bottle); Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva Grandi Annate (85%Prugnolo gentile, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in large barrels for 30 months, followed by a further 9 months in bottle); Desiderio Cortona Merlot DOC (100% Merlot. Aged in barriques for 18 months, followed by a further 9 months in bottle); Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice DOC (100% Prugnolo Gentile. Aged in small 30 litre barrels for 10 years, followed by a further 6 months in bottle).
Lunch at the winery’s guest quarters with tasting of 4 wines
Departure for Cantine Stefano Amerighi in Farneta
Visit to Amerighi vineyards and new biodynamic production facility, followed by a biodynamic Syrah tasting. Located on the Farneta hill, in Poggiobello, the Cantina Stefano Amerighi is a new biodynamic, environment-friendly player on the Cortona wine-making scene. Extensive geological and climatical investigations carried out on the estate confirmed its suitability for the Syrah varietal. A unique visit to a traditional winery where grapes are still crushed by foot and wine is still made traditionally, with no added chemicals and you will be able to taste a great Syrah to boot! Products: Cortona Syrah DOC (100% Syrah. Fermented in cement vats, aged in barriques for 18 months, followed by a further 12 months in bottle)
Return to your hotel
Day 3: Wine Tour of Montepulciano
Departure from your hotel /agriturismo
Arrival to Abbazia di Montepulciano, visit to winery Villa S. Anna with tasting of 3/4 wines. An historical winery, the Villa Sant’Anna estate is nestled in the very heart of the Nobile di Montepulciano area. An all-female winery, Villa Sant’Anna stands out for the finesse and quality of its wines. Owner Simona and her daughters, Anna and Margherita, are managing the estate with great professionalism and an exquisitely feminine touch. A visit to the centuries-old cellars, where wines are aged at room temperature, is both exciting and unique. Products: Chianti Classico dei Colli Senesi (Sangiovese 90%, Canaiolo, Colorino, Merlot 10%. Aged for 6-8 months in 30 hl barrels, followed by a further 6 months in bottle); Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Sangiovese 90%, Mammolo, Canaiolo, Colorino and Merlot 10%. Aged for two years in French-oak barrels, followed by a further 6 months in bottle); Vino Nobile di Montepulciano “Poldo” (Sangiovese and Prugnolo gentile 80%, other red grapes 20%. Aged for two years in oak barrels, followed by a further 10 months in bottle); Vin Santo Villa Sant’Anna (Malvasia 50%, Pulcinculo 40%,Trebbiano 10%. Grapes are left to dry for 6 months. After a gentle pressing, the must remains with the “madre” (a starter culture of yeast) for 8 years in small 30 liter barrels. Aged in bottle for 12 months)
Departure for Monticchiello
Arrival in Monticchiello and lunch in a the lovely Osteria with typical Tuscan dishes and wine tasting
Departure for Montepulciano
Arrival to Cantine Dei, visit to the estate and tasting of products from the winery. Now run by Caterina Dei, this prestigious winery was the first to produce the world-famous Nobile di Montpulciano in 1985,following an exceptional harvest. In 1989, Caterina’s father decided to build a new multi-purpose winery in the hear of the estate. Today, only a few years later, the Cantina Dei is one of the leading, cutting-edge producers of Vino Nobile. The “Bossona” riserva is a unique, matchless wine. The Cantina also produces the “Bianco di Martiena”, one of the very few white wines from the Montepulciano area, one not to be missed. Products: Bianco di Martiena (Trebbiano 50%, Malvasia 40%, Grechetto 10%. Fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperature, aged in steel vats); Nobile di Montepulciano (Sangiovese 90%, red grapes 10%. Aged for 24 months in 33 hl Slavonian oak barrels, followed by a further 6 months in bottle); Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva “Bossona” (single-estate grapes. Aged for 24 months in Slavonian oak barrels and 7,5 hl tonneaux, followed by a further 12 months in bottle).
Return to your hotel
