Tuscany
Tuscany is Chianti, Vino Nobile and Brunello country, and wine tourism is big business here. The growing popularity of the super Tuscan wines has brought even more attention to the area. If you visit Tuscany, you can drive along one of 14 wine trails, or “strade del vino,” each of which focuses on a different wine-producing area or type of wine.
Many visitors to Florence tour the Chianti Rùfina e Pomino Wine Road, which actually consists of four routes that take you through the rolling hills east of Florence. Bike tours of this area are especially popular.
Perhaps you’re more interested in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Fortunately, there’s a wine trail just for you, called, as you might expect, La Strada del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. If you’re visiting the area by car, you can look for signs along the route. The wine trail is divided into five parts, two of which concentrate on the town of Montepulciano itself. Dozens of wineries, wine shops and restaurants line the wine trail. You can find at least 30 agriturismi in the area; choose one to visit at lunchtime or spend a day or two in this inviting area.
If you prefer white wines, head to the Strada del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano, home to Italy’s oldest DOC wine (now a DOCG). Found near the tower-studded town of San Gimignano, this wine trail takes you past vineyards that have been planted since Dante’s time. Don’t have time to drive around? Stop by the Vernaccia Wine Museum in San Gimignano. Here you can learn about the region’s winemaking tradition and taste the local specialty for yourself – the museum has a wine shop where you can pay to try wines from the area. There are over two dozen agriturismi near the town, most of which produce wines; consider booking a room and learning more about Tuscan winemaking.
