Exploring Tuscany's Wineries: From Legendary Estates to Local Secrets

• An inspiring guide to some of Tuscany's top wineries, from celebrated estates such as Antinori nel Chianti Classico to lesser-known producers.
• Practical tips to plan winery visits including where to stay, travel options and tasting tours.
• Insights into Tuscany’s wine culture and landscapes, from the Apennines to the coast, to deepen your appreciation.

Tuscany is renowned for its rolling landscape dotted with cypress trees, olive groves and historic hill towns, but no visit is complete without time spent among its vineyards. This is one of the world’s great wine regions, home to famous names that appear on restaurant lists across the globe. From cellar doors tucked into medieval villages to sleek, modern estates set among the vines, wine is woven into everyday life here. Whether you’re planning a dedicated Tuscany wine holiday or a short excursion from Siena or Florence, here are eight wonderful wineries to add to your itinerary.

The heart of Tuscany's wine region lies between Florence and Siena, where the scenic Via Chiantigiana winds through the sun-drenched vineyards of the Chianti Classico hills. To the north, the cooler Apennine slopes produce fresher, more restrained wines. Further south, Montalcino is known for powerful, long-lived Brunello, while Montepulciano produces the refined Vino Nobile. Near the coast, areas like Bolgheri and Suvereto favour international varieties, shaped by warmth and sea breezes, while inland towns like San Gimignano are famed for crisp, mineral-driven whites like Vernaccia.

Antinori nel Chianti Classico, just south of Florence, is one of Tuscany’s best-known wineries. The Antinori family has been making wine for 26 generations, dating back to 1385, and their estate is celebrated for its hallmark Chianti Classico made from Sangiovese grapes. Their state-of-the-art facility is landscaped into the hillside, with sweeping glass walls that flood the interior with light. The sleek building is both elegant and functional, using gravity to move wine through the production process. Visit to enjoy panoramic views from the rooftop restaurant and experience the rich legacy of Tuscany’s winemaking heritage.

• Via Cassia per Siena, 133, 50026 Bargino Fl
• From Florence, take bus 30 or 35 to the town of San Casciano Val di Pesa, then a taxi. Alternatively, it's a 40-minute drive.
• Stay at Cerretani Hotel Firenze - MGallery Collection, a boutique hotel in a historic palace, just steps from the Duomo. With easy access to Santa Maria Novella train and bus stations, it's an ideal base for day trips.

Set high in the Chianti hills, Castello di Ama is where art and wine come together. The estate is dotted with contemporary installations offering a unique backdrop to its vineyards, which are prized for producing elegant Chianti Classico and Gran Selezione wines.

Visits here are immersive, with guided tours through vineyard paths, cellars and a striking mix of historic and modern architecture, interspersed with works by Michelangelo Pistoletto and Louise Bourgeois. It’s a must if you appreciate a blend of art, landscape and winemaking, with vintages that reflect both regional tradition and the estate’s distinctive style.

• Località Ama in Chianti, 53013 Gaiole in Chianti SI
• Gaiole is a 75-minute drive from Florence. Public transport is limited.

In the south of Tuscany, near Montepulciano, Avignonesi has become a reference point for organic and biodynamic winemaking. The estate is known for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a DOCG wine made primarily from Sangiovese, locally known as Prugnolo Gentile.

The vineyards grow on varied soils that give the wines a firm structure and freshness. Tastings usually feature a mix of current wines and barrel-aged bottles, giving you a chance to see how different vintages and winemaking choices shape the flavour of the bouquet. Their Vin Santo is among the most respected in Tuscany and well worth seeking out.

• Via Colonica, 1, 53045 Montepulciano SI
• Take a train to Montepulciano Stazione, then a taxi. Montepulciano is 1 hour 45 minutes from Florence by car.

South of Siena, in the heart of Montalcino, Il Poggione is one of the region’s most historic Tuscany wineries, famed for its classic Brunello di Montalcino that develops beautifully with age. The estate helped define Brunello’s signature style and remains a benchmark for traditional Tuscan reds. The vineyard's clay-limestone slopes give the wines depth, spice and a distinctive savoury character. Il Poggione also produces the fresher Rosso di Montalcino, ideal for tasting the region’s essence in a younger, more approachable style.

• Montalcino, Province of Siena, 53024 Sant'Angelo In Colle SI
• Take a regional train to Buonconvento, then a bus or taxi. The vineyard is about 70 minutes by car from Siena.

Occupying a transitional zone between Chianti Classico and the wider Chianti region, Fèlsina is celebrated for wines that speak clearly of their terroir. The estate’s flagship, Rancia, is a single-vineyard Chianti Classico Riserva that perfectly balances Sangiovese’s bright, refined notes with bold, full-bodied depth. Visits at Fèlsina are down-to-earth and centred on farming life. As a working winery, it offers an authentic glimpse into winemaking rather than staged tastings, and wine lovers can witness the careful attention that goes into every bottle, from vine to cellar.

• Via del Chianti, 101, 53019 Castelnuovo Berardenga SI
• Buses run to Castelnuovo Berardenga but connections are infrequent. It's about 1 hour by car from Florence.

The hilltop town of San Gimignano is famous for its medieval towers, but it's also the heartland of Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Tuscany’s most celebrated white wine – and Italy's first DOC, established in 1966. The Panizzi estate sits just outside the town walls, with vineyards stretching towards the Val d’Elsa. Panizzi has helped elevate Vernaccia beyond a simple aperitivo wine. Tastings reveal bouquets with depth and ageing potential, shaped by techniques that add subtle richness and complexity. The whites are crisp and mineral-driven, with a characteristic hint of bitterness on the finish.

• Località Larniano, 1, 53037 San Gimignano SI
• Buses connect Florence to San Gimignano via Poggibonsi. It's a 1-hour drive.

The Montevertine estate famously refused to follow Chianti Classico regulations, which required blending with white grapes, choosing instead to produce 100% Sangiovese wines. This purist, pioneering approach helped redefine what a Chianti-style wine could be. Their vineyards sit on rolling hills of clay and limestone, ideal for Sangiovese, producing wines with firm tannins, savoury depth and excellent ageing potential. Visits are limited and by appointment only.

• Località Montevertine, 53017 Radda in Chianti SI
• Buses run from Siena to Radda in Chianti. By car, it's about 1 hour from Siena or 1 hour 20 minutes from Florence.

Located near the Tuscan coast, Tua Rita showcases a different side of Tuscany, where warmer temperatures and maritime breezes shape rich, opulent wines. The estate is best known for Redigaffi, a Merlot that helped put Suvereto on the global wine map, alongside expressive blends featuring Sangiovese and other varieties. Despite international acclaim, visits remain personal and friendly, offering insight into the vineyard, cellar and craft behind these celebrated wines.

• Località Notri, 81, 57028 Suvereto LI
• Take a train to Campiglia Marittima and a local taxi. Suvereto is 2 hours from Florence by car.

Wine is an important part of daily life in Tuscany, and experiencing it first-hand is an unforgettable experience. Whether you're drawn to historic estates or small, quietly confident producers, come to Tuscany to discover the real pleasure of understanding how landscape, tradition and human choice shape each glass.