Florentine Tastings

Now autumn is here the air is cooler and the colours warmer, the red leaves the colour of Chianti wine. This is the season to take a tour of the wineries. Harvest is over, the new wine is sitting pretty, and the barrels of vintage wine are perfect for tasting. Florence and Tuscany are renowned for their ancient tradition of winemaking and wineries. The region produces many different fine wines for restaurants and bars, from the many varieties of Chianti classico, which alone are worth exploring, to the latest-generation organic wines. The website www.destinationflorence.com is an official partner of the Municipality of Florence and has all the information you need to put together a wine tasting tour.

We will start in the area tucked between Florence and Siena, which is the birthplace of Chianti, from the 17th-century bottles to official registration of the winemaking process in the 19th century by Barone Ricasoli, which is still used in making DOC or DOCG Chianti.

A Bit of Revision, Wine Glass in Hand

Chianti. Made from at least 80% Sangiovese grapes and other noble red grapes such as Canaiolo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which give the wine a lively ruby red colour, a full-bodied flavour that can have a hint of violet, and a tannic flavour that over time develops into soft velvet.

Brunello di Montalcino. Ruby red colour that becomes almost garnet as it ages. Fruity vanilla, wild berries and aromatic wood flavour, intense bouquet, harmonious and robust on the palate.

Nobile di Montepulciano. Ruby red colour, a dry balanced and lasting flavour with a hint of wood, varies from 12.5° to 13° for Riserva.

THE TOUR

Let us enjoy the warm colours of nature that we can only enjoy in autumn. We walk into the hills. We can smell woodland, grass, moss and mushrooms as nature prepares to slowly fall asleep. The vines also rest, while their fruits start the aromatic process of fermentation in the surrounding cellars, which turns them into the nectar of the Gods.

There are various interesting, fact-packed tours to choose from, offering the chance to explore Tuscan winemaking, traditions and land management in complete safety. The Florence – Chianti Hills – San Gimignano – Florence routes make a good day tour. You can choose the wineries to visit on the route and create your own tour. When booking your stay at Palazzo Castri you can choose which tour to take to ensure that your holiday is even more relaxing.

Tastings in Florence

Florence offers various tasting opportunities for curious palates. When you stay at Palazzo Castri you can choose from a vast selection of organic Tuscan wines made by local producers in the Florentia Cafè that are perfect matches for the dishes our small but refined kitchen has to offer. We can point you in the direction of the best wine sellers with this mini guide to Florence’s most typical wine sellers.  Il Coquinarius is a stone’s throw from the Duomo in Via delle Oche, where you will be served in a typical medieval atmosphere, with prints on the walls and vaulted ceilings. It has an extensive wine list, and includes biodynamic wines mainly from Tuscan producers with the odd excursion into other regions of Italy. La Divina Enoteca is known for its selection of wines made by small producers in Italy. It offers a selection of panini, bruschette and mixed cured meats and cheeses to accompany the wine tasting. You will not be disappointed. If you are in the vicinity of Palazzo Strozzi Procacci, this wine store has been described by its patrons as “a little treasure trove of deliciousness” both for its wines and for its aperitifs and tasty canapés.

​It only remains for us to raise our glasses to you with a toast: “Rosso Chianti di sera, buon tempo si spera!” (Red Chianti at night, shepherd’s delight!)