My wife and I will be staying in Castelfiorentino (Tuscany) for 4 days in September. We have three one-day trips already scheduled (Florence, Lucca and Siena). We're thinking about taking a drive from Florence to Siena along the Stada di Vino, which is or was SS222. I know we go through Greve, which has a huge enoteca, but we'd like to stop at one or two vineyards for a tour/tasting. Can anyone recommend the best? Also, if you have any other ideas about our free day, fire away.

From that location I would not find the Chianti route to be convenient. I would try hard to include Volterra and San Gimignano from there---both much closer.
Ironically, my sister lives in Lombard and my daughter in law, who lives in Batavia, is staying near your Tuscany location in 2 weeks. Small world !

If you intend to drive the Chiantigiana and visit Greve in Chianti, you might consider visiting the Castello di Verrazzano, nearby.

Great wineries in that area: Fontodi and Verrizzano

Great restaurants: Lamole (in Lamole) and Cantinetta Rignana in Rignana.

hello,
go to: www.chianticlassico.com
and click on "map" at the top. then you can request to receive "the black rooster roads" map, which is a map of the production area (it's FREE!)

the map will show you all the vineyards/wineries on the chiantigiana (#222), such as "fonterutoli" (a wonderful winery). the members of the "consorzio vino chianti classico" are all printed in red ink.

you may have to leave the #222 on occasion if you are interested in some place like "vignamaggio". in castellina, there's a big enoteca in the center of town where you can taste lots of wines.

salute!

I second the suggestion to get the map from Chianticlassico. It was truly the best map we had of the area....it even showed all the obsure white roads.

They will also send a little booklet with all the wineries and their phone numbers and opening hours.

I will also second a visit to Ristoro di Lamole, especially at sunset. Great food and service and a spectacular view....we ate there 3 times!!

Linda.

quote:

Originally posted by New to Italy:
I know we go through Greve, which has a huge enoteca, but we'd like to stop at one or two vineyards for a tour/tasting. Can anyone recommend the best? Also, if you have any other ideas about our free day, fire away.

Here is a current thread about the best winery tours/tastings in Chianti.