Wine tour in the Chianti

One of the oldest wineries in Tuscany is also in an incredibly impressive castle dating back to the 11th century. The historic wine cellars and vast vineyards of Verrazzano are well known but that's also a reason to visit. They do very professional tours of the property, where you can wander the gardens and hear stories about the discoverer ancestor of the family, Giovanni da Verrazzano, finishing with a wine tasting, of course.

The cellar door is open every day for wine tasting or purchases from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm (on Sundays the only difference is they open a little later after lunch, at 3pm).

Wine tours cost from 14 euro for visit and tasting, taking 1 and a half hours (at 10am and 3pm) and you can even stay for lunch (48 euro for visit, wine tasting and lunch).

A visit through this little piazza in the morning is the perfect place to stretch your legs, perhaps get a coffee or visit the local bakery and deli and browse the quaint shops.

The Falorni butcher shop (no. 69 in the piazza) is one of the historic butcher shops of Tuscany (they opened in 1729). This is the place to taste or select some of the area's best pork and beef products, from cinta senese prosciutto to wild boar salami and the perfect steak for Bistecca Fiorentina (Florentine style t-bones). They also have a little cellar of local pecorino cheeses, which are available for tasting.

If the butcher isn't your thing (but it is very worth while taking a peek inside if it is, even just to see the ceiling full of prosciutto!), the bakery in the corner of the piazza (to the left as you walk out of the butcher) is irresistible.

If you've arrived at lunchtime, check out the fantastic Osteria Mangiando Mangiando (at number 80 in the piazza) for some local cooking, the Slow Food way: http://www.mangiandomangiando.it/

On a completely different scale is this small and elegant winery of Renzo Marinai near Panzano in Chianti, with 6 hectares of vineyards.

This is the place to come to try some beautiful Chianti and reserved wines aged in oak barrels and lulled by Mozart playing in the background. They produce top Chianti and Chianti Riserva and even organic wheat for flour for pasta making here. Try also their vin santo, a local dessert wine aged in chestnut casks.

If you find it all too beautiful to leave, you can even spend the night in their agriturismo: http://www.agriturismo-cecione.com

To visit, phone ahead to make an appointment:

Renzo Marinai
Via Case Sparse, 6 - 50020 Panzano (FI) Italy
Tel. e Fax +39 055 8560237

Another small and lovely boutique winery is Le Fonti, located just below the village of Panzano. They produce almost 85% Sangiovese vines, with the remainder equally divided between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vines. From the harvest to the final blend, they depend on family manpower and sophisticated taste.

For a cellar tour and a tasting at Le Fonti, the winery is open Monday to Friday from 10 - 12 and 2 - 6. For other times, call (Tel: +39 055 852194) or send an email (info@fattorialefonti.it) to make an appointment.

Le Fonti lies a little below the village of Panzano and can be found by taking the street leading up to the highest point of the village, towards the church. 500 meters before the church, follow the sign on the right-hand side to Le Fonti, then continue about 300 meters downhill to the fattoria (see pictures where there is a map).

Now head out of the heart of Chianti Classico to the greater Chianti region and towards the beautiful town of Colle Val d'Elsa (which is well worth a good wander too, and if you want to stop for dinner, check out the restaurant Officina della Cucina Popolare in the old part of town: http://www.cucina-popolare.com/).

Colombaia, a small, fourth-generation family run winery of only 4 hectares, produces organic, biodynamic wine. Their unique Colombaia Rosso Toscano IGT, is made from their oldest vines, their Colombaia white wine (Bianco Toscano IGT) is made with Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes, and from the youngest vineyard they make a red wine, aptly named Vigna Nuova.

Visits by appointment only. tel: +39 0577 97 28 35

Colombaia: Mensanello, 53034 Colle di Val d'Elsa