Discover the greatest wineries in Chianti in 2022

Experience the most memorable visits of wineries in Chianti in 2022

Tuscany has hundreds if not thousands of wine estates but which ones are the best wineries in Chianti?

Wine from this region has gone a long way since it was served in fiascos in trattorias in Italy. While it owes its international fame to The Silence of the Lambs famous quote, Chianti can really be exceptional.

Having said that, there is plenty of Chianti wine that I would define rather average. And that is no surprise with an astonishing 11 million bottles sold in 2021. I mean, some are bound to be ordinary.

But this article will help you discover the remarkable ones and the outstanding wineries where they originate.

To start with, let’s pick a base where to move from.

Where to stay in Chianti

Chianti region is beautiful. Nested between Florence and Siena, it’s one of Italy most iconic regions. With its hills and cypress trees, the olive groves and vineyards, it makes you think of a postcard.

And when you travel here, you can be in that postcard. Chianti offer of hotels, agriturismi and B&Bs is immense. So there is no reason to stay far when visiting the region for a wine tour.

It’s best to book something here. The countryside around Siena is picturesque, peaceful and unique!

These are my favourite places to stay in Chianti!

Salvadonica

This old farm house has been tastefully refurbished. The rooms and suites are modern, elegant and comfortable. It’s a place where I could stay for weeks!

Poggiosole

Set in Tuscany countryside, this house for rent is perfect for a family or for a group of friends.

Once again the external building keeps its traditional look while the internal space has been beautifully refurbished. Poggiosolo is a place of peace and silence, it’s beautiful.

Villa il Leccio

Il Leccio is a beautiful old Tuscan villa. Here time has stopped.

It has all the features you are imagining from canopy beds and a grand staircase to an Italian garden and frescoes walls. If you are after a memorable Tuscan experience you must stay here!

Relais Poggio Borgoni

Book at Poggio Borgoni to enjoy a rustic yet elegant stay. The Relais sits in a quiet area, surrounded by rolling Tuscan hills.

Villa Fillinelle

Villa Fillinelle is lovely with its boho chic appeal. Book here for a timeless characterful stay!

Wineries in Chianti

Antinori

When speaking about wineries in Chianti, Antinori is one of the first names that come to mind.

No surprise since the Antinori family is an institution in the world of wine in Tuscany. They have been making wine for twenty-six generations.

That’s right, that is more than six centuries.

Yet this long tradition hasn’t stopped them from having an extremely modern approach to wine making.

The estate is state-of-art and a beautiful example of sustainable vanguard architecture.

It is barely noticeable from the outside. The materials used, colour palette and the structural organisation of the building have been thought to blend seaminglessy with the Tuscany countryside.

Tastings

At Antinori they offer different experiences.

They all involve the visit of the iconic winery roof-vineyard and the cellars. And, of course, a guided wine tasting comparing three or four wines, including Chianti Classico.

The more premium standard tour also involves a food and wine pairing meal at Rinuccio 1180, the in-site restaurant.

But if you are after a truly private and exclusive event, it is possible organised completely tailored-made tours by emailing visite@antinorichianticlassico.it

You can book your wine experience at Antinori via their official site.

Castello di Ama

A much younger winery is Castello di Ama. That is, even if the estate makes Chianti since the 1970s!

At Ama they produce beautiful wine following the lead of a Bordeaux trained oenologist.

But this winery wants to offer more than wine. As true Italians they transformed the castle and what they do into art. They partnered with several international artists who got inspired by the estate and the landscape. Their pieces are all around Ama winery and open to the public all year around. Visiting Ama is more than wine tasting then. It’s a walk through an unusual contemporary art gallery.

Tastings

At Ama wine is not everything. What they are really into is to offer the experience of wine. And so tours become crucial. But here they define them walks. That’s right, wine tastings here are walks through the land, through the history and the art of the place. They all end with wine sampling of course and depending on the experience chosen, the wines poured and compared differ. Of course, you are guaranteed to taste their Chianti Classico, but you will be able to space into different blends too. For more information you can visit their official site and to book a tour email Ama directly at enoteca@castellodiama.com

Villa Calcinaia

This is another historical estate south of Florence and just north of Greve in Chianti. It dates back to the 16th century and to these days it is still owned and run by the same family.

Its long history doesn’t stand on the way of progress though. At Villa Calcinaia they embraced organic viticulture since the early 1990s. It’s more, with the help of the University of Florence they discovered and revived an unknown, lost grape variety, Occhiorosso.

They now produce a single variety wine not only with Ochiorosso but with other rare grape varieties too, like Mammolo and Sanforte. That is on top of their wide range of Chianti Classico bottles of course!

Tastings

Villa Calcinaia offers different wine tours. Regardless of what you choose you’ll visit the gardens and vineyards, the cellar and end your visit with a tasting. You will sample four wines and the estate olive oil. Depending on the package you will choose, the wines will differ. You will also be offered nibbles or a light lunch to go with the wine.

The tastings take place every day. You can book directly on Villa Calcinaia official website.

Societa Agricola Fanucci

Fanucci is the family but Vignano are the wines. The family history is long and tortuous, but it culminates with the three brothers moving back to Tuscany from London a few years ago.

Since then, they have been focusing in making great Chianti wine and collected an outstanding number of international awards.

Tastings

At Vignano they organise two wine tours. Both visits start in the cellar and the vineyards. They then continue with the wine sampling.

The first option involves the tasting of three wines and lasts 1 hour and 1/2.

The second experience is longer, 2 hours and 1/2, involves five wines and some finger food.

Bookings can be done all year around, just email info@vignano.com in Italian, English, French, Spanish or German. The visits can be requested in any of these languages too!

Castello di Verrazzano

Castello di Verrazzano, outside Greve, is another of the wineries in Chianti with an ancient history. In this case, it dates back all the way to the VII century. But it’s only since the end of the 1950s that the estate makes wine now focusing on organic Chianti Classico.

And again a long history doesn’t interfere with modern thinking.

Castello di Verrazzano is a statement to sustainability. Not only the viticulture and veggie production is certified organic. The whole estate runs with solar energy!

Tastings

At Castello di Verrazzano they organise a very wide offer of tours.

As always they start with a visit of the vineyards and the cellar. Then, depending on the package picked, it will include wine with finger food, lunch or even dinner.

For more information and bookings, visit the official site

Were you intrigued by the tasting and dinner option you could be interested in spending the night at Castello di Verrazzano.

Erta di Radda

Erta di Radda is the youngest of these Tuscan wineries. Close to Siena, Erta was born in the 1990s. It happens as a young oenology student got the chance to buy some vineyards off an elderly man.

The first bottles produced under the winery label were released in the late 2000s. Since then Diego, the winemaker and landowner works the vine according to the organic principles. True to his land, he focuses the wine production onto Chianti iconic blends and Chianti Classico. The wine range is small but of exceptional quality.

Tastings

The good news is, you can taste all of Diego’s wines at the wine tasting (for only 10 euros!) For more information and bookings, email degustazioni@ertadiradda.it either in English or Italian.

I hope you enjoyed this short guide to the best wineries in Chianti.

Are you travelling there soon? Are you scouting the Tuscan countryside already? Or want to plan a gateway from Florence or Siena? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you!