A trip to Florence isn’t complete without going on a Chianti Wine Tour from Florence. But, choosing the right tour can be a difficult task. The problem is that some people love wine tours, while others find them boring. Well, it turns out there’s a tour to make everyone happy!
In this post, we will tell you what the ultimate chianti wine tour from Florence is, what to expect, and why you should go on a wine tour.
Why Go to the Chianti Region?
If you drink Italian wine, you’ve likely heard of Chianti. Located just outside of Florence in the Tuscan hills is the Chianti region known for its production of wines and olive oil. Here, you’ll find panoramic views of vineyard-covered hills, dense forests, olive trees, and Roman architecture. Although there are many reasons to visit the Chianti region, if you are a wine lover, this is a must! Wine has been produced in this region dating back as early as the 13th century. Given the hundreds of years that have passed, it is fair to say they have perfected their craft of making exquisite wines.
If you choose to take a private tour or have rented a car, you will have the opportunity to taste many local wines paired with fruits and cheeses from the surrounding areas. Even if you are not a connoisseur of wines, this area should not be missed and can very easily become the highlight of your trip, if you choose the right tour!
Why you MUST go on a Chianti Wine Tour from Florence
Regardless of whether you LOVE wine, want to love it, or know very little about wine.. a Chianti Wine Tour is a must when visiting Florence. When it comes to us, Madison has her Level 2 Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), and while she loves wine tastings, she also appreciates learning about the production of wine. Liam, on the other hand, knows that there are white, red, and rosé wines! Through our knowledge, and Liam’s lack thereof, we were able to bring an open mind to the tour that we went on!
The Ultimate Chianti Wine Tour from Florence
Without a doubt, the ultimate Chianti wine tour from Florence has to be the Wine Tasting Fiat 500 Tour by 500 Touring Club.
We knew that we wanted a tour that would help us understand more about the Chianti Region, allow us to see the rolling hills beyond that of just a vineyard, and of course, a tour that would give us the opportunity to try a few different Chianti wines. The 500 Touring Club allows you to do just that (and more)! It’s like you’re back in the 1950s, driving through the Tuscan countryside in a classic Fiat 500 or Vespa, on your way to your private Italian villa.
Why this is the Best Chianti Wine Tour from Florence
- If you love wine, you’ll try at least three different types from the Chianti Region. If you are not the biggest fan of wine or know very little about it, you get to drive through the Tuscan hills in a classic Fiat 500 or on a Vespa.
- You will be given several opportunities to stop and take once-in-a-lifetime photos with the Fiat 500 with stunning Tuscany in the background.
- Your guide has grown up in the area, speaks perfect English, and provides lots of knowledge about the surrounding regions and wines.
Book this Chianti Wine Tour from Florence
What You Can Expect
The Guide
Our guide was Mattia, who has grown up in the local area. He is extremely knowledgeable about Chianti wines and he’s also quite the historian when it comes to the region. He’ll be able to answer any questions you have. And, if that wasn’t enough to convince you, he was hilarious, easy-going and entertaining! What more could you ask for from a tour guide?!
Transportation – Old Cars and Vespas
500 Touring Club has a fleet of refurbished vintage Fiat 500’s. They are all equipped with a manual transmission, and we recommend having some experience driving a manual car. If you don’t think you can drive the Fiat, you can always opt for the Vespa. We had signed up for the Vespa tour and decided to upgrade to the Fiat 500 car, as Madison didn’t feel comfortable driving the Vespa. Also, once Liam laid his eyes on those vintage Fiats, it was a done deal!
Simple, Yet Tasty Food
During your wine tasting, you get to try fresh Italian food. You’ll enjoy homemade bread, paired with the local olive oil made in the Chianti region, sliced meats and cheeses that pair perfectly with the wine you’re tasting, and locally-sourced fruits.
Wine, Wine & More Wine
You’ll get to taste award-winning wines from the Chianti region, a couple from the vineyard where the tasting takes place, and a couple other from the surrounding area.
The Views
There is no other way to describe it than breathtaking. As you drive along, you will have several photo-ops with the olive groves and endless vineyards in the background. The drive will give you a unique opportunity to view Tuscan villas, Roman architecture, and Cypress lined roads. Then, when you get to the villa for the wine tasting, you’ll be greeted by more amazing views.
Breakdown of the Wine Tour
Getting There
The tour starts at 11:30 am, but we suggest getting there a little early. One reason for this is that it is first-come, first-served when selecting your classic Fiat 500. They have ample cars for the tour, but there are a variety of styles and colors! We recommend asking for the Fiat 500 named Alberto. He is the 1964 convertible Abarth racing version and gives you an extra 30HP!
As we mentioned, you need to be able to drive a manual car. If you don’t think you can, they have no problem letting you give it a try or switching to the Vespa (which you only need a valid driver’s permit for). Liam hadn’t driven a manual car in close to ten years and was able to get moving with a few instructions from Mattia. The locals are well aware of the tours, and the classic Fiat 500’s are marked, so the locals will give you a little more space while on the road.
Getting Going
Once the group is ready to go, your Fiat 500 tour will commence. You will spend about two hours driving through the Tuscan countryside with picturesque views of olive groves and Chianti vineyards. There are pre-determined photo stops where you get out, learn about the surrounding area, what goes into making the wine/oil, and of course, take pictures.
As the tour progresses, you drive through several small Italian towns, feeling like a true local! Your drive will end by entering the grounds where you started, at a 15th Century Renaissance Villa, where you will taste the local Chianti wines.
Getting Tipsy
The wine tasting itself takes place down in the wine cellar where you’ll explore the cellar and see the massive wine casks. Here, you will try a selection of local Chianti wines. Not only that, but you also get to taste local olive oil paired with fresh bread, multiple Italian cheeses, locally sourced fruits, and a selection of different meats.
Overall, we had ZERO complaints about our experience on this tour. The guide was knowledgeable and able to answer all of Madison’s more complex wine questions; and at the same time, Liam enjoyed the experience seeing the Tuscan countryside in a unique way!
Times and Prices
500 Touring Club offers several tours to choose from that vary between the Fiat 500 and the Vespa. The tour we did was the Wine Tasting Fiat 500 Tour.
This tour starts at 11:30 am and runs until 3:30-4:00 pm.
How to Get From Florence to the Chianti Wine Tour
There are a couple of ways to get to the 500 Touring Club.
Taxi
The first option is taking a taxi directly to where you need to go. It will take about 20 minutes by taxi to get to 500 Touring Club, costing around €30-40.
Transit
The second option (and the option we chose) is public transportation from downtown Florence. A short walk over Ponte Vecchio will have you at the bus stop for ‘Bus 36’. This bus will take you directly to 500 Touring Club, with the stop being 20 feet from the entrance. The trip usually takes around 25 minutes by bus, unless you’re like us who missed the 500 Touring Club stop. Not to worry though, we got off at the next stop and only had to walk about 10 minutes back to the entrance. The round trip cost for the bus was around €10 per person.
You can buy your bus tickets at any tobacco shop for a price of €4.90 each. Be sure to buy two tickets, so you have one for the ride there and back. Note: you validate your ticket on the bus at one of the small machines by the door, not with the driver.
Small Group Wine Tours from Florence
If you are with a small group between 4-10 people, this would also be a great tour to take! There was a group of six people with us, and they took out three of the cars. There’s more than enough alone time during the tour that the group was able to take photos and enjoy everything at their own pace. One thing we would recommend is reaching out to 500 Touring Club in advance to make sure they have enough cars or Vespas available on the day you would like to visit. They won’t oversell the tour, but you could run into limited options for a car or Vespa, especially if any of the cars need to undergo repairs (remember they are vintage)!
The Best Way to Visit Wineries in Tuscany
As you may have realized, there are a few different ways to visit the wineries in Tuscany.
Coach Bus Tour
The first option is taking a coach bus to several different wineries. These tours commonly pick you up at a local meeting spot (Piazzale Montelungo) and are either a Chianti half-day wine tour from Florence or a Chianti full-day wine tour from Florence. If you are interested in exploring more of the Tuscan region, as well as drinking wine, unfortunately with these tours, you are only able to leave the bus (and therefore take pictures) at the vineyards.
Wine Tasting Tour
The next option would be to take a wine tasting tour that encompasses exploring the Tuscan countryside, as well as tasting wines, like the Vintage Fiat 500 Wine Tour that we did! Considered a Chianti half-day wine tour from Florence, you get to sample different Chianti wines, get out of the car and take photos in the Tuscan countryside, visit a massive Tuscan villa, experiencing it like a local by Vespa or a vintage Fiat 500!
Renting a Car
The final option is renting a car, planning out what wineries you would like to visit, and driving to each one on your own. While this gives you the option to pull over and take photos along the way, keep in mind there is a lot of preparation involved. While we were looking at this option, we found the hours of operation for many of the wineries all differed, so we couldn’t get schedules to align, and you couldn’t always pre-arrange tours.
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Top Wineries & Vineyards around Florence
Looking to tour some wineries and vineyards at your own pace anyway? No problem! Here’s a list of the popular wineries and vineyards around Florence:
- Antinori Chianti Classico
- Badia a Coltibuono
- Azidenda Agricola Altiero
- Barone Ricasoli
- Castello di Ama
Wine Tasting Tours
Wine Tasting in the City of Florence
If you don’t want to leave the beautiful city of Florence, but still want to try some Chianti wines and immerse yourself in the culture, we have you covered as well! Below is a list of some of popular wine tours in the city of Florence:
- Florence Cheese and Wine Tasting
- Small-Group Florence Food Walking Tour
- Aperitivo Tour of Florence
- Florence Sunset Wine Tour
The Vintage Fiat 500 Tour we did:
Have you been to Florence? Did you go on a wine tour?
Let us know about your experience below in the comments!
