Florence to Chianti: Small Group Wine Tour & Tuscan Lunch

Summary

Chianti hills wine tastings village strolls and homemade lunch

You’ll ride from Florence into Chianti’s rolling hills with a small group, tasting wines at three different estates and sampling olive oil straight from the source. Stroll through Greve’s lively piazza, share laughs over homemade pasta at lunch, and end your day gazing over Florence from a quiet villa garden—letting Tuscany linger just a little longer.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the sound of gravel crunching as we stepped out near Riseccoli — not even 10am and there was this earthy smell, like wet leaves and something herbal. Our guide, Marco, had already started telling us about the Sangiovese grapes before I’d even finished my coffee. He waved his arms around, talking about how the light hits the vines differently on each hill. I didn’t expect to care about soil so much, but there’s something contagious about how locals talk here. We tasted olive oil right out of these tiny glasses — it burned a little at the back of my throat (apparently that means it’s good?).

Greve in Chianti was busier than I thought for a small place; old men in hats arguing gently over espresso outside Falorni’s butcher shop. The piazza slopes just enough that you feel it in your feet. Marco pointed out a statue of Giovanni da Verrazzano — I nodded like I remembered my history lessons (I didn’t). We only had half an hour or so, but I still managed to buy a wedge of pecorino that made my backpack smell all afternoon. After that we wound through more hills — every turn looked like a painting but with more bugs and less Photoshop.

The second winery felt almost too pretty, with stone walls warm from the sun and rows of cypress trees. Lunch was simple: cold cuts, cheese, pasta that tasted like someone’s grandmother actually made it. The owner sat with us for a bit and tried to teach us how to swirl wine “properly.” Li laughed when I tried to say grazie mille in Italian — probably butchered it. By then, everyone was talking more freely (maybe the Super Tuscan helped). At Villa Poggio Torselli later on, we wandered gardens that overlooked Florence in the haze; honestly, I just stood there for a while not saying much. Still think about that view sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tuscan wine tour with tastings and lunch

• Meet guide and depart Florence
• Drive 45 minutes to Riseccoli winery
• Visit Riseccoli winery and taste wines and olive oil
• Panoramic drive to Greve in Chianti
• Explore Piazza Matteotti and local shops
• Drive 30 minutes to second winery
• Tour second winery and learn wine making
• Enjoy Tuscan light lunch with wine pairings
• Visit Villa Poggio Torselli winery and gardens
• Taste wines and products at Villa Poggio Torselli
• Drive 45 minutes back to Florence

Top questions

How long is the Chianti wine tour from Florence?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours including travel time between Florence and Chianti.

Is lunch included on this Chianti wine tour?

Yes, a typical Tuscan lunch with cold cuts, cheeses, handmade pasta, and dessert is included.

How many wineries do we visit during the day trip?

You’ll visit three different wineries in the Chianti region.

Are vegetarian options available for lunch?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if requested in advance.

Does this tour include pickup from Florence?

The tour departs from Florence with transportation included; hotel pickup is not specified but meeting point details are provided after booking.

Is this small group wine tour suitable for children?

The minimum age to join is 12 years old; infants are not allowed.

Will we have free time in Greve in Chianti?

You’ll have about 30–45 minutes to explore Greve’s main square and local shops.

What kind of wines will we taste on this tour?

You’ll sample Chianti Classico, Riserva, Super Tuscans, and estate-made olive oil.

What’s included

Your day includes transportation by air-conditioned vehicle from Florence with free Wi-Fi onboard, guided visits at three family-owned wineries with tastings of their wines and olive oils, time to explore Greve in Chianti village square and shops, plus a typical Tuscan lunch featuring local meats, cheeses, handmade pasta and dessert before returning in the late afternoon.