TUSCANY WINE TASTING HOLIDAYS

Benvenuti in Italia!

Upon arrival at Florence Airport, sit back and relax as you are transfered to your luxury Attico right in the heart of Florence.

At 5 pm, meet your Kaoma Travel Tour Director and travelling companions, for a brief introduction to Tuscan wines following by a tasting. Tuscany is Italy’s third most vine-planted region, however the soil is poor here and producers emphasise low yields and higher quality levels in their wine. It is home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions and 80% of the wine produced here is red. The Sangiovese grape is Tuscany’s most prominent grape, used in Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Other widely planted red grape varieties are Canaiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera and Mammolo. For white wines, the Trebbiano grape is the most prominent, followed by Malvasia, Vermentino and Vernaccia. Tuscany is also famed for its sweet dessert wine, Vin Santo (meaning Holy Wine), which is made from a variety of the region’s grapes.

Tonight, savour a three-course regional-style dinner this evening at the attico prepared by a talented private chef and paired with a local wine.

Meals: D I Accommodation: Borgo I Vicelli Country Relais - Florence, Tuscany.

Discover the Chianti Rufina at the Nipozzano Castle (Frescobaldi)

In the morning follow your local guide to Florence Duomo monumental complex to learn about the history and the architecture of the Brunelleschi's Dome, the Giotto's Bell Tower and the St. John's Baptistery; then step inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Enjoy a morning tea break overlooking the impressive Piazza Della Signoria with Palazzo Vecchio, the Fountain of Neptune and the Loggia Dei Lanzi. Get close to Uffizi Gallery's masterpieces with a guided tour. Your guide leads you through the most important masterpieces so you will be able to understand their beauty, importance, meaning and style.

Stop in a typical ''Trattoria'' in the hearth of Florence, savouring special regional ingredients, recipes and flavors.

After lunch, we venture into the Chianti Rufina area, on the Florentine hills, and stop at the Castello di Nipozzano, the historic estate of the Frescobaldi family, a family that for over a thousand years has linked its name to the history of Tuscany and, for over seven hundred years, to the quality wines from six major wineries scattered throughout the region. We visit the castle, the cellars, the vineyard and taste the wines produced locally such as the Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina Docg.

Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

Meals: B,L,D I Accommodation: Borgo I Vicelli Country Relais - Florence, Tuscany.

The Chianti Classico Area

Today we head to the mediaeval market town of Greve in Chianti and to Wine Museum, that aims to celebrate the wine and its culture, together with the hard work that is behind a bottle of wine. On the way, we will stop in the fortified hilltop village of Montefioralle, considered the most ancient 'borgo' in Chianti.

No visit to the Chianti region in Tuscany would be complete without a visit to Panzano in Chianti at what may be considered as one of the most famous butcher shops in the world.

After lunch, discover a family owned winery. Sip a glass of the Wine exclusively made with their own grapes: Sangiovese being predominant in percentage, followed by Canaiolo, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Dinner and overnight stay in Siena.

Meals: B,L,D I Accommodation: Grand Hotel Continental***** - Siena, Tuscany.

The beauty of Siena

After a genuine breakfast, join your guide for a guided walking tour of Siena. Siena was a very remarkable City-State in the Middle Ages, most of its important monuments were built between the XIII and the XIV century, today we can still admire these artistic and architectural wonders and much more. Walking along the main street, the palaces and squares welcome you as they have welcomed for centuries the many pilgrims and merchants passing by.

Free time in the afternoon.

Meals: B,L,D I Accommodation: Grand Hotel Continental***** - Siena, Tuscany.

Noble lands of the south area

After a rich breakfast, depart for Montalcino. Visit a winery that produces authentic, intense wines that are the perfect expression of Montalcino's terroir. Continue to the tiny village of Pienza, widely known as the "ideal city of the Renaissance", the creation of the great humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini who later became Pope Pius II.

After lunch, join your guide for a guided walking tour of Montepulciano. The charming city of Montepulciano is spread out along the ridge of a hillside, overlooking hectares of vineyards, the very same that produce the renowned red wine Vino Nobile. Walk through time, with spectacular villas, narrow roads, spectacular views, and antique cantinas.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Meals: B,L,D I Accommodation: Grand Hotel Continental***** - Siena, Tuscany.

Super-tuscan wines

After a genuine breakfast, join a private tour covering the best of Volterra. Volterra is a world famous perfectly preserved medieval town. While passing along narrow winding lanes into sumptuous monumental squares, you will learn a great deal about the very original habits and culture of the Etruscans, a pre-roman civilization that settled in Tuscany as well as in most central Italy.

Continue to the super-tuscan village of Bolgheri. Bolgheri, over the centuries until today, has become one of the cornerstones of Tuscan wine production. The village, in fact, is famous for its wines, such as Cabernet and Merlot, and there is the Bolgheri DOC Consortium, which brings together about thirty wineries and guarantees the excellence of these products. Admire the Castle’s Cellar, discover its history and taste the Varvàra and the Castello di Bolgheri.

Following lunch there will be the visit to Tenuta Guado al Tasso, located in the small but prestigious Bolgheri DOC. An oenological and tasting journey, that introduce you to the wines, to the historic vineyards of the estate and more.

Dinner in the Hotel and overnight

Meals: B,L,D I Accommodation: Grand Hotel Continental***** - Siena, Tuscany.

Antinori nel Chianti Classico

After a rich breakfast, join a private tour to the Antinori winery for a VIP experience. Here, you will be taken on a full behind-the-scenes tour of the estate and cellars, seeing first-hand the individual stages of the production process and your visit will conclude with tastings of seven of Antinori’s most celebrated wines, including Cervaro della Sala, Pian delle Vigne, Badia a Passignano and the famous Tignanello. The tasting will take place in the most exclusive part of the cellars, the intimate Bottaia room. Lunch will then be served in Antinori’s restaurant, which is located on the scenic rooftop terrace. The traditional Italian cuisine will be accompanied by two further Antinori wines.

Free afternoon today.

Meals: B,L,D I Accommodation: Tuscany.

Arrivederci Italia!

Italian breakfast at the farmhouse.

Transfer to the Florence International Airport for your return flight or you may choose to extend your holiday.

Meals: B.