Day 1: 10.30 am: Meet in downtown Florence. We will drive into the stunning Chianti Classico region which is one of the most highly rated wine regions in Italy. We will start the wine experience in the vineyard of "Villa le Corti" owned by the nobel Principe Corsini family. The property was bought by the Corsini family in 1363. We will get up close to the Sangiovese vines to understand the background of the area and what it takes to become a fine wine. Tom will host a detailed visit inside the cellar of "Villa le Corti" and explain the wine making process from grape to glass. We will sit down for a detailed wine tasting of four top red wines including the Super Tuscan Wines from the west coast of Tuscany owned by the same family. We will then have a wonderful lunch in a 16th century Villa. In the late afternoon we will visit a boutique winery outside of Cortona called "Fabrizio Dionisio". This is a beautiful small organic farm producing Syrah Cortona DOC. We will then drive to our hotel in Cortona. There will be time to relax and refresh in the hotel before meeting to enjoy a wonderful dinner including wine in a local restaurant.
Day 2: After breakfast we will drive to the medieval hill top town of Montalcino to discover one of Italy's finest wines "Brunello di Montalcino". The tour starts with a visit to a family run cellar which is not open to the public. This vineyard produces approximately 6,000 bottles a year. You will meet the family and discover the secrets of a very special place and enjoy the wines looking over the hills of Montalcino. After this first visit we will have lunch at "Castello Tricerchi". This castle was completed in 1441 and they continue to produce the fine wine of "Brunello di Montalcino". The family will give us a tour of the Castle followed by lunch in a private room paired with the wines. Here you will have the opportunity to meet Tomasso, the owner of the castle. After lunch we head to our third producer of Brunello to visit the young enthusiastic wine maker Federico, where we will taste four wines including Riserva. Here we will have a fun blind tasting comparing vintages and wines with Tom and Federico. We will then head back to Cortona where you have a free evening to enjoy the shops, bars and restaurants.
Day 3: After breakfast, we will drive to the hilltop town of Montepulciano famous for the wine "Nobile di Montepulciano". First stop will be a wine tasting in "Talosa" which is the flagship winery for the wine Vino "Nobile di Montepulciano". We will have a full tour of the historical cellars which are situated underneath the town of Montepulciano. We will taste four expressions of Vino NObile plus a very exclusive Super Tuscan Wine. We will walk through the beautiful streets of Montepulciano to "Il Pozzo" where we will have a three course tasting menu paired with local wines. After lunch we head to our third winery of the day "Poggio del Moro" where we will meet Tatiana, owner of the property. We will enjoy an incredible tasting of reds, whites and rose. We will then return to Florence. Expected arrival time 18.30.
