Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
pleted for many years, but the vineyards and historic cellars can be visited on a guided
tour.
The most popular of these is the four-hour 'Antinori at Badia a Passignano' tour (€150;
11.15am and 6.15pm Monday to Saturday), which includes a visit to the vineyard and cel-
lars followed by lunch or dinner in the estate's Osteria di Passignano restaurant accom-
panied by four of Antinori's signature wines.
Other options include visits to the Tignanello vineyard (where the grapes for the Tig-
nanello and Solaia Super Tuscans are grown). Alternatively, you can enjoy a tour of the
cellars and a paid tasting of four wines (€80; 4pm Monday to Saturday; minimum booking
of six people).
Bookings for all of these tours are essential. It's also possible to taste and purchase
Antinori wines and olive oil at La Bottega, the estate's wine shop. You don't need to make
a reservation for this.
WINERY
Castello di Verrazzano
( 055 85 42 43;
www.verrazzano.com
; Via Citille, Greti)
This castle 3km north of Greve was
once home to Giovanni da Verrazzano (1485-1528), who explored the North American
coast and is commemorated in New York by the Verrazano Narrows bridge (the good cap-
tain lost a 'z' from his name somewhere in the mid-Atlantic). Today it presides over a
220-hectare historic wine estate.
There are a number of guided tours on offer, each of which incorporate a short visit to
the historic wine cellar and gardens and tastings of the estate's wines (including its flag-
ship Chianti Classico) and other products (perhaps honey, olive oil or balsamic vinegar).
The 'Classic Wine Tour' (1½ hours, €16, 3pm Monday to Friday) includes a tasting of
wines; the 'Chianti Tradition Tour' (2½ hours, €32, 11am Monday to Friday) includes a
tasting of wine and gastronomic specialities; the 'Wine and Food Experience' (three
hours, €54, noon Monday to Friday) includes a four-course lunch with estate wines; and
the 'Executive Wine Tour' (€115, Tuesday to Thursday) includes a private guide, lunch
with estate wines and transport to/from Florence; the price is based on a minimum of four
persons. Bookings for all tours are advisable.
