The Tuscan wine roads
The Tuscan wine trails take you on a journey through magnificent wine growing areas on the discovery of the beauty and culture of this incredible area of Italy and its many medieval towns and villages.
There are 14 trails in all – let’s take a quick look at them!
1. La Strada del Vino dei Colli di Candi e di Lunigiana (The wine trail of the Candi and Lunigiana hills): This is the most northern wine road in Tuscany. The wine in this area is the Candia, a very light white wine, perfect with fish dishes. The trails starts in Pontremoli and takes in Fosdinovo and the famous Castello di Malaspina before heading towards Carrara, Massa and Capanne.
2. La Strada del Vino delle Colline Lucchesi e Montecarlo (The wine trail of the hills around Lucca and Montecarlo)
This road is located south-east of the Candia wine area and is famous for both white and red wines. Start in Lucca then move on to Santo Stefano, San Quirico di Moriano and Ponte a Moriano. From here continue towards Colle, Valgiano and Gragnano until reaching Montecarlo.
3. La Strada Medicea dei Vini di Carmignano (The Medici wine trails of Carmignano)
This road has historical origins and winds its way through the small province of Prato (between Pistoia and Florence). Poggio a Caiano, Artimino and Carmignano produce DOC's wines such as the Barco Reale di Carmignano, the Carmignano Rosato or the Carmignano Rosso as well as the Carmignano Rosso di Riserva.
4. La Strada dei Vini Chianti Rùfina e Pomino (The wine trails of the Chianti Rùfina and Pomino)
This is the first ever wine trail in Tuscany and it lies between the Mugello and the Casentino area, on the border with Emilia Romagna, inside the area of the red wine Chianti Rùfina (DOCG) and the white wine Bianco Pomino (DOC).
Start in Pontassieve sull'Arno then drive towards Rùfina and the Medici villa Poggio Reale, which houses the Museo della Vite e del Vino (Vine & Wine Museum). After a visit to the museum drive on to Londa.
5. La strada del vino delle Colline Pisane (The wine trails of the Pisan hills)
From San Miniato, famous for its white truffle, drive over the Pisan hills towards Pisa. This area is famous for its red wine Chianti and the Chianti delle Colline Pisane (both DOCG). Other DOC wines in this area are the white wine Bianco Pisano di San Torpé and the Colli dell'Etruria Centrale.
6. La strada del vino di Montespertoli (The wine trails of Montespertoli)
Montespertoli is about 30 km south-west of Florence and is home to the Chianti di Montespertoli and the Chianti Colli (both DOCG) and the Colli dell'Etruria Centrale (DOC).
7. La strada del Vino Chianti Colli Fiorentini (The wine trail of the Florentine hills)
The whole area around the Tuscan capital, Florence, includes the Chianti Colli Fiorentini (DOCG). Here you will find the ‘cantina’ (winery) of the Florentine family Antinori, whose wines are famous all over the world.
8. La Strada del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano (The wine trail of the Vernaccia di San Gimignano)
Start from historical San Gimignano and drive north-east on to Pancole and Libbiano. Here the real “stars” are the white wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano and the red wine Chianti Colli Senesi (both DOCG), together with the red wine Colli dell'Etruria Centrale and the white wine San Gimignano (both DOC).
9. La Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo (The wine trail of the Arezzo region)
Drive south-east of Florence though an area known for its DOC white wine, such as the Bianco Vergine di Valdichiana. A red wine Chianti DOCG is also produced in this area. From Cortona, enjoy views of the Valdichiana (Chiana Valley), Lago di Trasimeno (Trasimeno Lake) and the hills and peaks of Monte Amiata. Driving north, visit Castiglion Fiorentino and Arezzo, a town with Etruscan origins, and then on right into the heart of the Valdichiana on the discovery of its small towns and villages.
10. La Strada del Vino Costa degli Etruschi (The wine trail of the Etruscan coast)
From Montecatini Val di Cecina the trail takes you through the lovely medieval towns and villages of Montescudaio, Cecina, Bolgheri, Castagneto Carducci, Sassetta, Suvereto, Campiglia Marittima, Venturina until you reach the harbour of Piombino. Worth tasting the DOC white wine Bianco della Val di Cornia (Suvereto) and the Sassicaia dei Conti Incisa della Rocchetta, grown and produced near Bolgheri. Some believe that the Sassicaia is the best Italian wine ever.
This wine trail goes on to the Island of Elba, and winds from Marina di Campo until Rio Marina, covering the whole island. Here taste the white Bianco L'Ansonica and the red Rosso Aleatico.
11. La Strada del Vino Monteregio di Massa Marittima (The wine trail of the Monteregio di Massa Marittima)
The DOC red and white wine in this area is Monteregio di Massa Marittima. This trail starts in the North, with the thermal spring Terme di Bagnolo. The next stop is Monterotondo Marittimo; then on to Massa Marittima and Scarlino, until reaching the coast and Follonica and Castiglione della Pescaia. You may want to go back north again, passing through Vetulonia with its Etruscan burial site (necropolis), and then Gavorrano, Montemassi and Roccastrada.
12. La Strada del Vino Montecucco (The wine trail of the Montecucco)
One of the 4 wine trails in the Maremma region, this road winds through the Maremma and Monte Amiata areas.
13. La Strada del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (The wine trail of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano)
This trail lies between the Val d'Orcia (Orcia Valley) and Valdichiana (Chiana Valley), starts in the north at Abbadia then moves on towards Montepulciano, passes through Cervognano, Acquaviva and on until S. Albino. The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG is one of the most important Italian wine types and requires a minimum of two years ageing in barriques. The Rosso di Montepulciano DOC is also very good.
14. La Strada del Vino Colli di Maremma (The wine trail of the Maremman hills)
Start this trail in the south of the Province of Grosseto. From Capalbio head towards Magliano in Toscana then on to Scansano, for a glass of the famous Morellino di Scansano DOC, a red wine with a very intense colour. From Scansano, drive North until Istia d'Ombrone. Going in the opposite direction, reach Pitigliano and its white wine Bianco di Pitigliano, an ideal wine for the typical, local fish cuisine. Back on the coast, visit Manciano and Orbetello.
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