Wine Tasting in Florence: a guide to the best experiences

Tuscan wine tasting is one of the ways to approach local culture and discover the very essence of the territory.

It is an authentic must, one of the activities to do during your city break.

An experience that allows you to discover some of the most interesting wine proposals in our country, fruit of the rich and ancient winemaking tradition of Florence and Tuscany.

In this article we will provide useful tips for identifying the best wine cellars in the area, the historical producers, tastings organised in the city and surrounding areas, events and trade fairs, wine events, but also courses for beginners and sommeliers.

The best wine cellars for wine tasting

Among the most interesting locations in the heart of Florence for wine tasting we recommend:

Enoteca Bellini: in Via della Spada 52/r. An authentic boutique for wine lovers, offers refined labels and organises tastings;
Divina Enoteca: in Via Panicale. It is in the heart of San Lorenzo and boasts a rich selection of wines and craft beers. Tastings are complemented by pairings with cured meats and cheeses, gourmet sandwiches, hot bruschetta and panigacci;
Vineria Sonora: in Via degli Alfani. It boasts over a thousand labels of organic, natural and biodynamic wines, produced from cultivations ranging from 1 to a maximum of 10 hectares.

Historic Wineries in the Centre of Florence

Choosing the best wineries in Florence also means immersing yourself in the history of the area and reach activities that have years of experience behind them.

These include:

Enoteca Alessi: founded in 1952 and located in Via dell’Oche 27/r, it is one of the local institutions, part of the Florentine Historical Buildings. It is a true landmark in the city, a place where discover fine wines and enjoy them in combination with gourmet products of all kinds;
Casa del Vino: in Via dell’Ariento we find a prestigious historical place, built in the second second half of the 19th century. It offers over 900 wines from all over Italy and the world. The tasting is paired with typical taglieri and schiacciata ripiena;
Fiaschetteria Fantappiè: in Via dei Serragli, near the Pitti Palace. The shop was founded in the early 1900s as a wine shop. Today it preserves the furnishings of the period and offers a rich selection of wines;
Le volpi e l’uva: in Piazza dei Rossi. It was probably the first Florentine wine shop to define a strong connection with the producers, the grape varieties and the terroir. It boasts a rich selection of Tuscan and Italian wines with a predilection for biodynamic and organic. The pairings include cured meats, cheeses, crostoni.

Wine tastings around the city

But there is more than just Florence, because the entire territory is rich in wine cellars and estates where you can be tempted by fine wines.

Let’s find out where to do wine tastings near Florence:

Castello Sonnino di Montespertoli: 25 km from the city centre we find a historic estate with a farm. Here you can take a tour that includes tasting a visit to the medieval cellars, the farm areas and the Vinsantaia dating the 17th century.
Tenuta Folonari in Greve in Chianti: 26 km from Florence. The experience includes a tour at the barrel cellar of the Tenuta di Nozzole and a visit to the museum of historic vintages. The tasting includes the wines Nozzole Chianti Classico, La Forra Chianti Classico Riserva, Giovanni Folonari Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. Accompanied by toasted bread with evo and a selection of pecorino cheeses;
Fattoria Bellavista di Casignano in Chianti in Scandicci: 7 km from Florence. The wine experience includes a walk through the Sangiovese vineyard, visit to the cellar, vinsantaia and orciaia. The tasting includes four wines: Villa di Sotto Tuscan Rosé IGT, Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG, Poggio Fecondo Rosso Toscano IGT, Vinsanto del Chianti DOC. In paired with cheese and cold cuts.

Tasting and sommelier courses

Those who want to approach the world of wine in even greater depth can do so by taking part taking part in wine-tasting and sommelier courses.

The courses are structured in several meetings and designed for those who want to approach the world of wine or deepen their knowledge. They are led by a sommelier and provide the opportunity to acquire curiosity, tasting techniques, historical.

Basic courses for beginners

The FISAR sommelier courses in Florence for beginners are designed for those who want to begin a journey into the world of wine.

The 1st level sommelier course consists of 13 lessons and a visit to a winery.

Participants receive teaching materials, a sommelier’s kit and a Slow Wine Guide.

At the end of the course there is a self-assessment test for access to the next level.

Advanced courses for enthusiasts

Those who are already wine enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs can deepen their knowledge and techniques by choosing an advanced offer.

Among the advanced courses for wine enthusiasts in Florence is the one offered at the Circolo Luciano Piani Aps.

The advanced course takes us on a discovery of the terroirs of the different Italian regions through theories and tastings of classic and emerging wines and also includes a visit to a winery in the Chianti Classico area.

Wine events and fairs

The wine experience can be completed with participation in the most interesting wine-related events organised in Florence.

Events, workshops, meetings and fairs follow one another throughout the year, giving wine enthusiasts and experts to learn all about the world of wine.

Wine events in Florence

We discover the most interesting and traditional wine events organised in Florence during the year:

Il Carro Matto: in Piazza del Duomo, last Saturday in September. This is a historical re-enactment that reproduces the route that wine took in ancient times from the Rufina countryside to of Rufina to the heart of the city to be offered to the Signoria of Florence. A large cart filled with flasks of wine arranged in a pyramid, and pulled by a cart of oxen of Chianina breed, crosses the historic centre;
Bacco Artigiano alla Rufina: this is the village not far from Florence from which the Carro Matto. At the end of September, the area comes alive with tastings, exhibitions and shows;
Chianti Classico Expo in Greve: at the beginning of September Piazza Matteotti hosts the stands of local wineries giving the opportunity to taste wines and participate in various events;
Wine to Wine in Panzano in Chianti: during the second weekend in September, a historic festival where you can discover the local wine thanks to the presence of the producers of the Unione Winegrowers of Panzano in Chianti;
Festa dell’Uva all’Impruneta: on the last Sunday in September, an event is staged in the style typically local style, which sees the challenge dedicated to building the most beautiful cart. The districts Pallò, Fornaci, SS Marie and S. Antonio make grape-themed constructions, paraded then paraded through the centre of the village.

Wine tastings at the Stazione Leopolda

Among the most important locations for wine lovers is certainly the Stazione Leopolda, the scene of numerous themed events organised throughout the year:

In Degustazione – Vitae La Guida Vini: in November the Italian Association Sommelier presents the guide dedicated to wine in November, offering tastings of the ‘Gems’, wines of excellence from our country;
They will be Famous in Wine: the event is organised in December and has protagonists are emerging wineries and their products;
Vinoè – Wine lovers meeting point: the event is organised by FISAR and is dedicated to the Italian wine excellence. It includes cooking shows, tastings, round tables;
Eccellenza di Toscana: the event is organised at the beginning of March by the Associazione Italiana Sommelier Toscana and focuses on the best regional wine production.