10 Exceptional Tuscan Wineries to Visit

It needs little introduction – Badia Passignano is the jewel in the vast Antinori family portfolio. The Antinori purchased the estate in 1987; their dream was to produce a flagship Chianti Riserva wine based on exceptional terroir, old Chianti vines, and state-of-the-art winemaking. Today, visits to Chianti don’t get much more atmospheric – the hamlet was built around a Benedictine Vallombrosan abbey, which showcases a magnificent fresco of The Last Supper. Come here to take in the spectacular views before savoring the Michelin-starred gastronomy of Osteria di Passignano. It has long been one of Tuscany’s best-loved dining destinations. Intricate, Tuscan-inspired dishes fly the local-produce flag, and the wine list is imposing. It doesn’t get much better.

Without wishing to indulge in hyperbole, this ancient estate is an oenophiles’ dream come true. A handsome abbey-cum-hotel and winery sits in a silent landscape high in the Chianti hills – a place where time has been suspended. With soaring views across the Arno Valley, superlative wines, gastronomy, and hospitality, it’s easy to see why aficionados return every year. The sixth generation of the Stucchi Prinetti family runs it, having purchased the estate and vineyards in 1846. Practicing organic viticulture and sustainable practices, their range of Chianti Classicos is among the best in the region. The whole package is simply superb – a destination to enjoy the finer things in life and shut out the modern world. Relaxation isn’t a possibility at Badia a Coltibuono; it’s a certainty.

Owned by the legendary Frescobaldi family, Castello di Nipozzano sits in the heart of Chianti Rufina – an undulating, majestic landscape of vineyards, cypresses, and olive groves. It is the family’s oldest estate, and the family’s winemaking dynasty dates back to the early 1300s. They became famous in the 15th century for supplying wines to Renaissance artists such as Donatello. Today, their portfolio is vast and impressive – nowhere is this more evident than at Castello di Nipozzano. Situated on the region’s mountainous side, overlooking the Arno, di Nipozzano produces a range of delicious Super Tuscan and Chianti Rufina wines. The estate spans over 626 hectares, and the striking castle, which clings to a prominent hilltop, dates back over 900 years. The perfect introduction to the wines of Chianti Rufina, the Frescobaldis always do things in style.

Devotees of striking contemporary art and fine wines will love Castello di Ama. You’re in the heart of Chianti Classico, an idyllic landscape of rolling hills and cypress-clad winding lanes. The estate dates back to the 10th century. Its modern history began in 1976, when four families set out to restore the estate and replant its vineyards.

Today, the genial couple Lorenza and Marco run it, having invested enormous time and energy in elevating Castello di Ama’s wines to some of the region’s best. Yet this gorgeous estate produces some of Chianti’s most impressive wines and has become a showcase for contemporary art. The accommodation is no less luxurious: five suites in the 18th-century Villa Ricucci, one of the estate’s villas, make it the perfect spot to appreciate the finer things in life.

Welcome to the heart of the stunning Val d’Orcia. Few valleys are as magnificent as this, and few luxury wine estates set the standard so high as Castiglion del Bosco. Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo acquired Castiglion del Bosco in 2003 and transformed the estate, before ownership passed to an international family office in 2022. Today, 62 hectares are planted to Sangiovese. Nowhere is this more evident than in the single-vineyard Campo del Drago. After a fantastic tasting, why not retire to the adjoining luxury spa and golf resort? An 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf is merely the icing on the cake – this wine estate and hotel is the epitome of glamor, a must-visit destination for any discerning sybarite.

This fabulous wine estate and boutique hotel are among the best of Brunello di Montalcino’s new firmament. Founded in 1971 by Giacomo Neri, Casanova has risen quickly from relative obscurity to become one of Italy’s finest wineries. Showered with awards from Wine Spectator and the eminent critic James Suckling, Casanova di Neri produces utterly divine, magnificent Brunellos. With his son Giovanni, Giacomo crafts distinctive, terroir-driven Brunellos that triumph even in weaker vintages – particularly Tenuta Nuova and Cerretalto. Attached to the estate is a lovely relais property, offering luxury and relaxed hospitality—a destination to savor the best of Tuscany’s La Dolce Vita.

This is an extraordinary part of Tuscany. Nestled in the majestic landscape of Montepulciano, Avignonesi is named after the founders of the estate – a historic landmark in local viticulture. Belgian entrepreneur Virginie Saverys purchased Avignonesi in 2009, and it has since grown and become a leader in biodynamic/sustainable grape-growing and winemaking. Cultivating over 170 hectares of vineyards, the team at Avignonesi makes a range of excellent red and white wines, including some sought-after Super Tuscans. The warm welcome and hospitality here are also unrivaled – the best in the region.

A name synonymous with wine across Tuscany, Tuscany’s wine renaissance began in the cellars of the Antinori family, one of the region’s most historic wine growers. Indeed, the name Antinori has been associated with wine since the 14th century, when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Guild of Vintners in 1385. Many centuries later, the family added the Tignanello vineyard to its portfolio in 1900. Niccolò Antinori and his son Piero began experimenting with then-unheard-of winemaking techniques and grape varieties. The first vintage of Tignanello was released in 1971 to critical acclaim.

Today, the firm’s flagship winery in Chianti Classico is a must-visit. In 2012, they opened a fantastic new winery, visitor center, and restaurant. Designed by Marco Casamonti, the sculptural building set into the hillside is a landmark sight in Tuscany. The on-site facilities, including a boutique and shop, are undoubtedly the best in Chianti – Rinuccio 1180, the winery’s signature restaurant, is extraordinary indeed. Built on the rooftop of the sleek winery, this top-flight destination seats diners in the summer months on a spectacular terrace with fantastic views of the surrounding vineyards.

Owner Michele Manelli knew he’d found something special when he purchased this magical estate in the heart of Montepulciano. The Sangiovese-based wines are excellent, but even more remarkable is Manelli’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity – a leader in the region and an example for all others to follow. Salcheto, named after the stream that springs at the foot of the town of Montepulciano, was the first company in the world to certify the carbon footprint of a wine bottle. They generate all their own power needs and strive to manage their vineyards without using harmful, man-made chemical inputs. A beacon of eco-friendly winemaking, Salcheto also boasts some of the most charming accommodations in Montepulciano.

Few families have done more for the reputation of Chianti Classico than the Bianchi family. Aldo Bianchi purchased Castello di Monsanto in 1961, and his son Fabrizio, together with his wife Giuliana, began transforming the estate into one of the region’s most ambitious wine properties. The first vintage of Il Poggio followed in 1962. After an extensive replanting program and an unprecedented investment in winemaking, Castello di Monsanto is now regarded as one of the most reliable sources of excellent Chianti Classico. Since 1996, the management of di Monsanto has passed to the family’s third generation: Fabrizio’s daughter, Laura. She understands that complacency is the death of fine wine – this remarkable estate strives to raise the bar even higher in quality winemaking and hospitality. Beautiful, tranquil, historic, and architecturally splendid, Chianti offers a lifetime’s worth of excitement for the adventurous oenophile.