faraway fara

Bolgheri

Bolgheri is less then a 30 minute drive and home to some of the worlds best wines like Sassicia! The Bolgheri Consortium can help you make reservations at many of the wineries and has a lot of great history of the area on their site. The Tenuta San Guido famous for their Sassicia wine is not open for tours, but they do have a bird sanctuary called the Padule di Bolgheri that you can visit with a reservation.

Ornellaia

We have been told this is a very well known wine. From their website, “Our hospitality staff will accompany you as you discover the historic vineyards around the estate. Your visit continues in the cellar, where you will be greeted by contemporary artworks that are part of our Vendemmia d’Artista project, which began in 2009 with the 2006 vintage of our iconic Ornellaia wine. You will enjoy presentations about the works, installed in different locations along the tour. You then reach the barrel cellar, the “barricaia,” where the French barriques enfold and mature the base wines that will make up Ornellaia and Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia, our second vin. The tour concludes with a guided tasting of the current vintages of Le Volte dell’Ornellaia, Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia,Variazioni in Rosso dell’Ornellaia and Ornellaia.” Reserve Ornellaia tasting or tour here by sending an information request. They do not do tours on weekends or holidays.

We visited Ornellaia for Thanksgiving 2022. If you would like to do a tour/tasting here try to reserve it well in advance. Sometimes they are able to fit you in short notice, but it is better to plan a month or two ahead. They hosted a tour in English for us and another party. We were driven around the property and got to walk around the new building. We ended our tour by tasting the wines as well as grappa and olive oil. It was 100 euros each and took a little more than two hours. I made a little video of our tour, mostly on the art and plants.

Grattamacco

From their website, “Grattamacco’s mission is to lead the success of this incredible area, going beyond the typical Bordeaux varieties-based blends to embrace Sangiovese and Vermentino as well. Founded in 1977, the Estate lies in a protected area on one of Bolgheri’s only two hills, a location famous for its ancient history and the particular soil here is of utmost importance. Grattamacco is part of the ColleMassari group since 2002.” Reserve a Grattamacco tasting or tour here.

Mulini di Segalari

This winery has a lot of tasting and tour options including walks in the woods. From their website, “It is an invitation to relax, to feel nature, to take time to understand the meaning of things and enjoy life. This place helps to appreciate the pleasure of existence: the big trees, the sound of flowing water, the lush vineyards, the animals that inhabit these fields and these woods.” Reserve a Mulini di Segalari tasting or a tour here. They also have olive oil tastings!

Podere il Castellaccio

This winery does wine and olive oil. From their website, ” ‘A sip from the past, while looking to the future.‘ This is our philosophy in ten words. It is to tell the story of our region through the salvaging of ancient varieties that are inextricably linked to the tradition of Tuscan wine, specifically in the area of Bolgheri. Valente and Dinostro are the concrete results of our mission to return to our origins. The grapes, which are cultivated using only natural methods, are meticulously cared for during all phases of growth, with particular attention given to the period of maturation. They are vinified in the winery using indigenous yeasts.” Reserve a Podere il Castellaccio tasting or a tour here.

Sapaio

From their website, ” 40 hectares of estate land – 25 hectares of vineyards. Terrains: clay and sandy loam soil types. Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot…Vineyard work is an expression of uncompromising harmony between man and nature.” Reserve a Sapaio tasting or tour here.

Campo alle Comete

This place has a very unique website, you have to check it out for yourself. Their about page is worth a read. From their website. “Approachign Campo alle Comete means to enter in a world suspended between heaven and earth, where during long walks you’re guided by the shining starts.” Reserve a Campo alle Comete tasting or tour here.

Research for Bolgheri Wineries

I found a lot of these wineries from word of mouth or from list like The Best Of Bolgheri: 10 Wineries You Can’t Miss and Travel: Top Bolgheri wineries to visit.

Ricasoli

This seems to be a good place to visit. From their website, “Centuries-old tradition, contemporary excellence… A journey of nearly a thousand years in Chianti Classico Tuscany.” Reserve a Ricasoli tasting or tour here. The gardens of the Brolio Castle do not need a reservation!

Research for Chianti Wineries

I have to finish this section but here are some links that look promising. Best Wineries to Visit in Chianti, 10 BEST WINERIES TO VISIT IN CHIANTI CLASSICO, TUSCANY, 2019, and Your 2022 Guide to the Best Wineries in Chianti.

Sator

Sator is about 20 minutes from our house. From their website, “Sator Winery islocated in the upper Tuscan Maremma about 30 km south-west of Pisa. Theland has belonged to the owners, the Moscardini family, for about two centuries. Some of the land is on a plateau not far from the village of Pomaia and is part of the production area of Montescudaio DOC. On this plateau, nature has created a mosaic of soil types, where in 2004 Roberta and Gianni Moscardini decided to plant vineyards to produce wines that express the greatest potential of each variety and of this unique terroir.”

About their tours from their website, “Here, accompanied by the beauty of our landscape, you will understand the love and expertise that we put into producing wine. Moving from one plot to another, passing through rose gardens, you will learn about the grape varieties, soil types and vine-growing methods.
After a walk through the vineyards, you will be able taste our wines that match perfectly with local products. You will be sitting under a wooden pergola almost hidden by ancient roses, aromatic plants and fruit trees with a breathtaking view that sweeps from the Apuane Alps to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the autumn and winter, you can taste our wines sitting comfortably in our barriccaia (barrel cellar) and enjoy the beauty of the landscape through its big wide windows.” Reserve a Sator tasting or tour here.