December, 2018
It was now Friday night and we were unwinding in our AirBnB with a glass of wine after a day of exploring Venice. We had nothing scheduled for Saturday yet and we weren’t heading back to Rome until later Sunday night. We chatted and discussed some options and decided on booking a Tuscan Winemakers tour with AirBnB. We secured our spot and headed to bed dreaming of our winery adventure the next day.
We departed to meet our guide at the Florence train station, where we met a family of five from Texas who would accompany us on this day trip. With three adult children (ages 24-29), Mom and Dad were enjoying a Christmas vacation as a family. One of the things I love about traveling is meeting new people.
We departed with our guide, traveling down winding roads lined with cypress trees making our way into the rolling Tuscan hills. Our first stop was a 500-year-old wine cellar to taste some Tuscan wine and learn the secrets of wine making. We arrived at Castello Sonnino, where we had an exclusive tasting. The Castello Sonnino with its 13thcentury tower overlooks the valleys of Florentine Chianti. This journey had us exploring the historic cellars learning how vinsanto is made, soaking in the panoramic valley views, and tasting wine and olive oils paired with outstanding foods in the wine bar. For over two centuries, the Sonnino family has been producing wines and extra-virgin olive oil with remarkable character and we were lucky enough to sample both. This winery nails their philosophy of a quest for excellence with a taste of tradition, and this was just the first stop on our tour.
After departing Castello Sonnino, we made our way to Roberto’s personal family farm. This is a rustic farm settled in the vineyards surrounding Florence and is 300 years old. We explored the vineyards, learning the family history of crafting Chianti wine and extra virgin olive oil. Our guide, Leo, offered amazing stories making us free relaxed and comfortable or perhaps that was just from the endless flowing wine in our glasses. We settled into the farmhouse dining room with the most bountiful cheese and antipasto platters we had ever seen, fettuccine with truffles and gnocchi with a blissful tomato sauce. To finish the meal, traditional Tiramisu. We sat around the table drinking some of Roberto’s best vintages, indulging in the most delicious olive oils and traditional Italian cuisine. Sharing stories, laughing, eating and sipping, our afternoon lunch lasted for hours.
With endless glasses of wine, beautiful Tuscan vineyards, and the most delicious farm-to-table lunch at an owner’s family vineyard farm, the hesitation of booking my first ever AirBnB experience melted away. Overall, this was the most unique and authentic day exploring the countryside and seeing how different wine growers operate in this region. There are endless options for wine tours in Tuscany, but this is an intimate experience designed to make you feel like family.
