After spending 12 days across several different cities in Italy, visiting the Guicciardini Strozzi estate was my favorite activity. I firmly believe that this vineyard should be on everybody's list to visit if they are in Tuscany.
Since we were staying in Siena and did not have access to a car, we sought out a winery that could be visited through public transit. While it did ultimately involve us walking along the side of the road, we were able to get to Guicciardini Strozzi using the regional train from Siena via the Barberino Val d'Elsa station and then walking about 15 minutes to the estate. A car would have made it easier, but walking was completely doable as long as you're feeling slightly adventurous.
We opted for the "Rapid Tour" of the estate which included a tour of the historic cellar as well as a tasting of three of their wines for €15. When I say the vineyards and estate are impressive, I genuinely mean it! Since the estate dates back to the late 10th century, there was a lot of history to see and hear about. Giulia--our tour guide and tasting attendant--was absolutely incredible and really elevated the experience to the next level with all her knowledge and thoughtfulness. The tour was the perfect length of time and ended in their storefront where we tasted three of their wines. As a red wine drinker, I was surprised how much I liked the Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva (€15 a bottle)--it was smooth, but had a robust flavor profile much like a red wine might have. Our other favorite of the three was the Chianti Colli Senesi (€10 a bottle). It was very easy to drink, but still had a depth of flavor that outpaced any other chianti I have ever had. After we told her we generally liked dessert wines, Giulia also offered us a small tasting of the Vin Santo di San Gimignano (€25 a bottle) which was one of the best dessert wines I have ever had. We were also given a large bottle of water for the four of us as well as several breadsticks.
Overall, this was an incredible experience that I would highly recommend to anybody looking to have great wine and go on a fascinating tour of a historical vineyard. It was an incredible value given how inexpensive it was; however, it never felt like a cheap experience. We will definitely be back next time we find ourselves in Tuscany and will be ordering at least a case to ship back to the United States.
Once again, a special thank you to Giulia who was truly excellent! read more