The Chianti
If the Tuscan lifestyle is the greatest lure, then Chianti is perfection. This famous wine-growing region is quintessential Tuscany, with villa-living the ideal way of appreciating the countryside. In the Chianti, the locals seem to have found the right balance between country and city living. The Chianti countryside is a patchwork of vineyards, olive groves and cypresses, or cornfields edged with sunflowers. Stretching from Florence to Siena, this soothing scenery, dotted with hill-towns, villas and castles, inspired the Renaissance masters. The art magnets of Florence and Siena are nearby yet feel far away. For those not fascinated by frescoed churches, the delights of Florence and Siena can often fade. The desire to escape the city’s cauldron-like atmosphere in summer can also prove overwhelming. If so, the Chianti is for you, with all its countrified temptations. Take it slowly, from meandering between wine estates to homely inns, castle-visiting and cycle trails.
Essential The Chianti Information
Top Ten Things to Do
The Chianti is a place for pottering and chance encounters. It is delightful, whether explored by car, by bicycle or on foot, or ideally a mixture of all three. The Chianti makes a great base, from cultural day trips to Siena and Florence to wine-tasting and foodie forays, along with cycling trips.
This is just a taster to the Chianti. See our specific guides to top Chianti outposts, all accessed through our Destinations listings, For starters, check out our guides to GaioleGrevePanzanoCastellinaRadda and Castelnuovo Beradenga. Our additional Chianti guides cover Castagnoli VolpaiaSan GusmeSan Donato in Poggio and Vagliagli.
Eating & Drinking
The Chianti is one of the most appealing parts of foodie Tuscany. The Chianti wine route is a chance to enjoy Chianti Classico wines and T-bone steaks in cosy inns. Wine-growing dates back Etruscan times, as evidenced by the goblet found in an Etruscan tomb at Castellina in Chianti, and surviving Etruscan frescoes that depict Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. Medieval monasteries established viticulture here – and some of these original wine estates survive, such as the Badia a Coltibuono and Antinori’s Badia a Passignano, with its fine-dining restaurant, L’Osteria di Passignano.
Naturally, this is the homeland of Chianti Classico, even if Super Tuscans are also produced in the region. In 1716 a decree issued by the Grand Duke of Tuscany defined the boundaries of the Chianti area and established the laws governing the production and sale of wine. Today this region is the world’s oldest wine-producing league. The Chianti Classico area includes the areas of Barberino Val d’Elsa, Castellina, Greve, Gaiole, San Casciano and Tavernelle Val di Pesa.
Cuisine from the Chianti is a hearty variant on classic Tuscan cooking, with borrowings from nearby Florence and Siena as well as local variants. Look out for ribollita, a thick bean soup, or other simple dishes that reflect Tuscany’s cucina povera (peasant cuisine). At the other end of the scale, fine dining is also available, especially in many of the grander castle and abbey estates. Here, dishes tend to be more sophisticated and often involve wine-pairing and tasting menus.
This is just a taster to the Chianti. See our restaurant recommendations below and also see specific guides to top Chianti towns and villages, all accessed through our Destinations listings, For starters, check out our guides to GaioleGrevePanzanoCastellinaRadda and Castelnuovo Beradenga. Our additional Chianti guides cover Castagnoli VolpaiaSan GusmeSan Donato in Poggio and Vagliagli.
Shopping & Parking
In addition to superb wine and foodstuffs, Chianti shopping is also about local crafts and colourful markets. Art, table linen and hand-crafted shoes are all found locally. As for crafts, the Chianti towns showcase the local traditions of woodworking, basket weaving, terracotta and ceramics. For more specific suggestions see our destination guides to GaioleGrevePanzanoCastellinaRadda and Castelnuovo Beradenga
