Frequently Asked Questions About Our Italy Wine Tours

Italy and Wine is a Florence-based tour operator specializing in wine tours across Italy, offering shared and private day tours as well as multi-day wine holidays. We organize every winery visit, tasting and logistical detail ourselves, rather than reselling someone else's itinerary — our team designs and personally leads each experience.

We're based in Florence, Tuscany, and most of our daily wine tours depart from the city. We also run tours from Turin (Piedmont) and Venice (Veneto) for guests exploring those regions.

Our core region is Tuscany, with tours to Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimignano and Bolgheri. We also run wine tours in Piedmont (Barolo, Barbaresco) and Veneto (Valpolicella, Prosecco, Colli Euganei).

Yes. We plan, book and lead every tour ourselves — the wineries, the driver-guide, the lunch and the itinerary are all arranged directly by our team, not outsourced to a third-party operator.

We've been organizing wine tours since 2004 — over 20 years of experience planning and personally leading wine experiences across Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto.

A shared wine tour groups you with other travelers (max 8 guests) in a minivan, following a fixed itinerary and departure time from a set meeting point in Florence. A private wine tour reserves the vehicle, driver and guide exclusively for your party, with pickup available from your hotel or accommodation and an itinerary built around your preferences.

Our Chianti Classico and San Gimignano tours are the most popular starting points — they combine well-known wines, classic Tuscan scenery and a manageable drive from Florence, making them an easy, representative introduction to the region.

Chianti Classico is the closest region to Florence and suits a lighter, easier day; Montalcino (Brunello) is about a 2-hour drive and rewards serious red wine lovers; Montepulciano sits between the two in character and distance. If you're unsure, tell us what you enjoy drinking and we'll recommend the right fit.

Our private Montalcino (Brunello di Montalcino) and Bolgheri (Super Tuscan) tours are geared toward guests who want in-depth cellar visits and more structured tastings, since the pace and wineries are built entirely around your interests.

Yes — we run private wine tours in Piedmont (from Turin, visiting Barolo and Barbaresco) and in Veneto (from Venice, visiting Valpolicella, Prosecco and the Colli Euganei).

Yes, we organize multi-day private and shared wine holidays across Tuscany, combining multiple wine regions, wineries and accommodation into a single trip.

Current itineraries include three-day and five-day experiences that may feature Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimignano and other Tuscan destinations.

The current programs, inclusions and prices are available in the Tuscany Wine Holidays section of our website.

Most of our daily tours depart from Florence. Private tours in Piedmont depart from Turin, and private tours in Veneto depart from Venice.

Hotel pickup is available on our private tours. Shared tours do not include individual hotel pickup — all guests meet together at a designated meeting point in Florence and depart at the scheduled time.

On private tours, yes — we can arrange pickup from a villa, private apartment or hotel depending on the location. Let us know your address when booking so we can confirm pickup is included or arrange it as an add-on.

Yes, transportation is included in every tour price — a dedicated driver and vehicle for the full day. Wine tours and separate transfer services (for example, an airport transfer unrelated to a tour) are different services; ask us if you need one arranged separately.

Shared tours use a minivan seating up to 8 guests. Private tours use an air-conditioned car or minivan sized to your party.

Transportation from or to Rome is not included in the standard wine tours departing from Florence.

Italy and Wine specializes in organizing wine experiences, winery visits and tastings. Long-distance transportation is a separate service and must be evaluated independently.

For private or multi-day programs, we may be able to include transportation through an authorized transfer provider. The price depends on the date, number of passengers, vehicle, exact pickup point, destination, and itinerary. A personalized quotation is therefore required.

Tours from Venice itself are part of our regular Veneto private tour offering.

For shared tours, guests must normally join the group at the designated meeting point in Florence. It is generally not possible to meet the group directly at a winery because transportation and scheduled winery appointments are part of the tour organization.

For private tours, meeting directly at a winery may be possible, but it must be agreed upon and confirmed in advance.

Most day tours visit two wineries, with a wine-paired lunch at one of them or at a local restaurant — the exact number is shown on each tour's own page, since it varies slightly by itinerary.

On private tours, yes — your group tastes on its own. On shared tours, you'll be tasting alongside the other guests on that day's departure (up to 8 people total).

This depends on the tour — for example, Chianti Classico and Super Tuscans in Chianti, Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino in Montalcino, Vino Nobile in Montepulciano, Barolo and Barbaresco in Piedmont, or Amarone, Prosecco and Soave in Veneto. Check the specific tour page for the wines included.

The number of wines varies according to the winery and the selected program.

Each tasting normally includes a selection of wines representing the winery's production. Tastings may also be accompanied by extra virgin olive oil, cheese, cured meats or other local products.

The exact number and selection of wines may change according to the season, availability and the winery's current tasting program.

Yes, all our partner wineries accept credit cards for purchases. Some are set up to ship wine internationally, though shipping and customs fees can be significant — we recommend Chianti Express, a shipping company that serves wineries across Tuscany, for guests who want to bring bottles home.

We work with a mix, but favor family-run estates wherever possible — many of our partner wineries are small, family-owned producers rather than large commercial operations, giving guests a more personal visit.

Yes — your guide or the winery host walks you through how the wine is made during the cellar visit, as part of every tasting.

Your driver-guide speaks English throughout the day, and conducts or translates the tastings, so a language barrier at the winery is never an issue even if the winery staff's English is limited.

Lunch is included on most of our tours — check the specific tour page, since this is shown per itinerary (a wine-paired lunch at a winery or a local restaurant).

Typically a traditional Tuscan (or regional) meal paired with the wines you're tasting that day, served either at one of the wineries or at a local restaurant along the route.

Yes — let us know when booking and we'll arrange a vegetarian option with the restaurant or winery.

Yes — please tell us about gluten-free or other dietary requirements in advance so we can confirm suitable options with the venue.

Let us know any allergies at the time of booking, or as early as possible before your tour date, so we have time to arrange accordingly with the restaurant or winery.

Water is normally provided during meals and winery tastings when included in the tour program.

The availability of bottled water inside the vehicle may vary depending on the tour and should not be considered guaranteed unless it is specifically mentioned in the tour description.

Yes — the lunch menu can be adapted for children or non-drinking guests; let us know when booking.

Shared tours run with a maximum of 8 guests in one minivan.

Shared tours normally require a minimum of 2 participants to run as scheduled.

Shared tours normally require a minimum of two participants.

If the minimum number is not reached, Italy and Wine may offer an alternative date, a similar tour, an upgrade to a private tour with an additional charge, or a refund of the amount paid.

The final confirmation is provided according to the conditions shown at the time of booking.

Yes — if your group is up to 8 people, you can book every seat on a shared tour, though at that point a private tour (with its own vehicle and fully flexible itinerary) is usually a better fit and comparable in cost.

No. Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to join our shared wine tours. The minimum age to participate is 16.

Guests aged 16 and 17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult and pay the full adult price. Alcoholic beverages will not be served to anyone under the legal drinking age.

No — shared tours follow a fixed itinerary and set wineries for all guests on that departure. If you want to choose the wineries yourself, a private or custom tour gives you that flexibility.

Yes — a private tour is built around your preferences: the pace, the wineries, additional stops, and the starting/ending point can all be discussed when booking.

Yes — on a private tour, the car or minivan, driver and guide are reserved only for your party for the entire day; you won't share the vehicle or the wineries with other travelers.

Within reason, yes — tell us your preferences (specific wines, a particular producer, a certain pace) and we'll build the day around them, or adjust our suggested itinerary to match.

Yes, private tours can include pickup from villas, apartments or hotels outside central Florence depending on the location — let us know your address when booking.

Yes — several of our itineraries already combine a winery visit with time in a medieval town (for example San Gimignano or Montepulciano), and a private tour can be adjusted to add more town time if you'd like.

Yes — for larger groups we can arrange a bigger vehicle or multiple cars as needed; tell us your group size when booking so we can plan accordingly.

Shared tours begin and end at the designated meeting point in Florence. A different drop-off location is not available on shared tours.

For private tours, a different final destination may be arranged when requested before booking. An additional charge may apply depending on the distance, driving time and itinerary.

You can book directly through our website, or contact us with your preferred dates and group size and we'll confirm availability and arrange the booking with you.

We recommend booking in advance, especially in peak season (spring through autumn) or for private tours with specific date/time requests, since availability is limited.

A credit card is required to confirm your booking. Cash payment in Euro may only be arranged by prior agreement before the tour begins — let us know in advance if you'd prefer to pay in cash.

Yes, our tours can be booked directly through our website's booking system.

Yes — you'll receive a confirmation with your tour details, meeting point (or pickup arrangements) and departure time once your booking is completed.

Yes — all winery visits and tastings on your itinerary are pre-arranged and included as part of your booking; you don't need to book anything separately with the wineries.

Travel agencies and tour operators may contact Italy and Wine directly and provide the following information:

agency name and country; billing details; requested tour and date; number of participants; name and contact details of the final customer; requested additional services; any special requirements.

Commercial conditions, commissions and payment terms are provided according to the type of service and the agreement with the agency.

A booking is not confirmed until Italy and Wine has issued written confirmation and received the required payment or deposit.

We accept credit cards for booking confirmation. Cash payment in Euro is only accepted by prior arrangement.

For day tours (shared or private), cancellations made more than 14 days before departure incur no charge; 48 hours to 14 days, 50% of the tour price; less than 48 hours, 80%; no-shows are charged 100%. Multi-day tours follow a longer schedule: full refund up to 90 days before departure, then 35% (80–71 days), 55% (70–51 days), 75% (50–31 days), and 100% within 30 days of departure.

For shared tours, guests should arrive at the meeting point at least 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

The vehicle cannot wait beyond the scheduled departure because delays would affect winery reservations and the experience of the other participants. Guests who miss the departure because they arrived late are not normally entitled to a refund.

For private tours, please contact us immediately. A short delay may sometimes be accommodated, but it could require changes to the itinerary or result in the loss of a scheduled winery visit.

A change of date may be possible, subject to availability and the cancellation terms applying to the booking.

Requests should be made as early as possible. A new date is not confirmed until Italy and Wine has provided written confirmation. Any price difference or additional cost charged by wineries or other suppliers remains the responsibility of the customer.

If a winery becomes unavailable, Italy and Wine will arrange a visit to another winery of a similar standard in the same wine region whenever possible.

Wineries may change for operational, seasonal or unforeseen reasons. The replacement of a winery does not entitle the customer to a refund when the general program and nature of the tour are still provided.

Yes — tastings and lunch take place indoors, so tours run as planned in the rain. Only the outdoor part of the visit (the vineyard walk) may be shortened, adjusted by your guide on the day.

Wine tours normally operate in the rain because most winery visits and tastings take place indoors.

In the event of extreme weather, unsafe road conditions or official restrictions that make the tour unsafe or impossible to operate, Italy and Wine may modify, postpone or cancel the experience.

When Italy and Wine cancels a tour, the applicable booking terms will apply. Depending on the circumstances, customers may be offered an alternative date, an equivalent experience or a refund.

Occasionally a winery substitution or order change may be necessary for operational reasons; when this happens, we make sure the replacement is of equivalent quality and character to what was originally planned.

Yes. Children may join private wine tours when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Parents and guardians remain responsible for the continuous supervision, safety, custody and behavior of their children throughout the experience. Italy and Wine does not provide childcare or supervision services. Parents or guardians are responsible for any disturbance, inconvenience or damage caused by minors under their care, in accordance with applicable law.

Families should also consider that wine tours involve driving, winery visits, guided explanations and extended periods in environments primarily designed for adults.

There is no child discount on shared tours. The minimum participation age is 16, and all participants pay the full adult price.

For private tours, the price is based mainly on the exclusive vehicle, driver, itinerary and winery reservations. The presence of children does not therefore automatically result in a reduced price. Any possible reduction in meal or tasting costs depends on the individual tour and the policies of the wineries involved.

Child seats and booster seats may be available for private tours upon advance request.

Parents must provide the child's age, weight and height when booking so that the appropriate seat can be arranged. Availability must be confirmed before the tour.

Child seats are not required for shared tours because guests under the age of 16 are not admitted.

Yes — the tour itself (winery visits, scenery, lunch) is suitable for pregnant guests; tastings are of course optional, and venues can usually offer a non-alcoholic alternative if requested in advance.

Accessibility varies from one winery to another.

Many wineries are located in historic buildings or on agricultural properties with stairs, uneven surfaces, gravel paths and areas that may not be fully accessible to wheelchair users.

Guests with reduced mobility should contact Italy and Wine before booking and explain their specific needs. We will try to select suitable wineries and itineraries, but full accessibility cannot be guaranteed for every tour.

Generally yes — the pace is relaxed and most of the day is spent seated in the vehicle, at the tasting table or at lunch, with only short walks through the vineyard or cellar. Let us know about any mobility concerns so we can plan accordingly.

Walking is generally light — short walks through a cellar or vineyard row, plus, on tours like San Gimignano, optional time exploring a hill town on foot at your own pace.

Comfortable clothing and sturdy, closed shoes — you'll be walking through vineyards and wine cellars, which can have uneven ground.

Yes, it's a good idea to carry a valid ID or passport, since some wineries may ask for it, particularly for wine purchases or shipping paperwork.

Luggage may be carried on private tours only when requested in advance and when sufficient space is available in the vehicle.

Space is limited on shared tours, so the transportation of suitcases cannot be guaranteed.

Any personal belongings left in the vehicle remain the responsibility of their owner. We strongly recommend that guests do not leave passports, money or valuable items unattended.

Dogs are not normally permitted on shared tours.

For private tours, a dog may be accepted upon request, depending on the size of the animal, the vehicle being used and the rules of the wineries included in the itinerary.

Permission must be requested and confirmed before booking. The acceptance of an animal cannot be guaranteed.

Yes — tours run all year in most regions; summer days are warm, so wear light clothing and sun protection, and note that lunch and tastings are indoors, which helps with the midday heat.

From Florence, the drive to Chianti is about 45 minutes, and the drive to Montalcino is nearly 2 hours; other regions vary — check your specific tour page for exact timing.

Return time depends on the specific tour — most day tours run from morning until late afternoon or early evening. Exact start and end times are listed on each tour's page.

Tipping is not included and entirely at your discretion — many guests tip their driver-guide directly at the end of the day if they enjoyed the experience, but there's no fixed expectation or amount.

A multi-day wine holiday includes private transportation, winery visits and tastings, and typically accommodation, across several days in one or more wine regions — the exact inclusions vary by itinerary, shown on each multi-day tour's page.

Accommodation is included when it is specifically listed in the selected multi-day program.

The type of accommodation, number of nights and included services are described on the individual tour page. Additional nights, room upgrades or special accommodation requests must be quoted separately.

Wine-paired lunches at wineries are included as part of the wine touring days.

The meals included depend on the selected program. Multi-day packages generally include the breakfasts provided by the accommodation and the lunches, tastings or local food experiences specifically listed in the daily itinerary.

Dinners and other meals are not included unless they are expressly mentioned in the program. The page for each package explains exactly which meals are included.

Yes — multi-day private wine holidays can be adjusted to your preferred regions, pace and wineries; tell us what you have in mind and we'll build an itinerary around it.

No. Airport transfers are not included unless they are specifically listed in the program of a private tour or multi-day wine holiday.

Airport transfers may sometimes be arranged separately upon request and will require an additional quotation.

Yes — truffle hunting is already part of some of our itineraries (and available as an add-on), and cooking classes can be arranged as part of a custom multi-day holiday; let us know when planning your trip.

We recommend booking a multi-day wine holiday well in advance, since it involves coordinating multiple wineries and, often, accommodation — the earlier the better, especially for peak season (spring through autumn).