WINE TASTING SIENA
Distance from Ripostena
15 km
Wine tasting near Siena from Ripostena: our favorite wineries
Doing a self-guided wine tasting tour near Siena from Ripostena is something that most of our guests want to do! There are so many wineries to choose from so we decided to put together some information about our favorite choices for a Siena wine tour and give you more information about the wonderful wineries and regions we love to visit.
What wine regions can I visit from Siena?
The Chianti wine regions are the closest to the town of Siena. The word Chianti is known around the world, not only as the name of the fantastic red wine, but also to refer to the beautiful area filled with rolling green hills covered in vineyards and olive trees that tourists have been coming to for centuries. The Chianti area is actually not just one wine region, but a very large region with seven smaller sub zones which are: Rufina, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Aretini, Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Montalbano and Montespertoli. Then there is the Chianti Classico region, sometimes confused with the Chianti region because of the similarity of names, whose symbol is the black rooster. From Ripostena it is very easy to explore these amazing wine regions on a self-guided wine tour.
At Ripostena we love supporting our local wine growers and helping our guests find the best wine tasting experiences. All of Tuscany offers really fantastic opportunities for doing wine country touring and we are happy to give our guests lots of helpful tips so they can enjoy the top wine tasting experiences! Use this mini-guide to create your own self-guided Siena wine tour to wineries located in our two closest regions: Chianti Colli Senesi and Chianti Classico.
Tenuta di Trecciano – a favorite Chianti Colli Senesi winery near Ripostena
From Ripostena, going up and through the Montagnola Senese hills you will drop back toward the sleepy town of Sovicille and find Tenuta di Trecciano, a vineyard growing the local star grape variety, Sangiovese, as well as international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. They produce an excellent Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG and Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva DOCG as well as two IGT Supertuscan wines and a nice Vermentino IGT. Their total production is around 90.00 bottles and they also make extra virgin olive oil and vin santo (special dessert wine from Tuscany). Visitors are welcome to stop by and try some wines and purchase from the wine shop, or if you would like an actual tour of the winery please make a reservation ahead of time. One of the tours even includes a walk through the vineyards and explanation of the various growing techniques for those interested in understanding more about the wine production.
Combine your wine tasting with a visit of the area and nearby Siena
After your visit, you can grab lunch at the restaurant Nonno Giulio with lots of wild game and local recipes with outside eating area and some animals for kids to check out. Or if you love gardens and villas, we recommend a visit to nearby Villa Cetinale’s impressive gardens (must be booked ahead of time 9:30-12:30am Monday through Friday when the villa is not let). You can make it a full day by driving on through this undiscovered corner of Tuscany until you reach the medieval city of Siena, just 20km away, with lots of great shopping and sightseeing for an afternoon of fun.
Cesani Winery – a wonderful Chianti Colli Senesi and Vernaccia di San Gimignano winery
On the outskirts of San Gimignano in a quiet area away from the bustle of tourists is the charming organic family run Cesani winery that you should include on your Siena wine tour. The area surrounding San Gimignano is best known for its white wines and is in fact the most important white wine region in Tuscany: Vernaccia di San Gimignano. However, the Cesani winery grows more Sangiovese grapes than Vernaccia and produces fantastic Chianti Colli Senesi wines as well as Super Tuscan reds. They also make an incredible extra virgin olive oil, saffron, and other typical products. They even have their own line of beauty products made from their own sustainably produced grapes and oil. Tours should be booked ahead or you can stop by their wine shop for tasting at the wine bar and to purchase from their well-stocked shop.
Combine a wine tasting with a visit to San Gimignano
We highly recommend making your way to San Gimignano before or after your Cesani tour, as it is just 5 km away. It is one of the most famous Tuscan hill top towns with 14 defensive towers still standing today that create a magnificent skyline. There are lots of art studios, museums, and endless shopping on the main street that runs the length of the town. We also recommend going to the very top of the town where you can climb a tower in the fortress (for free) that offers a stunning 360° view of the city and valley below. In Piazza della Cisterna, don’t miss the gelato shop Dondoli, one of the best gelato shops in all of Tuscany with unique flavors you can only try here.
Foresteria Villa Cerna – a Cecchi Family winery in the Chianti Classico near Castellina
Located on the other side of the Siena-Florence highway from Ripostena, on the windy road that leads to Castellina in Chianti, this is a beautiful winery for including in your wine tasting near Siena schedule. It is located within the Chianti Classico region and produces fantastic Chianti Classico and Super Tuscan wines. The property is one of the Cecchi family estates, offering an incredible array of their wines from all their estates in their impressive wine store. You can stop by for a casual tasting or to purchase or you can book ahead if you prefer a tour of the cantina. They offer everything from a basic wine tour to a specialized wine tour and even several experiences that include food tasting as well. There is also a high-end restaurant onsite with incredible views overlooking the vineyards from the outside patio area if you are looking for a fancier meal.
Combine a wine tasting with a visit to Castellina in Chianti or Monteriggioni
From Foresteria Villa Cerna you can reach Castellina in Chianti in the heart of the Chianti Classico region in just a few minutes by continuing along the same scenic route. Castellina is a charming village with lots of wine shops and beautiful views as well as a picturesque covered walkway that circles the town. Just a few minutes in the another direction is the very tiny completely walled village of Monteriggioni, an adorable stop that will make you feel like you are on the set of a Medieval film.
Il Cellese Boutique Winery – a new favorite Chianti Classico winery near Colle di val d’Elsa
This brand new winery restaurant opened in 2018 and is already one of our favorites! The abandoned historic wine cellar beneath the villa was discovered in 2012 and lovingly restored and is today a beautiful series of tunnels that maintains the correct temperature and humidity all year round for aging and storing wine. These tunnels were used in WWII as bomb shelters as the nearby train lines and countryside suffered heavy bombing. The tunnels now are used to age the small but high quality production of Chianti Classico wines, including Riserva and Selection, as well as a white wine. Book ahead to reserve your space and choose the tour that is right for you that includes delicious food and is served in their elegant restaurant.
Combine a wine tasting with a visit to Colle di Val d’Elsa
Just a few minutes away from this winery is the lovely town of Colle di Val d’Elsa, or for locals just Colle. This town has a more modern lower town and a very charming historic district above. We recommend a stroll through the upper Colle area, starting at the huge Castello at the top and making your way down through the town, perhaps with a stop at the Baroni pastry shop for a delicious little treat. This town is only now being discovered by tourists and seems maintains a more real Tuscan town feel. There is a wonderful street market that takes place each Friday in lower Colle near and in the main square Piazza Arnolfo if you would like to hunt for deals on clothing, shoes or do some produce shopping.
