Tuscany is probably the Italian region with the greatest concentration of gastronomic excellence in a small geographical space. Within a 100 km radius of Poggibonsi you find Chianti Classico DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, Pienza DOP Pecorino, Chianti Classico DOP extra virgin olive oil, San Miniato white truffle and Colonnata lard.
This itinerary is for those who want to understand this region through their palate.
Within a 100 km radius of Poggibonsi: Chianti Classico DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, Pienza DOP Pecorino, DOP olive oil, white truffle. No other Italian region concentrates such excellence in such a small space.
Tuscany is the paradise of food and wine tourism
Food and wine tourism in Tuscany is not a recent trend - it is an established industry. Wineries have been open to visitors for decades; agriturismo farms have offered cooking experiences for generations. But there is still much space for authentic discoveries, far from the most commercial circuits.
The key is time: four days allow you to explore with calm, not to rush from one winery to the next, to give food and wine the respect they deserve.
Day 1: arrival and dinner at Ristorante Alcide
The first day is about orientation. Arrive in the late afternoon in Poggibonsi and check in at Hotel Alcide.
In the evening, dinner is at Ristorante Alcide, within Hotel Alcide - the best start for a food and wine itinerary. The restaurant offers traditional and creative Tuscan cuisine, with a wine list including the best local producers. It is the way to orient yourself on the territory through food.
Day 2: tasting in the Chianti Classico
The second day is dedicated to Chianti Classico, the most important red wine in Tuscany.
Morning: head to Castellina in Chianti (15 minutes). Stop at a pre-booked first winery for a tasting of Chianti Classico Annata and Riserva. The visit includes the vineyard and the barrel room.
Lunch: agriturismo or trattoria in Castellina - Tuscan cuisine with local produce: crostini, pappardelle with wild boar, roast pork.
Afternoon: a second winery towards Radda in Chianti, this time focusing on the Gran Selezione, to understand how the same grape variety (Sangiovese) transforms into something completely different with more ageing time.
Late afternoon: stop at the wine shop in Radda or Castellina to purchase bottles.
Evening: dinner in Poggibonsi.
Day 3: Montalcino and the Brunello
The third day heads towards the Val d’Orcia and the Brunello.
Morning: depart for Montalcino (1h15 from Poggibonsi). The Fortress with its internal wine shop - first tasting of Rosso di Montalcino (the gateway to the Brunello).
Mid-morning: visit a pre-booked Montalcino winery. Montalcino wineries tend to be more formal than those in Chianti - the approach is different, the prices higher, the quality exceptional.
Lunch: Pienza (22 km from Montalcino) - a light lunch with a Pecorino di Pienza board in different ageing stages, Tuscan bread, local olive oil.
Afternoon: return towards Bagno Vignoni - relax at the thermal baths to unwind from the tastings.
Evening: return to Poggibonsi.
Day 4: San Gimignano and the Vernaccia
The fourth day is dedicated to the only great white wine of Tuscany: the Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
Morning: San Gimignano (12 minutes from Poggibonsi). Visit the Vernaccia di San Gimignano Museum, a space dedicated to the history and characteristics of this wine. Tasting of 3-4 Vernaccia wines from different producers.
Mid-morning: visit a Vernaccia-producing winery in the hills outside San Gimignano. The landscape of white vineyards - Vernaccia is grown on soils different from the Chianti Sangiovese - has a distinct character.
Lunch: San Gimignano - the local cuisine pairs the Vernaccia well with prosciutto di cinta senese, fresh cheeses and cured meats.
Afternoon: local market or wine shop to purchase Vernaccia to take home.
Markets and food shops not to miss
Some gastronomic stops that complete the itinerary:
- Poggibonsi market (Monday morning): local produce, vegetables, cheese direct from the producer
- Macelleria Cecchini, Panzano: Italy’s most famous butcher - a cultural as well as gastronomic visit
- Pecorino shops in Pienza: to buy cheese directly from local producers
- Local olive mill (frantoio): some mills in the Poggibonsi area open to the public in October-November during the olive harvest
Indicative budget for 4 food and wine days
- Hotel Alcide (4 nights): €80-130/night double room
- Winery tastings (2-3): €40-80 per person total
- Lunches and dinners: €35-60 per person per day
- Wine and product purchases: variable, estimated €80-150 per person
Indicative total for 2 people: €900-1,400, excluding travel.
Planning a trip to Tuscany?
Hotel Alcide is in Poggibonsi, in the heart of the Val d’Elsa.
25 km from Siena, 12 from San Gimignano, in the heart of Chianti.
The Ancillotti family has welcomed guests here since 1849.
