Chianti wine region

From Chianti Classico to Chianti Colli Fiorentini and Chianti Rufina

The famous Chianti region is located in Tuscany, roughly between Florence, Siena and Arezzo. We refer to it as the original Chianti area, the Chianti Classico wine region. If you take the S222 -the Chiantigiana- from Florence to Siena, you will pass Greve in Chianti (also visit nearby Montefioralle!) and Castellina in Chianti. A little further on, with Radda in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti, you have two other towns that are well worth a visit.


For wine lovers and tourists who want to taste the famous Chianti wine, the Chianti region is a great area to combine holidays and wine tasting. Moreover, the Chianti region is a very attractive base to further discover Tuscany. It is not without reason one of the most popular holiday destinations in Italy.


I will give you an overview of the most delicious wine tastings, the most extraordinary wine tours, the most beautiful wine roads, the best wineries to stay at and the most enjoyable wine festivals in the region to try Chianti wine together with other wine lovers.


Come, join me!

The Chianti wine map


The Chianti region is located in Tuscany, the 'tourist' heart of Italy. Its characteristic landscape of rolling hills and many cypress trees. With in between, the many wineries and vineyards to discover.

Recent Chianti wine map in Tuscany (Italy)

Recent Chianti wine map (2024)

It is important to note that this refers to the entire region where Chianti wines are made. Chianti wines are produced in several sub-zones. Besides the most famous Chianti Classico (the original Chianti region), these include Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Chianti Rufina, Chianti Montespertoli, Chianti Colli Aretini, Chianti Colline Pisane, Chianti Colli Senesi and Chianti Montalbano.

Het wijngebied van de Chianti Classico

Recent Chianti Classico wine map (2024)

The Chianti Classico wine region


As already mentioned shortly, in the eyes of most wine lovers -and tourists- the Chianti region consists of the original area running roughly from Florence to Siena.


In this area, some 400 winemakers -affiliated to the wine consortium 'Consorzio Chianti Classico'- grow the grapes for their Chianti wines. On more than 70,000 hectares of land, these are mainly Sangiovese grapes. Further on, I will talk a little more about the different types of Chianti wine. In a nutshell, Chianti Classico DOCG (with DOCG being the highest quality label of Italian wine) differs from Chianti DOCG. The latter is produced in different wine regions outside the Chianti Classico area. See e.g. the Chianti wine list on WineFolly's Chianti page and the explanation on Wine Enthusiast's site.

Discover the most delicious Chianti wine tours and tastings

You will most likely visit the Chianti region primarily to taste the Chianti wines yourself. There are -in the Chianti Classico region alone- more than 400 wineries producing this wine. Almost all wineries offer guided tours and tastings. With the surge in wine tourism, the wineries are increasingly offering opportunities to taste their wines. From a basic tasting to complete a guided tour around the cellars to a comprehensive wine tasting of the finest Chianti reds. And what about a delicious lunch in the vineyard with a bottle of Chianti from the estate?


Unforgettable Chianti tours (from Florence & Siena)

In addition to the wine tastings at the wineries directly, there is a steadily growing range of wine tours that combine several wineries with sightseeing in the region itself. A full day on a bicycle, in a Fiat 500 or on a Vespa scooter touring to famous wineries or undiscovered gems. Almost everything is possible. Below you will find a selection of options.


By the way, most tours are starting from Florence or Siena. The options for these tours are often a group tour or a private tour. You can pretty much get everything tailor-made (pick up at your hotel or accommodation). But of course the most fun is to compile your own winery tour from all the individual elements that are available. Combine a wine tasting with cycling or a cooking class. Pick what best suits you and your partner, family, friends or tour group. 

Delicious picnic with wine tasting at a Chianti winery

Enjoy a Chianti wine tasting with a picnic in the vineyards of the Dievole winery. Great experience to discover the unique territory of Chianti Classico.


Starting from the Dievole’s wine shop you will guided by a sommelier to the picnic location to explain the wine and paired food combinations. The food is prepared by the Dievole restaurant Novecento.


Tour by: Dievole Winery

Duration: 2-4 hours

Price: € 60

Location: Dievole winery, in the Chianti Classico wine region

Delicious picnic with wine tasting at a Chianti winery
Vespa tour in the Chianti wine region

Vespa Tour in Chianti wine region

Great fun to ride a day on a typical Vespa scooter in the Tuscan and Chianti countryside. Stop for a delicious wine tasting and lunch along the way.


Admire the sights of the beautiful rolling hills of the Chianti wine region and enjoy the full day Chianti scooter tour.



Tour by: myTour in Italy

Duration: 7,5 hours

Price: € 129

Location: Chianti wine region, meeting point in Badesse

Pasta Nonna's recipes & Chianti wine adventure from Florence

Experience a culinary adventure! Learn pasta making with a top chef, then enjoy a Chianti wine tour with our sommelier.


Visit some great wineries and taste the exquisite Chianti wines. Unforgettable Tuscan wine & food adventure.


Tour by: Pasta Class Florence

Duration: 8 hours

Price: from € 230

Location: Starting from Florence

Chianti wine tour with pasta cooking class from FLorence

The Chianti Experience: half-day wine tour from Florence

A memorable Chianti wine adventure with a visit to the beautiful town of Greve where you will be guided along a traditional butcher shop, the wine museum and a family-run winery for a wine tasting tour. You discover all secrets of traditional Chianti winemaking.


At the end of the tour you'll explore an organic winery for a visot of their wine cellar and vineyards. Learn about their winemaking while enjoying a final tasting of three wines paired with delicious seasonal Tuscan products. 


Tour by: Devour Tours

Duration: 5 hours

Price: from € 119

Location: Starting from Florence

Memorable Chianti experience: half-day wine tour from Florence
Sustainable Eco tour - Trekking & Wine in the Chianti Classico region

Sustainable Eco tour -
Trekking & Wine in the Chianti Classico region

Trekking in Tuscany at its best. Tailored personalized hikes through vineyards in Chianti Classico. Hike and wine tasting in Tuscany in the most important wine region near Florence. Enchanting rolling hills, vineyards, wines, castles and Tuscany all around. This exclusive Tuscany experience is designed to understand and feel the Chianti Classico wine region. If you’re looking for a small private group full immersion wine and trekking day experience, you nailed it.


Tour by: Out of the Box Florence

Duration: 9 hours

Price: from € 193

Location: Starting from Florence

Chianti Classico Quad Tour & wine tasting with lunch

Enjoy the Tuscan countryside with a great and guided Quad Atv adventure tour. Driving along the typical small Chianti and Tuscan villages and the vineyards where grapes for the Chianti wines are grown.


After the Quad tour a minivan will bring you to the Chianto Classico area for a visit to both Montefioralle and Greve in Chianti.


The final stop of the day will be at a Chianti winery for a classic Tuscan lunch accompanied by a tasting of 6 wines, chosen appropriately according to the courses.


Tour by: Happy in Tuscany

Duration: 9 hours

Price: from € 220

Location: Starting from Florence

Chianti Classico Quad tour & wine tasting with lunch
A bottle of Chianti DOCG wine with the label of the Black Rooster (The Gallo Nero)

The Chianti Classico (and the Black Rooster)

Out of all the types of Chianti, the Chianti Classico is the most famous one. The Chianti Classico area is one of eight sub-regions in Chianti.


In 1924, the winemakers from the most original Chianti area wanted to protect their wine from the already growing competition from other vintners who were launching Chianti on the market. Based on the idea of quality (and protecting their wine), the winemakers from the original area set up an association of winemakers. This consorzio del Gallo Nero joined forces to protect their wine.


The wineries are still united today, although the name is slightly different. Operating under the name Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico, they jointly strive for the very best quality. The logo of the famous Black Rooster (il Gallo Nero) is still carried by the associated wineries. However, not all winemakers in this region are members, it is not an obligation.


Legend of the Black Rooster (il Gallo Nero)

In the Middle Ages, the rival city-states of Florence and Siena agreed to settle their battle over the border areas with a contest. At dawn, a knight on horseback would set off from each city. Where the two knights would met, the border would be established.


The dawn was announced by the crowing of a rooster. In Siena, a beautiful white, full-grown rooster was selected for this purpose. In Florence, on the other hand, a lean, starving black rooster was selected. This one woke up earlier due to hunger and immediately started crowing.


Because the knight from Florence could depart much earlier, he met the knight from Siena just 12 km away from Siena. As a result, the largest area between the two cities (including the Chianti area) came under control of Florence.

Wine festivals in the Chianti region

If you have an extra day or two to discover the Chianti region, you might pick one of Italy's official wine routes. The various Consortiums (the wineries join forces by region to ensure quality and promote their wines in the best possible way) are involved in organising the routes through the region.



There are also several entertaining wine festivals and celebrations. The wine festivals in the Chianti region are:


Chianti Ultra Wine

Website festival

Date: 22 to 24 March 2024

Location: Radda in Chianti


Pentecoste a Castellina

Date: 17 - 19 May 2024

Festival website

Location: Castellina in Chianti 


Toscanello d'Oro

Festival website

Date: 28 May to 2 June 2024

Location: Pontassieve (near Florence)


Chianti Natural Festival 2024

Website festival

Date: 28 - 30 June 2024

Location: Radda in Chianti


Lamole under the Stars

View website

Date: 3 August 2024

Location: Lamole, Greve in Chianti


Expo del Chianti Classico 2024

Website Expo del Chianti Classico

Date: 5 - 8 September 2024

Location: Greve in Chianti


Vino al Vino

Visit the festival website

Date: 13 to 15 September 2024 (3rd weekend of September)

Location: Panzano in Chianti


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Other wine regions in Tuscany

Out of the 358 different wine regions in Italy, you can find many of them in Tuscany. The main other Tuscan wine regions -outside the Chianti region- are:




So start planning your next wine trip 🙂.


Have fun!


A map of the Chianti Classico wine region

Chianti resources

To make it easy for you to discover Chianti wines online, here are a large number of relevant Chianti websites and blogs.


Consortia of winemakers


Some Chianti wine roads


Check out Tuscany's other wine routes on the Tuscany wine regions page. Or you can check out the overview of all Italian wine roads. There are almost 100 of them.


Tourism in Tuscany and Chianti

Official tourism website of Tuscany

Official tourism website of the Chianti area

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