Hello, I'm Angela Saltafuori from Florence. I am a licensed wine tour guide ready to accompany you on enjoyable and interesting day trips during your visit to Tuscany. I offer both private and shared Tuscany wine tours.
Corso per Sommelier (2° livello) Provincia di Firenze
One day Chianti Castles and Vineyards Special Tour
This tour takes you into the heart of the Chianti Classico wine territory between Florence and Sienna. Your transport will be a minibus which is the most relaxing way to see the countryside without having to concern yourselves with winery appointments, road signs and TRAFFIC FINES - and you’ll enjoy the wine tasting with your personal sommelier. You will learn how Chianti Classico wine is made and, during a walk through the vineyard, you’ll study the characteristics of the main tuscan grape, sangiovese, as well as the characteristics of the soil of this region. If in season, you will have the opportunity to taste sangiovese grapes straight off the vine.
Next, we drive to one of the most beautiful and charming castle wineries in the area where we will enjoy the ancient castle and the mediaeval cellars, as well as the historic rooms and with their wonderful 16 C frescoes. The wine tasting in the castle with two of their best red wines is accompanied by a selection of traditional tuscan ham, salami and cheese and their olive oil. Here, at the first vineyard, you’ll hear a full discussion of the wines and olive oil.
We'll have a delicious lunch IN A NICE RESTAURANT OR DIRECTLY AT THE CASTLE.
Our second stop will be Greve in Chianti, the market town of Chianti Classico, where we will stroll around to enjoy this pleasant village with its shops and handicrafts, or an ancient castellated village, Montefioralle, an 11th Century jewel.
Our third stop will be in another GORGEOUS WINERY , ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL 13 Century VILLAS IN THE CLASSICO AREA.
THIS TOUR HAS TO BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE!
Departure point: At a convenient place What time does the tour start? At 10 a.m What time does the tour end? At 5/6. p.m. Inclused: Transport, tickets for parking, tickets for churches and museums, light lunch, two wine tastings
Chianti Classico (light lunch at a winery included)
Pickup is at 9.30 am from a convenient point in Florence. If you have a group staying in the country near Florence, please ask if we can arrange to collect you at or near your accommodation. The tour ends with drop off at about 5.30-6.00 pm.
Florence (from your accommodation) ----> first Chianti vineyard (cellar tour, wine tasting, olive oil tasting) ----> second Chianti vineyard (light lunch together with wine tasting) ----> visit the mediaeval village of Montefioralle - time-permitting, a walk around the shops in the piazza of Greve in Chianti ----> back to your accommodation.
Throughout this tour we will be passing through the beautiful landcape of Tuscany, with its attractive farm houses, villas and castles.
Montalcino - Brunello (light lunch at a winery included)
Pickup is at 9.30 am from a convenient point in Florence and/or Sienna. If you have a group staying in the country near Florence, please ask if we can arrange to collect you at or near your accommodation. The tour ends with drop off at about 5.30-6.00 pm.
Florence (from your accommodation) ----> first Brunello vineyard (cellar tour, wine tasting, olive oil tasting) ----> second Brunello vineyard (light lunch together with wine tasting) ----> visit Montalcino ----> visit the Abbey of Sant'Antimo (listen to Gregorian chant if possible) ----> return to your accommodation.
The landscape of this tour is characterised by "crete" (clay) geomorphology so famous in Tuscany south of Siena.
San Gimignano and Sienna (trattoria lunch included)
Pickup is at 9.30 am from a convenient point in Florence and/or Sienna. If you have a group staying in the country near Florence, please ask if we can arrange to collect you at or near your accommodation. The tour ends with drop off at about 5.30-6.00 pm.
Florence (from your accommodation) ----> Superstrada and state highway to San Gimiganano ----> walking tour including the Romanesque Collegiata with its very fine frescoes, the Palazzo del Popolo with its picture gallery, the church of S.Agostino with its frescoed choir and fine high altar ----> lunch at a typical "trattoria" in San Gimignano ----> to Siena to spend the remainder of the afternoon visiting the Duomo and the Piazza del Campo ----> return to your accommodation.
This tour is a concentrated introduction to the Art and Architecture of Siennese Tuscany.
Bolgheri and the Super Tuscans (trattoria lunch included)
Pickup is at 8.30 am from a convenient point in Florence and/or Sienna. If you have a group staying in the country near Florence, please ask if we can arrange to collect you at or near your accommodation. The tour ends with drop off at about 6.30-7.00 pm.
Florence (from your accommodation) ----> first vineyard visit (cellar tour, wine tasting) ----> light lunch in a very special country trattoria ----> second vineyard visit (cellar tour, wine tasting) ----> brief visit to the village of Bolgheri. Which vineyards we visit depends on the vineyard schedules (for example, we can visit Sassicaia on Tuesdays).
This tour takes you to the Super Tuscan wine zone some two and a half hours from Florence, near the "Etruscan Coast". The small town of Bolgheri is surrounded by vineyards planted with the non-typical grape varieties that are the basis of the Super Tuscan wines.
and of course I am happy to take you on a custom tour matching your wishes.
My services for your tour include:
● providing a comfortable minibus for 2 to 8 people
● providing all the appointments for winery visits and wine tasting
● providing all the reservations and tickets for museums, abbeys and other sites
To have me arrange your tour, all you need to do is:
● let me know how many of you there are, where you will be staying and what your preferred dates are
● give me an idea of the main focus of your tour (wine tasting, art and architecture, country life etc)
● select one of my itineraries or tell me what you would like to see
You can contact me at:
Happy customers - pictures and guest book
Michele Scola I attended a workshop in Florence in July and although I loved the city and all that it had to offer, I was ready - after eight days - to get away from the heat and crowds. Sara, the concierge at the Hotel Albion, recommended Angela to myself and two other guests who were interested in getting out to wine country for a view of the country and a taste of some delicious local wines. Angela was the perfect host for this adventure. Knowledgeable and friendly, she put us at ease immediately. We traveled in comfort as she took us to three different wineries in the Chianti region. The countryside was gorgeous and it was so nice to learn about the region from our lovely guide as we traveled. The vineyards were wonderful, the wines - delectable - and the company - so pleasant. We were never rushed. I am an amateur photographer and Angela was terrific about letting me stop whenever I wanted to, as well as pointing out beautiful scenic spots for indulging my hobby. We were offered options, visited a couple of beautiful Medieval villages, stopped for lunch and just thoroughly enjoyed our day. All under the watchful and helpful guidance of our personal Tuscan tour guide. I highly recommend Angela. My day in the country with her was truly one of the highlights of my visit to Italy. Because I split the fee with two other guests from the hotel - I felt that my day in Chianti country was a true bargain. I am looking forward to returning to the region. There is so much to see and do, and I will definitely use Angela again as a guide, perhaps next time for a different tour.
All the best~ Michele
Karen and Joe Barnes
My husband Joe and I were so fortunate to have Angela as our driver during our stay in the Tuscan region. This was our 10 year anniversary Italy trip. We discovered on Day 1, in the first hour driving ourselves, (even with a map), how much time we had lost by not having someone guide us through the Tuscan Region. After arriving to our Bed and Breakfast farmhome in the town of Tavernelle, we asked our host Patrizia, co-owner of the lovely B & B Soviliagno Farm, to take us to Castles and Vineyards (winetasting) for our true "Tuscan Experience". The next day, Angela escorted us to some of the most beautiful, off the beaten path locations. We were able then to allow ourselves to really visit the region as a local, and completely immerse our time by discovering the beauty of flavor(s) and sights,and then Angela herself added her value by offering her caring, charming personality. With this, naturally you and your party truly can appreciate the countryside in front of you. I sincerely say this was the best part of our trip, because we were at home with locals that cared about us as guests, and as family in a way. As a new tourist to the area, you can waste lots of precious time and good energy by driving on your own. Do yourself a favor and have Angela guide you, you will not go wrong! Sincerely speaking, our best time in Italy was at the farmhouse, and with "Angela the Tuscan Driver", who provided us with same feeling as the notorious "Under the Tuscan Sun" adventure ....Reasonably priced with a Value Add that cannot be questioned!!!!
Ranking: ***** Five Stars Service.
Feel free to call/write Karen and Joe Barnes for questions at: 1-480-345-8488
Take care and Caio!
PRICES 2009
For people who don’t want to drive at all, but prefer to sit back and to enjoy the scenery without any worries, I’ll pick you up at a convenient point and I’ll bring you back safely at the end of the day. This is the most convenient way to discovery the Tuscan region, even the secret spots that few know of, and the prices are very competitive if you consider the cost of a car hire!
The prices are in Euro (€) and include: - transportation in an air-conditioned minibus (max 8 people) and your driver-guide. - for the wine tours, the prices include two wine tastings in the best wineries, oil and balsamic vinegar tastings and one cellar tour.
The prices include a light lunch, two wineries (on wine tours) and tickets for museums (on "art town" tours).
Chianti Castles Special Tour 1-2 people: € 480 (€ 240 per person) 3 people: € 600 (€ 200 per person) 4 people: € 780 (€ 195 per person) 5 people: € 900 (€ 180 per person) 6 people: € 990 (€ 165 per person) 7 people: € 1085 (€ 155 per person) 8 people: € 1200 (€ 150 per person
Chianti Tour 1-2 people: € 400 (€ 200 per person) 3 people: € 480 (€ 160 per person) 4 people: € 620 (€ 155 per person) 5 people: € 700 (€ 140 per person) 6 people: € 750 (€ 125 per person) 7 people: € 805 (€ 115 per person) 8 people: € 880 (€ 110 per person)
Montalcino Tour 2 people: € 520 (€ 260 per person) 3 people: € 600 (€ 200 per person) 4 people: € 700 (€ 175 per person) 5 people: € 650 (€ 150 per person) 6 people: € 810 (€ 135 per person) 7 people: € 875 (€ 125 per person) 8 people: € 960 (€ 120 per person)
Montepulciano Tour 2 people: € 600 (€ 300 per person) 3 people: € 630 (€ 210 per person) 4 people: € 720 (€ 180 per person) 5 people: € 800 (€ 160 per person) 6 people: € 870 (€ 145 per person) 7 people: € 875 (€ 125 per person) 8 people: € 960 (€ 120 per person)
Children 12 years old and younger don’t pay. Children 13 to 15 pay half rate.
Contact me at: Telephone +39 333 318 57 05 (write down this number!)
