Wine-lovers planning a trip to Tuscany will find themselves truly spoiled for choice when it comes to ideal destinations for sampling and shopping different wines and for visiting wineries. However, if you’re interested in the big hitters in life and seeing if they live up to the hype, then you’ll likely be interested in visiting the famous Chianti wine region of Tuscany. In particular, a villa with pool in Greve in Chianti makes for a perfect base for wine fans who want to learn more about wine, try some excellent vintages, enjoy incredibly scenic surroundings, and be able to discover other nearby famous destinations and attractions in Tuscany.
The utterly picturesque and wonderfully historic town of Greve in Chianti is considered to be a doorway into Chianti and is located right along the SR222 provincial road that is known by locals as the Chiantigiana road, just 30km south of Florence and 40km north of Siena, making it very easy to plan day trips to either of those famous and beloved cities while on holiday in the area. It is also perfectly located to begin delving into the many incredible wineries of the region. One such nearby winery that is well-worth mentioning and definitely worth visiting is Montecalvi Winery...
The utterly picturesque and wonderfully historic town of Greve in Chianti is considered to be a doorway into Chianti and is located right along the SR222 provincial road that is known by locals as the Chiantigiana road, just 30km south of Florence and 40km north of Siena, making it very easy to plan day trips to either of those famous and beloved cities while on holiday in the area. It is also perfectly located to begin delving into the many incredible wineries of the region. One such nearby winery that is well-worth mentioning and definitely worth visiting is Montecalvi Winery...
Montecalvi is a winery that has been producing wine since as far back as the 1400s and was part of the historic Castello di Uzzano estate and lands for centuries. Various nobles and families owned the estate and it was farmed for a long time according to the mezzadria system, a method by which local farmers did the actual labour of farming the lands of the estate and then shared the harvests that resulted from this with the owners each year. Today, of course, this feudal system of old has long since vanished and Montecalvi has continued to change and pass through various hands.
Since the 1980s, however, it has been an independent estate with the founding Anglo-Italian Bolli family who produced wine there for decades having received a number of notable awards throughout the years in which they ran the estate, including the Tre Bicchieri in Gambero Rosso. Since 2017, when Jim Drake first laid eyes on the place and instantly fell in love, Montecalvi has been owned by the Drake family who are also the owners of Collalto in the Adelaide Hills region of Australia. The same rich lands that used to produce award-winning vintages for the Bolli family are being used to create delicious wines once more.
Having restored the old vines – which are some of the oldest in the region and were planted in 1932 – the Drakes set about upgrading and updating the entire estate and set about replanting it with indigenous Italian grape varieties. The two and a half hectares of vineyards are planted with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the autochthonous varieties Ciliegiolo and Canaiolo, with most of the production of the winery dedicated to the famous and beloved Chianti Classico. Working together with the British oenologist Tim Manning, the Montecalvi estate has been producing some incredible wines in recent years. Now a certified organic estate where a focus on sustainable viticulture has become a primary goal, this is a place where you can get incredible wines and olive oils that reflect the specific part of Tuscany from which they come and where you can always expect excellence and immense care.
Since the 1980s, however, it has been an independent estate with the founding Anglo-Italian Bolli family who produced wine there for decades having received a number of notable awards throughout the years in which they ran the estate, including the Tre Bicchieri in Gambero Rosso. Since 2017, when Jim Drake first laid eyes on the place and instantly fell in love, Montecalvi has been owned by the Drake family who are also the owners of Collalto in the Adelaide Hills region of Australia. The same rich lands that used to produce award-winning vintages for the Bolli family are being used to create delicious wines once more.
Having restored the old vines – which are some of the oldest in the region and were planted in 1932 – the Drakes set about upgrading and updating the entire estate and set about replanting it with indigenous Italian grape varieties. The two and a half hectares of vineyards are planted with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the autochthonous varieties Ciliegiolo and Canaiolo, with most of the production of the winery dedicated to the famous and beloved Chianti Classico. Working together with the British oenologist Tim Manning, the Montecalvi estate has been producing some incredible wines in recent years. Now a certified organic estate where a focus on sustainable viticulture has become a primary goal, this is a place where you can get incredible wines and olive oils that reflect the specific part of Tuscany from which they come and where you can always expect excellence and immense care.
In addition to producing some truly delicious products and having wonderful and respectable aims, the scenery of this particular winery is also especially lovely; remarkably lush, with wonderful views of the surrounding area offered from its elevated position, and pretty buildings making up the estate. Tastings and tours are both possible to arrange and wandering the estate learning about wine production or sipping on some wine while taking in the views over the grounds and the surrounding Tuscan landscape only heightens the whole experience. Usually open for visitors every afternoon from the 1st of March to around the 20th of December, tours and tastings can be booked by emailing them at sales@montecalvi.com. Tastings of the various wines (and/or olive oil) produced at the estate costs just €5 per person and this fee can also then be set against anything you buy, essentially making it free in that case. The tours, meanwhile, take you through the vineyards and the cantina and end on the beautiful terrazza panoramica where the tastings also take place to introduce you to their wines and olive oil. For all this, the cost is just €20 per person or €25 per person if you want some antipasti to be served up along with the wines that you are tasting – not too shabby or too costly for a rather brilliant day out! Private tours that can offer more in-depth information or personalised experiences can also be arranged by special request by using the same email address.
So, if you are totally mad about wine and you have been considering planning a holiday in Tuscany then this is your sign to finally make it happen! Come and discover how the famous wine region of Chianti truly does live up to the hype by browsing our incredible villas in Greve in Chianti and seeing all that a holiday in the area has to offer you. And, of course, be sure to set aside some time to visit one of the best wineries in the area, the stunning, historic, and excellent Montecalvi Winery, during your vacation in Chianti.
Montecalvi Winery
Via Uzzano Citille 85,
50022 Greve in Chianti, Firenze, Italia
+39 055 8549225
sales@montecalvi.com
Opening hours:
Monday 2–7pm
Tuesday 2–7pm
Wednesday 2–7pm
Thursday 2–7pm
Friday 2–7pm
Saturday 2–7pm
Sunday 1–6pm
So, if you are totally mad about wine and you have been considering planning a holiday in Tuscany then this is your sign to finally make it happen! Come and discover how the famous wine region of Chianti truly does live up to the hype by browsing our incredible villas in Greve in Chianti and seeing all that a holiday in the area has to offer you. And, of course, be sure to set aside some time to visit one of the best wineries in the area, the stunning, historic, and excellent Montecalvi Winery, during your vacation in Chianti.
Montecalvi Winery
Via Uzzano Citille 85,
50022 Greve in Chianti, Firenze, Italia
+39 055 8549225
sales@montecalvi.com
Opening hours:
Monday 2–7pm
Tuesday 2–7pm
Wednesday 2–7pm
Thursday 2–7pm
Friday 2–7pm
Saturday 2–7pm
Sunday 1–6pm
