Wine Tasting:
September
is one of the most popular times to visit Tuscany, the days are still warm and
full of sunshine, and it is also the beginning of the grape harvest which will
continue through until the beginning of October.
In
addition to the many smaller local celebrations there are the larger organised
annual festivals celebrating the wine harvest.
 The
oldest and perhaps the best known wine festival is Festa dell'Uva Impruneta
which takes place on the last Sunday of September (27th). It began in 1926 and ever since, the four districts of Impruneta -
Fornaci, Pallo, Sant Antonio and Santa Maria - compete to decorate floats which
are then shown in a parade and judged by a panel. The parade takes
place in the Piazza Buondelmonti and begins around 15.00 it also includes
dancers and musicians. Food stalls featuring local produce and wine open in the morning in the build up to the parade of the floats. Tickets can be obtained from the local tourist office and certain travel agencies in the town. Impruneta is approximately 6 miles from Florence and so is an ideal place to stay.
 Nearby, To Tuscany has the property Mezzo Poggio. Mezzo Poggio is a private villa which can sleep between 4-7 people located 2km from Impruneta and has a air-conditioning and a private fenced swimming pool:
 The Rassegna del Chianti Classico is held at Greve
in Chianti which starts on the second weekend of September on the Friday
evening and continues through until Sunday evening (11 - 13 September
2009). Saturday is the main day with
the wine tastings beginning around 10.00am.
You buy a wine glass from the Segretaria and you can then taste all the
wines for free, the evening usually finishes with a fireworks display.
To Tuscany has properties accommodating from 2-12 people all within a 15km radius of Greve. For details of the properties and their locations please click here
 Panzano
in Chianti is the host town for the Vino al Vino festival held on the third
weekend in September (17 - 20 September 2009).
The event is held in Piazza Bucciarelli the main square of the town with
wine from the local Panzano wineries available for tasting. There is also live music and food stalls
where you can taste the local dishes.
Again as with the Greve in Chianti festival you purchase a wine glass
which then allows you to taste the wines on offer for free.
 Nearby is the beautiful Villa Bernardi which sleeps up to 10 people and is located on the wine estate of the owners so is the ideal place to be involved in the Grape Harvest as well as the festivities! Click here for details
 Castelnuovo
Berardenga Festa dell Uva in Vagliagli is held over the course of the last week
of September. During the week there are numerous opportunities for wine tasting and for trying and buying typical products of the region. There is also a parade where the local
men and women dress in traditional costume.
Near to Vagliagli are the Chianti towns of Radda in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti and To Tuscany has a number of properties in these areas, click here for details.
There are many local wine festivals, and it is possible you
will come across one or two when you are out and about. For any guests staying at the hamlets of
Montebuoni and Montefiorile or at Casanuova di Ama there is the opportunity to help out with the grape
harvest at the nearby vineyard of Castello di Ama.
For those of you not able to visit Tuscany during the wine harvest, you still have the opportunity to visit many of the wine producers during your stay with us. The following link will give you lots of information on vineyards that we would recommend that you visit during your holiday - click here
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