A short guide to the wines around Florence

It is as though there were a ribbon that binds together and unites the territory of Florence and the surrounding area: it is ruby red in colour; it is wine. It is a fact that wine production shapes our landscape, with the exception of the plain to the west of Florence, an area that was once marshy and is now heavily developed.

It is mainly the eastern and southern areas that are involved in wine-growing, where land ownership is fairly fragmented, with many estates often run by a single family. 
The most common grapes are indeed red varieties, with Sangiovese reigning supreme as the most widely grown red grape in Italy.

Within the Florence sub-region, there are Chianti DOCG production areas comprising two sub-appellations: Chianti Colli Fiorentini and Chianti Rufina.

Chianti Colli Fiorentini

The hills surrounding Florence have always been home to vineyards, which produced wine for the noble families who had their country residences and hunting lodges here. The Colli Fiorentini sub-region boasts some of the finest wines produced in the area surrounding Florence. A ‘modern’ wine, never overly full-bodied, with bright colours, fresh aromas and good balance: these are the most striking characteristics of Chianti Colli Fiorentini wines, despite the differences arising from individual areas, variations in soil, diverse microclimates and each winegrower’s personal interpretation.
The Chianti Colli Fiorentini region encompasses the municipalities of Fiesole, Lastra a Signa, Impruneta, Bagno a Ripoli, Rignano sull’Arno, Figline e Incisa Valdarno, Pelago, Pontassieve and parts of the Reggello area.

The Consortium’s emblem is the Marzocco, the lion holding the stem of the Florentine lily atop the tower of Palazzo Vecchio. It is only available for sale after 1 September, approximately one year after vinification.

Chianti Rufina

‘Rùfina’ is a sub-zone of Chianti, situated along the valley of the River Sieve and bordered by the hills that stretch towards the Apennines. The history of viticulture in this area dates back to ancient times; indeed, the wines from these lands were already highly renowned even before the Grand Ducal era.
Chianti Rùfina requires a period of stabilisation; it then matures in the bottle, acquiring its characteristic ruby red colour with garnet highlights. 
As regards the timing, Chianti Rufina may only be released for sale from 1 September of the year following the grape harvest.

In the same area, in Pomino (in the municipality of Rufina), we find a semi-mountainous environment that is ideal for producing white and red wines that are both elegant and richly aromatic. Despite its small area and limited production, Pomino DOC wine has gained international recognition across all its different varieties: red, white, riserva and vin santo.

This wine-making industry, which is a hallmark of our region with its many farms scattered across the countryside amongst the rolling hills, is a way of proudly carrying on a tradition that is always ready to reinvent itself, as well as to showcase itself to the public – including tourists – at public events such as international fairs, festivals and local fairs.

Wine events

The main events that highlight the wine industry are (in chronological order)

1. Chianti Lovers Week at the beginning of May, in Florence
2. Toscanello d’oro takes place in Pontassieve between the end of May and the beginning of June
3. The festa dell’Uva on the last weekend of September, at Impruneta
4. Bacco Artigiano at the end of September, at Rufina
5. And finally, taking place across all municipalities on 10 August, ‘Calici di Stelle’, organised by the Movimento Turismo del Vino in Toscana 
    
   Details of the events listed can be found, close by the relevant date, in the ‘Events’ section of this website.