Your ultimate guide to Tuscany’s best culinary tours. Discover local Chianti wines, truffle hunting, and top-quality olive oil tastings near Florence.
Tuscany in fall is a beautiful landscape of gold and red hues. This time of year, the region comes alive with its cherished traditions. Wine harvesting, truffle hunting, and olive oil tasting experiences offer a unique glimpse into the heart of Tuscan culture and provide you with the opportunity to indulge in the region's best seasonal culinary delights.
We’ve written up the ultimate guide to wine, truffles, and olive oil in Tuscany so you know where to find the best food experiences in Tuscany and what you can expect.
Tuscany's Wine Harvest
The wine harvest (vendemmia) is a period of great excitement and anticipation in Tuscany. Vineyards across the region come alive with activity as workers handpick the ripe grapes. This labor-intensive process is often followed by traditional celebrations, such as grape-stomping and wine tastings.
During fall, the wine grapes are at their peak ripeness and offer the best possible flavor and quality. Many wineries still use traditional methods of harvesting grapes and wine making and are definitely worth visiting. The end of the harvest is often celebrated with local festivals and events. The festive Tuscan ambiance is a must-see!
Famous Tuscan Wine Regions
Where are wine grapes harvested in Tuscany?
Renowned for its robust red wines, Chianti Classico offers stunning views of rolling hills and medieval castles. Between Florence and Siena, this region's signature wine, Chianti Classico, is a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and other local grape varieties.
The Brunello di Montalcino region produces world-class red wines, aged for several years in oak barrels. Brunello di Montalcino is made exclusively from Sangiovese grapes, and its complex flavors and long aging potential have earned it a place among the world's finest wines.
Known for its full-bodied red wines, Montepulciano is a charming hilltop town with a rich history. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made primarily from the Prugnolo Gentile grape, and it offers a unique blend of fruitiness, acidity, and tannic structure.
Where to Taste Tuscany’s Finest Wines
Our top recommendation is to immerse yourself in the local culture and enjoy traditional food, music, and dancing at a harvest festival.
However, equally as enjoyable and delicious, we suggest signing up to a Tuscan food and wine tour where you can taste the region's famous wines, such as Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, learn about the wine making processes, and enjoy local Italian pairings as you sip.
Many vineyards also offer tours and tastings, giving you a firsthand look at the wine making process and often meeting the workers themselves.
For a unique experience with a local, our top pick is Lucrezia’s wine tasting experience. Lucrezia is a professional sommelier offering wine tasting experiences at her 17th Century villa in the Chianti countryside with a live opera performance. This intimate, immersive, and multi-sensory experience will introduce you to four different wines and some of the best arias from the Italian opera.
Olive Oil Tasting
Fall is also the time for olive harvesting in Tuscany, as the olives reach the perfect level of ripeness. Olive oil is a cornerstone of Tuscan cuisine, and tasting freshly pressed oil straight from the source is an experience that’s not to be missed.
Known as “liquid gold,” Tuscan olive oil is valued for its fruity, slightly peppery flavor and vibrant green color. The harvest season, known as raccolta delle olive, is celebrated with tours and tastings throughout the region.
Where to Experience Olive Oil Tasting in Tuscany
Chianti, Lucca, and the hills of Florence are known for their exceptional olive oil estates, many of which welcome visitors for tours and tastings during harvest season. At these estates, you can observe the entire olive oil production process—from hand-picking the olives to pressing them in traditional stone mills.
The oil is then drizzled over fresh Tuscan bread, so you can fully appreciate its robust and complex flavors. For a unique treat, some estates offer olive oil pairing sessions, where you can taste different varieties and learn how to match their flavors with dishes like salads, meats, and cheeses.
The olive groves are beautiful and make for a picturesque backdrop. In Siena you can admire a beautiful view of the olive groves from the dining table at an ancient villa. Eatwith host Valentina cooks 4-course Tuscan dinners surrounded by the green of her garden. You will be served a delicious meal and a taste of local Italian wines, in the coziness of Valentina’s home.
What to Expect from an Olive Oil Tasting Tour
Most olive oil tours begin with a walk through the olive groves, where guides explain the history and cultivation of the olive trees. Visitors then get a behind-the-scenes look at the pressing facilities and learn about the meticulous process that goes into producing high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
Tastings are often included and allow you to try oils of varying intensities, learning to identify subtle notes like grassiness, bitterness, and spice. In some cases, tastings include local Tuscan wines and cheeses, enhancing the sensory experience and making it a true celebration of Tuscany’s agricultural heritage.
Want to get a taste of the daily life of a Tuscan farmer? A perfect experience for families and nature lovers, join this olive-picking experience near Florence and step into the role of an authentic Tuscan farmer. Venture through lush olive groves and learn generations-old wisdom and passion for this revered fruit. You'll take home a bottle of freshly pressed olive oil–but let’s face it, you’ll want to buy another!
Truffle Hunting
Truffle hunting (tartufaio) is a centuries-old tradition in Tuscany. The most prized variety, white truffles, are harvested in the autumn months, whereas the more affordable option, black truffles, are harvested in the winter and spring.
What is a Tuscan Truffle Hunt?
Truffle hunts are typically led by expert truffle hunters, known as tartufai, who work alongside trained dogs to track down these elusive treasures hidden beneath the forest floor. These dogs, often a breed specifically trained for truffle hunting, have keen senses that help them detect the scent of truffles, allowing hunters to dig up the prized fungi at just the right moment. Trained dogs and pigs are used to sniff out these prized fungi, which are special because of their intense flavor and aroma.
Truffle hunting excursions offer a unique opportunity to explore the Tuscan countryside and learn about the intricate relationship between humans and nature.
Where to go Truffle Hunting in Tuscany
We suggest you join a guided tour to learn about truffle hunting and the places where you could find your own. The best areas for truffle hunting are typically found in the lush forests surrounding San Miniato, a small town renowned for its white truffles.
Each November, San Miniato hosts an annual truffle festival, attracting truffle enthusiasts and chefs from all over the world. The town is a hotspot for truffle experiences, where you can join local hunters on excursions and savor exquisite dishes featuring freshly unearthed truffles. The hills of Mugello, near Florence, are also known for their truffles and offer a more tranquil setting for truffle hunting adventures. Many local farms and estates open their doors to visitors for guided truffle hunts and tastings.
What to Expect on a Truffle Hunting Tour in Tuscany
A typical truffle hunting tour begins early in the morning, with a local guide and trained dog leading you through the dense woods. You’ll learn about the history of truffle hunting in Tuscany, the truffle’s role in Italian cuisine, and the techniques used to train truffle-hunting dogs.
Once you find truffles, the guide will carefully unearth them, so you can appreciate their distinct aroma and appearance up close. Many tours also include a tasting session afterward, where you can savor truffle-based dishes such as truffle bruschetta, creamy pasta, or scrambled eggs with shavings of fresh truffle.
Other than truffle hunting, you can still enjoy the delicious and rich ‘underground mushrooms’ at the table. You will find various menus that will be serving rich truffle-infused dishes, from pasta and risotto to meat and eggs. You can also buy fresh truffles from markets, but be prepared to pay a premium.
The Best Tuscany Culinary Experiences Await
With wine, truffles, and olive oil at their peak, fall in Tuscany offers a seasonal feast! Whether you’re sipping Chianti in a vineyard, foraging for truffles in a forest, or tasting freshly pressed olive oil on a Tuscan estate, you will be exploring the true essence of Tuscan culture and food.
If you’re still unsure of what to eat near Florence, explore all dining experiences, cooking classes and food tours in the area on the Eatwith website.
