The Greatest Wine Area of Italy to Go to If You Need to Escape the Crowds

An image of Pisa from above, showcasing its beautiful terra cotta buildings and churches.
In case you’re searching for a wine area of Italy to go to, look no additional than Terre di Pisa.Credit score: Francesco Mazzei

After residing within the heart of Rome for nearly 4 years, I’m an skilled at avoiding crowds in Italy. When searching for wine excursions in Tuscany, I all the time select a relaxed route alongside beautiful backroads that ship all of the La Dolce Vita feels of Italian wine nation — whereas nonetheless avoiding the complications of overtourism. 

One among my favourite locations to go to is the lesser-known wine area of Italy, Terre di Pisa. Nestled between Florence and Pisa, it should make you’re feeling like you may have Tuscany (virtually) to your self, even in excessive season. In case you’re searching for the place to remain in Tuscany, look no additional. Terre di Pisa is a vibrant area stuffed with genuine village life, Michelin-starred hilltop eating places, fabulous natural wineries, vine-draped rolling hills, historic borgos, and verdant woods teeming with black and white truffles. 

Able to plan an epicurean wine-tasting journey in Terre di Pisa, alongside its much less traveled backroads? Right here’s all you want to find out about the place to sip, day journey, dine, and keep in among the finest wine areas of Italy.

The place to Sip and Day Journey in This Wine Area of Italy

As a comparatively new DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controlata), Terre di Pisa isn’t beholden to just one basic wine mix. Its vineyards provide an unimaginable number of vivid wines singing with salinity. For a few of the finest wines of Tuscany, strive the Terre di Pisa Bianco, Terre di Pisa Vermentino, Terre di Pisa Rosato, and quite a lot of refined glowing wines alongside the best way.

San Miniato

Image of the village of San Miniato shown from above, with terracotta colored buildings surrounded by greenery.
To kick off your wine tour of Tuscany, begin within the picturesque city of San Miniato. – Credit score: Francesco Mazzei

A gourmand’s first cease alongside this Tuscan wine tour is San Miniato. An impossibly charming hilltop city, San Miniato is heralded for its elegant wines and white truffles. The truth is, these are simply two of the numerous the explanation why Florence and Pisa have fought over San Miniato for hundreds of years. Uncover its cobblestone streets, medieval sq., cathedral, spectacular tower, and infinity views of rolling hills coated in vineyards.

Whilst you’re there, make a cease at Pietro Beconcini vineyard. The homeowners Leonardo and Eva personally greet and information every visitor by their natural winery, which is teeming with fossilized seashells within the soil beneath your ft. A lush forest borders the vineyards the place tartufaio (truffle hunter) Massimo Cucchiar and his canine Mela sniff out the fragrant delicacies. Get cozy within the tasting room and revel in a day spent sampling truffles and wine. Leonardo pours a Terre di Pisa Sangiovese so elegant that it may even be paired with a plain white truffle.

Image of a man and his dog with a beautiful vineyard as a backdrop. The man is a tartufaio, or a truffle hunter, and his companion helps him sniff out truffles.
Tartufaio Massimo Cuchiar and his canine Mela are specialists at searching out the scrumptious truffles within the forests surrounding Pietro Beconcini vineyard. – Credit score: Donna Sozio

To your second cease in San Miniato, move by Podere Pellicciano, a winery set on a historic natural farm. The winery focuses on Terre di Pisa monovarietals, together with Colorino, Trebbiano, and Malvasia Nera. From these bottles, you’ll be able to admire the purity of the grape because it expresses itself in a solo symphony. 

Lastly, spherical out the day with dinner and a view. The elegant Pepenero options beautiful countryside views, a mouthwatering white truffle menu, and an intensive hyper-local wine cellar.

Terricciola

Within the historic ​​Entruscan space of Terricciola, Azienda Agricola Castelvecchio vineyard provides an informal tasting alfresco with seasonal native specialties. Ask for the restricted version Massima Felicità, a Terre di Pisa Roso with notes of liquorice and cassis. 

For a contemporary twist, cease on the tasting room and cellar of Podere La Chiesa. Though it’s surrounded by million-year-old limestone, the constructing is a real modern architectural masterpiece. Style their winery’s Opera in Purple, a Terre di Pisa Sangiovese DOC that’s spherical and chic with a silky mouthfeel. Be sure you additionally test Podera La Chiesa’s calendar upfront for jazz live shows and fashionable artwork exhibitions.

Image of a large metal tub full of Marina Romin pink dessert wine bottles and ice, set against a backdrop of the vineyards.
The Marina Romin vineyard is legendary for its dessert wine and its beautiful winery backdrop. – Credit score: Marina Romin Vineyard

In case you’re searching for a extra hands-on expertise, strive vineyard and agriturismo scorching spot Fattoria di Fibbiano. With a farmhouse relationship again to the 1700s, the vineyard has an unlimited profile of natural purple, white, rose, and naturally fermented wines. Throughout harvest, friends are invited to roll up their sleeves and choose grapes and olives and be part of the method. 

Lastly, to find indigenous uncommon grape varietals, e book a tasting on the beautiful patio on the Marina Romin vineyard. Don’t miss her candy dessert wine, Vin Santo del Chianti — it’s paradise within the mouth.

Lajatico

Image of a larger-than-life sculpture of a Roman head floating on a lake, surrounded by vineyards.
The Teatro del Silenzio in Lajatico is an outside amphitheater that includes a beautiful sculpture backyard and musical friends in the summertime. – Credit score: Flicker Gianluca Boni

The birthplace of Andrea Bocelli, Lajatico is house to the incomparable Teatro del Silenzio — an outside amphitheater that majestically appears to drift above the bottom and contact the sky. Its rotating sculpture backyard comes alive every summer time live performance season, greeting friends from world wide to expertise magical outside musical performances starring Andrea Bocelli and buddies.

Peccoli

Winner of the distinguished “Borgo dei Borghi d’Italia 2024”, natural wine and artwork pair superbly in Peccoli. An open air museum, the whole village and its environment are immersed in artwork. Go to the work of David Tremlett, who remodeled the whole Through di Mezzo in Ghizzano into a colourful modern set up. 

Image of a tour group of people standing in the Italian village Peccoli, and the Via de Mezzo that has turned the street into an open-air art museum with colorful walls.
Artist David Tremlett has remodeled Through di Mezzo in Ghizzano right into a vibrant, fashionable open-air museum. – Credit score: Tenuta di Ghizzano

After you’ve had your fill of artwork for the day, swing by Tenuta di Ghizzano and tour its natural and biodynamic vineyards, ending with a tasting of Il Ghizzano Bianco I.G.T. Costa Toscana and scrumptious native Terre di Pisa wines.

Palaia

Usiglian del Vescovo is an under-the-radar, must-try vineyard that additionally focuses on spirits and grows medicinal herbs in an historic seabed terroir. In case you’re not a vermouth lover, you’ll shortly grow to be a convert — theirs could also be the most effective I’ve ever had. Fragrant herbs like artemisia, helichrysum, rosemary, and oregano are mixed with their pure natural wine to create this silky vermouth. Don’t neglect to style the very good London Dry Gin, made with native Tuscan herbs that develop on the close by hills.

The place to Keep in Terre di Pisa

Borgo Pignano

Image of saltwater infinity pool at the Tuscan villa Borgo Pignano, a green luxury hotel with views of the Tuscan woods.
The centuries-old Tuscan villa Borgo Pignano is a must-stay luxurious lodge in Terre di Pisa. – Credit score: Villa Borgo Pignano

A 750-acre Tuscan property and centuries-old villa, Borgo Pignano is a inexperienced luxurious lodge with 14 artfully adorned rooms and suites, in addition to two distinctive eating places. A saltwater infinity pool graces the villa with views of the woods, gardens, and neighboring hills. Attempt yoga or horseback using, excellent your bocce ball abilities, or just lounge by the pool.

Villa Cosmiana

Nestled on a small hill in Peccioli, the impeccably renovated Seventeenth-century, neoclassical Villa Cosmiana is surrounded by Italian gardens and 15 vineyards on 11 hectares. With 4 beautiful flats to select from, that is true luxurious agritourism at its most interesting. No expense was spared within the renovation to convey it again to its former glory, together with partitions adorned with classical and modern artwork.

Castelfalfi

Image of a view of Castelfalfi's massive property from above, which includes 57 acres of vineyards, a castle, and 9000 olive trees.
The Castelfalfi property stretches on for dozens of acres and consists of the choice of staying within the lodge, villas, or flats. – Credit score: Castelfalfi

A superbly restored medieval borgo, Castelfalfi’s huge property provides a laundry record of promoting factors. From panoramic views to a fortress, woods, a lake, 57 acres of natural vineyards, 9,000 olive bushes, climbing trails, a spa, and a Twelfth-century church — the record is actually infinite. Select to remain in both their boutique lodge, luxurious villas, or flats. And dine inside a thousand-year-old fortress at La Rocca Castelfalfi, which includes a scrumptious plant-based tasting menu.

Methods to Get There and Get Round

Attending to Terre di Pisa is extremely handy. Fly into Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa, with straightforward connections from many European cities and serviced by 19 airways, together with British Airways and Lufthansa. 

In case you’re already in Italy, the Pisa Centrale station is just 45 minutes from Florence by way of a high-speed prepare. I’d additionally advocate renting a automobile to discover Terre di Pisa’s backroads. Each the airport and prepare station have your selection of auto leases out there, from Finances to Alamo, and extra.

Donna  Sozio  is an writer (Simon & Schuster, Kensington), e book coach, and author focusing on luxurious journey, wine, wellness, … Extra about Donna Sozio

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