Florence Hills : Winery Tour 18 km from Florence

Just 18 kilometers from Florence, this visit trades city streets for vineyards, olive groves, and a working organic farm. You’ll hear how the family farm began in 1960, walk through the grounds, and taste three wines with bread and extra virgin olive oil.

I like the small-scale feel and the chance to see organic Tuscan farming up close, rather than simply sitting in a city wine bar. I also like the price: $23 for 90 minutes is a fair deal if you already have transport into the hills.

The catch is simple but important: you need a car, or you must arrange a taxi or transfer in advance for both directions. There is no taxi station at the farm, and the visit is for adults only.

Key points to know before booking

• A short trip from Florence: The farm is about 18 km from the city, but its hill location makes transport planning essential.
• Three wines and olive oil: The tasting includes three different wines, bread, and the estate’s extra virgin olive oil.
• A working organic farm: San Vito has followed organic farming methods since 1982 and has held organic certification since 1985.
• A walk through the estate: You can stroll among vineyards and olive groves and see restored Tuscan-style farmhouses.
• A personal family story: The visit explains how the farm developed after the family began working it in 1960.
• A compact 90-minute visit: This suits a half-day add-on, not a long winery day with several estates.

Leaving Florence for the San Vito hills

The appeal here is the change of scene. Florence gives you frescoes, crowded lanes, and grand palaces. Tenuta San Vito in Fior di Selva gives you cultivated hills, vineyards, olive trees, and farm buildings restored in Tuscan style.

The estate sits about 18 kilometers from Florence, close enough for a short outing but far enough to feel like a different part of Tuscany. That distance looks easy on paper. The practical detail matters more: you can reach the property only by car or by a transfer arranged ahead of time.

Do not count on finding a taxi when the tasting ends. There is no taxi station in the hills, and the farm cannot provide an unplanned ride back. Even if you take a train to the nearest station, you still need to arrange the return taxi in advance.

That transport rule is the main thing to settle before booking. If you have a rental car, the visit is straightforward. If you do not, confirm a round-trip transfer before paying for the tasting. A beautiful rural setting is less enjoyable when you are standing beside the road trying to find a ride back to Florence.

The farm story begins in 1960

The visit starts with an introduction to the family behind the estate. The farm was started in 1960, and the guide explains how the property grew into a place producing wine and olive oil while also welcoming visitors.

This family background gives the tasting some meaning. You are not simply sampling bottles with a Tuscan label. You are hearing how one estate has kept agricultural work at its center while restoring old farmhouses for holiday use.

The guide language is English or Italian. Cinzia received especially warm praise for her friendly manner and clear explanations during one visit, including a wine tasting described as a special, personal experience. That does not guarantee the same guide at every time slot, but it gives you a useful sense of the tone to expect: informal, welcoming, and aimed at people who may not know much about wine.

One point needs balance. The quality of explanation can affect the visit. A previous English-speaking group felt the introduction was too brief and wanted more detail about what happens before wine reaches the glass. If you are hoping for a technical lesson on grape growing, fermentation, or cellar work, ask questions as you go. The experience is short, so the depth may depend partly on the guide and on how much discussion your group creates.

Walking among vineyards and olive groves

After the introduction, you can walk through the estate. The route takes you among vineyards and olive groves, with restored farmhouses showing the local building style.

This walk is valuable because it puts the wine in its setting. In Florence, a glass of Chianti can feel like a souvenir. Here, you see the land that supplies the grapes and olives. You also get a better sense of the work involved in maintaining an organic farm.

The walk is not presented as a long countryside hike. The full activity lasts about 90 minutes, and the main focus is the cellar visit and tasting. Think of the outdoor section as a chance to look around, take photographs, and connect the products with the farm rather than as a serious walking tour.

The setting should appeal to you if you want a taste of rural Tuscany without spending a full day moving from winery to winery. It also works well for anyone who prefers a quiet farm visit to a large commercial tasting room.

What organic means at this estate

San Vito has cultivated its crops according to organic principles since 1982. Its products have been certified since 1985, first through A.I.A.B., the Italian Association for Organic Agriculture. The current certifying body is I.C.E.A., the Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification.

The estate also belongs to I.F.O.A.M., the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. The supplied information says the certification process checks compliance with European organic rules and international standards, including the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program.

In practical terms, the farm says it does not use weed killers, pesticides, or synthetic chemical treatments. Fertilizers and pest treatments come from organic minerals. The aim is to protect the soil’s productive ability and avoid chemical residues in the soil and wine.

That background adds real value to the visit. You can ask what organic farming means on this particular estate instead of treating the term as a vague label. It also explains why the farm links agricultural quality with care for the environment and the health of its customers.

Still, organic certification does not tell you whether every bottle will suit your taste. Wine remains personal. The tasting lets you decide that for yourself.

Inside the cellar and at the tasting table

The tasting includes three different wines. The information identifies them as Chianti wines, and bread is served with the estate’s extra virgin olive oil.

The tasting is the central reward of the visit. You get enough variety to compare the wines rather than trying only one sample, and the bread and oil give you a simple way to taste the farm’s two main products together.

You do not need to arrive as a wine expert. One couple found the explanations easy to follow even without much wine knowledge, and the tasting left ample time to sample the wines. That makes this a good choice for beginners who want a friendly introduction without a formal wine course.

At the same time, the visit may feel light if your main goal is a detailed cellar demonstration. One past participant wanted more explanation and more visual detail about the winemaking process. I would treat this as a farm visit with tasting, not a technical production tour.

Pay attention to what the guide explains about the family, the organic methods, and the relationship between the vineyard and the finished bottle. If you want to understand the wines better, ask about the differences among the three samples, how the olive oil is produced, and which products best represent the estate.

The olive oil deserves equal attention

Wine usually gets the spotlight, but the extra virgin olive oil is an important part of the experience. You taste it with bread, which gives you a direct sense of its flavor and texture.

This is a small but useful detail. Olive oil tasting can be harder to understand when it is presented alone in a tiny glass. Bread makes it practical and familiar. You can compare the oil with the wines and see how the two products share the same farm setting.

The estate produces its oil under the same organic principles used for the vineyards. That makes the tasting feel less like a wine-only stop and more like an introduction to the farm’s full agricultural output.

You can buy the wines and oil directly after the tasting. Door-to-door shipping can also be arranged. That is helpful if you are flying with limited luggage or if you want several bottles without carrying them around Italy.

Confirm shipping details and costs at the farm before making a large purchase. The fact that delivery can be arranged is useful, but the supplied information does not specify destinations, prices, or delivery times.

How much time should you allow?

The scheduled activity lasts 1.5 hours. That is long enough for the family introduction, a look at the cellar, a walk through part of the estate, and a tasting of three wines with olive oil.

I like this short format for a Florence trip. You can fit it into a half-day plan without giving up an entire day of museums and churches. It is also a good option if you have already visited major wineries elsewhere in Tuscany and want one nearby rural stop.

The short duration has a tradeoff. You should not expect a slow, all-afternoon meal, a long vineyard hike, or several production stages. The visit moves at a modest but clear pace, and the amount of detail may feel limited if the group wants an in-depth wine lesson.

Availability varies by date and starting time, so check the schedule before building the rest of your day. Give yourself enough time for the drive or prearranged transfer. Rural roads can make a short distance take longer than the map suggests, but no exact journey time is provided here, so do not plan a tight connection.

Is $23 a fair price?

At $23 per person, this is one of the easier Tuscan experiences to fit into a budget. The price covers the 90-minute visit, the farm setting, the guide, three wines, bread, and extra virgin olive oil.

The value depends heavily on transport. If you already have a car and are interested in organic farming, the price is strong. You get access to a private agricultural estate, a walk through vineyards and olive groves, a family story, and a tasting for less than many city-based wine activities.

If you need a taxi or private transfer from Florence, that transport may cost more than the activity itself. The tasting remains reasonably priced, but the total outing is no longer a $23 experience. Work out the complete round-trip cost before comparing it with a wine bar or a tour that includes transportation.

The high rating of 4.9 from 24 recorded ratings reflects a very positive overall response, with particular praise for the setting, the wine, and the personal welcome. The lower experience noted above points to the main limitation: some people will want more technical explanation than a short visit provides.

Who will enjoy this visit most?

I would recommend it to adults who want a taste of country life near Florence without committing to a full-day wine tour. It suits couples, first-time wine tasters, and visitors who care about organic agriculture and local products.

It is also a good fit if you want to buy wine or olive oil directly from the farm. The option to arrange delivery makes the purchase easier, especially if you are moving between cities.

You may want a different experience if you are looking for a large estate with a polished production presentation, a long meal, or a detailed winemaking class. The visit is personal and compact, not a full educational program.

Children under 18 are not permitted, so this is strictly an adult stop. That rule makes the tasting more focused, but it removes the experience from family itineraries with younger children.

Booking advice for a smoother visit

Book your return transport at the same time as your ride to the hills. This is the most useful piece of advice for the whole outing.

Choose the visit when you can spare the full 90 minutes plus transfer time. Rushing away from the tasting defeats the point, and the countryside setting deserves a little breathing room.

If wine is new to you, tell the guide. The explanations can be kept clear and approachable, and you can ask for help comparing the three wines. If you already know wine well, ask for more detail about the estate’s organic cultivation, cellar work, and the differences among the bottles.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Those terms are useful when your Florence schedule may change, but they do not solve the transport issue, so arrange that separately.

Should you book Tenuta San Vito?

Book this visit if you want a short, affordable escape from Florence with real farm surroundings, organic wine, and olive oil. The family story, vineyard walk, and direct tasting make it more personal than a quick glass in the city.

Skip it if you cannot arrange reliable transport, need a child-friendly activity, or expect a long technical winery tour. For most adults with a car or confirmed round-trip transfer, $23 is a sensible price for 90 minutes in the Florence hills.

FAQ

How far is the farm from Florence?

Tenuta San Vito in Fior di Selva is about 18 kilometers from Florence.

How long does the experience last?

The visit lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

How many wines are included?

The tasting includes three different wines.

Is olive oil included?

Yes. Bread and extra virgin olive oil are included with the wine tasting.

Can I reach the farm by taxi after arriving by train?

You must arrange a taxi in advance for both the trip to the farm and the return. There is no taxi station in the hills.

Is transportation included in the activity?

Transportation is not listed as included. You need to reach the farm by car or arrange a transfer ahead of time.

What languages are available?

The host or greeter can provide the experience in English or Italian.

Are children allowed?

No. The experience is not suitable for children under 18.