From Siena, we drove across the SR222 highway, famous for its majestic scenic route all the way to the Chianti Region. Prior to this visit, we looked for a place that offers a good vineyard visit and wine tasting, with a decent restaurant. This is how we found out about Antinori Winery.

Lovely, misty Tuscan hills

Foggy ride

It was a little bit scary driving in the misty mountains early in the morning. The clouds loved the mountain-tops so much, we could hardly see where we were going. But whenever the clouds would part, we would be treated with such gorgeous sights of mountain-side vineyards. We made several stops along the way to take pictures, of course. But we made sure that we got there in time for lunch.

Amongst the young vines of the Chianti Classico

The Rinuccio 1180 restaurant

Wine sampler with charcuterie, cheese, crostini, etc

Bright and airy restaurant

The vineyard’s restaurant is called Rinuccio 1180. It has beautiful, tall glass windows all around that lets you take in the magnificent view of the Tuscan hills while eating. We took the wine sampler and enjoyed the good menu.

After lunch, we descended into a winding staircase leading to where the vineyard visit starts. The architecture of the place is very modern. It’s mostly flat, inconspicuous and barely visible from afar. In fact, we were getting a bit worried on our way there, solely relying on our GPS, because we were not seeing any signs on the way there. And even when we were nearing the place, it didn’t really look like the usual vineyard places.

Winding stairs

The very modern architecture of Antinory Winery

The architecture of the building

Very old clay container

Explaining the wine-making process

Inside the cave where they store the barrels of wine. There is also a part of their restaurant where the cave is visible to the diners.

Wine tasting

Although the wines are good, we didn’t think they should be so expensive, so we didn’t get any

After the vineyard visit and wine tasting, we watched a video in a little theater inside where they show the history of the Antinori family’s vineyards in Italy. There is also a little museum. And a gigantic ancient wine press.

The wines are really good and I totally enjoyed the vineyard visit because it was in English, unlike the first time I tried to do one in France where it was done in French (of course). I would say that this is my best vineyard visit to date.