The Tenuta Ruffino Poggio Casciano is less than half an hour's drive from Florence. It is the all-around perfect oenological introduction to Tuscany. Of course, the winery has an excellent restaurant that celebrates local and seasonal cuisine ("Tre Rane") and naturally, you can also stay here in style, elegance, and tranquility ("Casa Ruffino") amidst the vines.

These clay, limestone, and gravel soils produce some of Ruffino's flagship wines, such as the Supertuscan called Modus Primo (Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon) or the Alauda (Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Colorino), which is only produced in top vintages. You can taste everything, but beware: that means quite a lot to do, because Ruffino has long since dressed up and today has six wineries in the most famous wine regions of Tuscany. The majestic Montemasso or the picturesque Gretole are fortunately not far from Tenuta Ruffino Poggio Casciano. Fancy a discovery further south?

In the heart of the Maremma, we stop at the Agriturismo of Azienda Agricola Cipriana. The ideal starting point to explore the town and the vineyards around Bolgheri. Or – even better! – to stay here and taste the wines of the Fabiani brothers in the cellar. Since 1975, you can feel their drive for excellence in every sip. Everyone always wants to try the San Martino (Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot) first, which is praised for its complexity and depth, but you should not forget the other wines and especially the Vermentino (Paguro). If you are looking for the typical characteristics of the region in a glass of wine, you will find them here. But ideally, only after you have driven the legendary Via Bolgherese. Dinner in Bolgheri? At the end of Viale dei Cipressi? This little village, behind whose gates time seems to tick differently? Our first choice remains Osteria Magona. There you can stretch your legs and dine outdoors just like you see in Italian movies. Wonderful.

A trip into the countryside. That is, inland, in the direction of the hill town of San Gimignano. It is the village of beautiful towers, the Manhattan of the Middle Ages, fortified with walls from the 13th century. Even today, it is still quite busy here, so we stop at the gates of the town and visit it in the evening when the tourist crowds have subsided.

Pausing is especially easy with the brothers Alessio, Giampiero, and Stefano Logi from the Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara winery. In the midday heat, it is convenient that mainly white wine is produced here. The Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG was the first controlled and guaranteed designation of origin for white wines in Tuscany, but the brothers also make rosé, sparkling, and red wine. What is beyond question is their commitment to organic viticulture. The attention and passion are clearly great in the family. Harvesting is done exclusively by hand, gently, precisely, and as close to nature as possible. The terroir should speak: "What freshness in the glass!" Cozy tasting afternoons are planned here. Depending on desire, mood, and time, one can choose and perhaps even have a small lunch, explore the vineyards by jeep, enjoy a fantastic view, or go down into the cellar and inspect the wooden barrels. God could hardly have done better than in Tuscany, certainly not in France.