4 Wines & 2 Olive Oils Tasting in Chianti Winery with Tour

The most interesting thing here is that Terre di Perseto is a working family winery, not a polished museum built only for visitors. You see the machinery, barrels, and production areas while wine is made on site. I like the generous tasting, four wines plus six bruschette per person, and the chance to compare two estate olive oils side by side.

I also like the easygoing family welcome. Niccolò and Daniel Martelli help carry on the estate tradition, while hosts including Mattias and Benedicta have been praised for clear, friendly explanations. The main consideration is simple: this is a farm at work, so the cellar may look practical and untidy rather than picture-perfect.

Key points

• Four wines in one sitting: Taste two IGT Toscana wines, a Chianti Classico, and a Chianti Classico Riserva.
• Two estate olive oils: Compare Terre di Perseto Extra Virgin Olive Oil with the DOP Chianti Classico version on toasted Tuscan bread.
• A real production cellar: See machinery, barrels, and the working side of winemaking and olive-oil making.
• A family-run setting: The Martelli family remains closely involved in the 100-acre property and its daily work.
• A short vineyard walk: If conditions and timing allow, you can walk among the vines where the grapes were grown.
• Small-group format: The maximum group size is 14, with the tasting held at tables in a dedicated room.

A working winery outside Florence

Terre di Perseto sits at Via di Perseto 4, near San Casciano in Val di Pesa, in the Chianti area outside Florence. You arrive at the family property and meet the host, who may be a member of the Martelli family or one of the regular guides.

The experience lasts about 90 minutes. That is long enough for a proper introduction, cellar visit, and seated tasting without turning into an all-day commitment. I find this timing useful if you are fitting a winery stop into a broader day in the Tuscan hills.

The estate covers about 100 acres, according to the family information shared during the experience. Niccolò and Daniel Martelli are involved in keeping the family tradition going after the death of their grandfather in 2020. That detail gives the visit a personal thread: you are not simply hearing a generic speech about Chianti, but learning about a property still run by the people connected to it.

The setting is not presented as a spotless showroom. During harvest, you may see presses, destemmers, tractors, logs, or other equipment in active use. Some visitors will find this appealing because it shows the work honestly. If you want manicured grounds, silent cellars, and a staged wine-country setting, adjust your expectations before booking.

The cellar tour comes before the tasting

The visit begins with a walk through the winery. Your host explains the company’s story, what the estate produces today, and how grapes become wine. You also learn about the making of extra virgin olive oil, with the equipment and barrels used in production nearby.

This part gives the tasting more meaning. Instead of simply being handed four glasses, you see the tools behind them and hear how wine and oil move from farm work to the table. The explanations are intended to be clear and informal, and the small group size allows you to ask questions.

Several hosts have been singled out for their warm manner. Mattias has led a friendly, informative tasting, while Benedicta has explained both newer winemaking equipment and older tools used in the past. The exact host can vary, but the tone is personal rather than formal.

Expect a working agricultural space. The cellar may show signs of use, especially during the harvest season. Equipment may be positioned for production, and the area can feel more like a farm workshop than a photo set. That is not a flaw for everyone, but it is the key choice you are making here.

One unusual detail concerns the cobwebs that may appear around long-sealed barrels. The family uses a traditional method for Vin Santo, a Tuscan dessert wine, in which barrels remain sealed for at least 10 or 11 years. So a few cobwebs can reflect storage and age rather than neglect. Still, if you are sensitive to untidy or dusty production areas, this may not be your ideal winery visit.

Four wines, from IGT Toscana to Riserva

The tasting includes four wines:

• Two IGT Toscana wines
• One Chianti Classico
• One Chianti Classico Riserva

This lineup gives you a useful range within the estate’s production. IGT Toscana is a broad regional designation that allows a winemaker more freedom in grape choice and style. Chianti Classico comes from the historic Chianti Classico area and follows its own production rules. A Riserva is given extra aging requirements compared with a standard Chianti Classico.

You do not need to be a wine expert to enjoy the comparison. Pay attention to how the wines differ in color, aroma, body, acidity, and finish. The host explains what you are drinking, so you can treat the tasting as a relaxed lesson rather than a test.

The tasting takes place in a dedicated room with tables. That matters because you can sit, eat, and discuss the wines at a reasonable pace. It is not a quick stand-up sample at a crowded counter.

The serving is generous enough to make the $43.21 price worth examining as a food-and-drink experience, not just a cellar tour. You receive four wines, two olive oils, and six pieces of toasted bread. Extra food, wine, liqueurs, or spirits may be available for an additional fee, but they are not part of the base price.

The olive-oil tasting is the real bonus

The bread is served as bruschetta, though the basic menu centers on toasted Tuscan bread and oil rather than a pile of toppings. Each person receives three pieces seasoned with each of the two oils.

The first is Terre di Perseto Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The second is Terre di Perseto DOP Chianti Classico Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Tasting them on plain bread is useful because strong toppings do not cover the oil’s aroma or peppery finish.

I like this part because olive oil is often treated as a footnote on a wine tour. Here, it receives its own comparison. You can notice the difference between the estate’s regular extra virgin oil and the protected-designation version, then decide which you prefer.

Do not expect a full lunch. Six bruschette provide a generous accompaniment, but the food is still a tasting snack. One French-language account wished for tomatoes on the bread, which tells you what to expect: the standard serving is toasted bread and oil, not a heavily topped appetizer course.

A high-quality activity may sometimes include balsamic vinegar or other additions, but those are not guaranteed in the stated tasting. Extra items can cost more. If you need a substantial meal, eat beforehand or plan another stop.

The optional vineyard walk

After the cellar and tasting, you may be able to take a short walk through the vineyards. This is a small addition, but it connects the wine in your glass to the vines outside.

I would take the walk if the host offers it and the weather is comfortable. Seeing the rows of vines helps explain why a winery visit feels different from a shop tasting in Florence. You can look at the setting where the grapes were grown and gain a better sense of the farm’s scale.

The walk is described as short and optional. It is not a separate hike or a long countryside excursion. That makes the tour manageable for most people, but it also means you should not book this expecting hours among the vineyards.

The grounds have been described as beautiful and peaceful, though the production areas themselves may be busy or untidy. You get both sides of the property: the quiet agricultural setting and the practical work behind the bottles.

Why the family setting matters

A family-run winery changes the feel of the visit. The hosts can explain the estate’s past and present in a way that connects the land, equipment, and wines. You may also see family members working outside, cutting brush or moving logs, rather than only meeting a guide in a tasting room.

That sense of pride is one of the strongest reasons to choose Terre di Perseto. The family does not hide the labor involved in running a farm. Their message is that wine production means dirty hands, working machinery, and long days in the vineyards.

I find that approach refreshing, but it is not for everyone. Some people want the romantic version of Tuscany, with perfect buildings and carefully staged views. Others would rather see the real tools and daily mess. This experience is aimed at the second group.

The small maximum of 14 people helps preserve the personal tone. It is still a group activity, but it is unlikely to feel like a large bus tour. The seated tables also make it a good choice for couples, families, and small groups who want to talk while they taste.

Price, timing, and getting there

At $43.21 per person, the cost includes about 90 minutes, the winery tour, four wines, two olive oils, and six bruschette. Compared with paying separately for a wine tasting and olive-oil tasting, that is a fair package, especially if you value the family introduction and working-cellar visit.

The value depends heavily on your expectations. If you judge the experience only by polished architecture and immaculate equipment, you may feel disappointed. If you value direct contact with a small producer, a broad tasting lineup, and a generous bread-and-oil pairing, the price makes more sense.

The meeting point is Via di Perseto 4, 50026 San Casciano in Val di Pesa, near Florence. The tour begins and ends there. One practical note is important: the property is roughly a 50-minute walk from San Casciano, so do not assume it is a quick stroll from the town center.

The activity is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation arrives at booking. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is described as suitable for most people. Since the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking, check your transport plan and timing before you pay.

Who should book this tasting

I would choose this for someone who wants a small family winery rather than a grand commercial estate. It suits couples looking for a relaxed date activity, families with older teenagers, and anyone curious about both wine and olive oil.

It is also a good fit if you are driving or arranging transport through the Chianti countryside. You can combine it with a day among Tuscan villages, though the tasting itself remains short enough to fit into a larger plan.

The tour may be less suitable if you need a full meal, dislike rustic farm settings, or want a long vineyard walk. It is also not the right pick for someone seeking a highly theatrical wine-country presentation.

The tasting works for mixed-interest groups. A 16-year-old, for example, can enjoy the oil, bread, countryside, and production explanations without drinking wine. Adults can focus on the four-wine comparison.

What to notice during the tasting

Start with the olive oils on the bread before you eat anything strongly seasoned. Smell each oil first, then taste it slowly. Look for differences in fruitiness, bitterness, and the peppery sensation at the back of your throat.

For the wines, ask the host how the two IGT Toscana bottles differ from the Chianti Classico and Riserva. You can also ask which bottle best represents the family’s style. The point is not to identify every aroma correctly. It is to understand how grape choices, local rules, and aging affect the glass.

Keep some attention on the people explaining the wines. The family’s connection to the property is part of the experience’s value. You are paying for the setting and the bottles, but also for a direct explanation of how this particular farm works.

Should you book Terre di Perseto?

Book it if you want honest farm character, four wines, two estate olive oils, and a friendly 90-minute introduction near Florence. The family welcome, clear hosts, relaxed pace, and generous bruschetta tasting make this a strong choice for a personal Chianti stop.

Skip it if you want a flawless showroom, a substantial lunch, or a long walk through formal vineyards. Terre di Perseto is a working winery, and that means machinery, harvest clutter, and signs of real agricultural use. Know that before you go, and the visit is likely to feel much more rewarding.

FAQ

Where does the wine tasting take place?

The experience takes place at Terre di Perseto, Via di Perseto 4, 50026 San Casciano in Val di Pesa FI, Italy.

How long does the experience last?

The tour and tasting last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How many wines are included?

Four wines are included: two IGT Toscana wines, one Chianti Classico, and one Chianti Classico Riserva.

Which olive oils will I taste?

You will taste Terre di Perseto Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Terre di Perseto DOP Chianti Classico Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

What food comes with the tasting?

Each person receives six toasted Tuscan bread bruschette. Three are seasoned with one olive oil and three with the other.

Is the vineyard walk included?

A short walk through the vineyards may be possible after the winery visit and tasting. It is optional and depends on the circumstances at the property.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

How many people can join the activity?

The maximum group size is 14 people.

Does the activity start and end at the same place?

Yes. The tour starts at Via di Perseto 4 and ends back at the meeting point.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

No. This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason after booking.