Gold of Tuscany: Saffron & Vernaccia di San Gimignano Tour

Savor the gold of Tuscany with this culinary wine tour in San Gimignano, home of prized saffron and Vernaccia wine, the Queen of Tuscan white wine. What grows together, goes together! The rich, aromatic flavor of saffron is a perfect partner for the fragrant Vernaccia wine with notes of almond and crisp acidity.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a noble wine riddled with history, the first wine to be given DOC status in 1966 and its consumption documented since the Medieval ages, and mentioned in Dante's Divine Comedy!

Enjoy this fully escorted wine tour from Florence with a fun & knowledgable English speaking driver. You'll lunch at a farm where saffron is harvested with wine, visit the town of San Gimignano (the city of towers, the Medieval Manhattan of Tuscany) and spend the afternoon wine tasting alongside a spread of artisanal cheeses & cured meats. This culinary tour is deemed the “gold” of Tuscany since Vernaccia wines tend to hold a golden hue and saffron is as expensive (and precious) as gold, in certain cases! Eat and drink like Medieval royalty on this very unique culinary tour in San Gimignano!

- For private tours- door to door pick-up/drop-off and the exclusivity of the whole vehicle and driver guide to yourselves!
- 2 winery visits plus one cultural town stop: Morning winery focusing primarily on white wines made from the Vernaccia grape, lunch (at one of the wineries), post-lunch independent strolling of San Gimignano town, afternoon winery visit with a broader range of wine types and time to stop along the route for pictures/taking in the sights.
- Lunch at a sustainable winery that also produces saffron which can be incorporated into dishes made from scratch: seasonal appetizers, first course (i.e. fresh pastas), cured meats & cheeses- all paired with wine produced on-site.
- Stroll through San Gimignano, a Medieval hilltop town with UNESCO World Heritage status
- Understand how this historic Tuscan white wine is made by touring the cellars and vineyards with the winemakers
- Afternoon winery visit includes an additional wine flight to include also some local reds (Sangiovese-based)
Duration: 7/8 hours
INCLUSIONS: Escorted transport in comfortable climate controlled vehicle, all tours provided in concise English, organization of 2 winery visits with wine tastings/food pairings, time to stroll/explore in San Gimignano, organizing light lunch (meaning appetizers, first course and dessert) with wine, afternoon wine tasting flight with snacks like cured meats/cheeses, scenic stops for photos and personable, knowledgable English-speaking driver.
Please note: The inclusion of lunch and wine tasting fees depend on group size and budget.
Not included: Travel insurance, extra hours, additional tastings and trip cancellation insurance.
REGARDING QUOTES LISTED- Your final quote may vary or be higher than general estimates listed depending on world conditions affecting petrol costs and global supply chain challenges at the time of request. Thank you for understanding!
PRIVATE TOUR Cost: Pricing and inclusions varies. Rates start at 275eu pp depending on group size, time of year, fixed overhead costs such as petrol, etc.
If you’re a couple requesting a private tour please note the cost will be significantly higher due to fixed overhead (7hrs with a certified pro driver, petrol, etc) We suggest to join a small group tour for budget-conscious traveler.
This is a full 7/8 hour day and there are fixed overhead costs such as the driver, gas, tolls, our expertise in researching/organizing, etc.
Please inquire for accurate final cost and inclusions as it depends on headcount in your private group and request.
PRIVATE TOUR Day/Time: Daily at 9am
Meeting location: from your doorstep or lobby in Florence. Tours are scheduled upon your specific date request and our partner’s availability. We can arrange for custom pick-up if not in the Florence city center.
SMALL GROUP TOUR Cost: Starting 195eu per person (pp) depending on group size and season, fluctuations in gas cost, etc.
Days/Times: Daily at 9:30am
We quote wine cellar tours in EU on behalf of a local Florence-based tour operator we partner with to conduct small group join-in wine tours which follow our philosophy for high quality, artisanal Italian wine culture.