Organic wine tastes better when you see the vines. At Casa Lucii, you get a close-up look at an organic family winery just outside San Gimignano, plus a guided path through the farm that ends in their traditional vinsantaia. I love how much hands-on context you get before the first sip, and I also like that the tasting comes with real Tuscan food pairings, so you’re not just tasting wine—you’re eating your way through the region. One small consideration: a good chunk of the experience happens outdoors, so plan for bugs and bring mosquito spray.

The hosts guide you through the estate in an easy, friendly way, and you may be led by people like Orlando or Lucrezia, depending on the day. There’s an English offering, and it runs about 2 hours 45 minutes, starting at 12:00 pm. If you want a relaxed afternoon that feels personal (it’s private for your group), this is a strong choice.

This tour is priced at $108.89 per person, which sounds “wine tour” until you look at what’s actually included: a welcome aperitivo, the estate walk, eight organic wines, olive oil tasting with baked goods, plus the finish with Vin Santo and Tuscan cantucci. For many people, the value is in the full package—food + wine + farm education—rather than only the pours.

Key things to know before you go

• Estate walk with practical farm stops: vegetable garden, orchard, vineyard, olive grove, and more
• A traditional vinsantaia visit: part of how their dessert wine world works
• Eight organic wines plus a sweet finale: reds, whites, rosés, then Vin Santo del Chianti
• Food pairings built for the wines: local cold cuts and cheeses, garden/orchard products, and olive oil with baked goods
• A standout pairing with IGT Sangiovese Arturo: matched with tailor-made artisanal chocolate pralines
• Pickup is limited to specific areas: free from San Gimignano and Certaldo train station on request

Casa Lucii’s organic family winery: why it feels personal

A lot of wine tastings teach you the menu and skip the farm. Casa Lucii does the reverse. You start with a welcome aperitivo, then you move through the property with your hosts, so you understand what you’re tasting as you go. That order matters: it turns the tasting from a sequence of sips into a coherent story about organic growing and winemaking.

I also like the family-run feel. You’re not in a big crowd scene. It’s private for your group, which tends to make questions easier and the pace more human. That matters when you’re tasting multiple wines and eating multiple pairings—nobody wants to feel rushed.

If you’re thinking about this as a break from San Gimignano’s crowds, you’ll probably enjoy the slower tempo. The tour is designed for an afternoon mood: walk, taste, eat, then finish sweet.

The 12:00 pm start and what “near San Gimignano” really means

Casa Lucii is based at Località Santa Maria, 49/C, 53037 San Gimignano. The tour starts at 12:00 pm and runs about 2 hours 45 minutes. That timing is ideal if you want a late morning free and a lunch that comes with wine.

Pickup is offered only from San Gimignano and from Certaldo train station (for people arriving from Florence, Siena, or Pisa). It’s free of charge, but only available upon request, coordinated by message. If you’re staying outside those areas, you’ll likely need to plan your own way to the meeting point.

Also note the tour ends back at the meeting point. In practice, that means you should plan what you want to do after—either re-enter San Gimignano on your own or arrange your next step around getting back where you started.

Welcome aperitivo and the farm walk that sets up the tasting

The afternoon starts with a welcome aperitivo. Think of it as your cue that this is not a quick tasting room stop. You settle in, get a little taste up front, then you start learning the estate rhythm.

Then comes the estate tour. You’ll walk through key parts of the farm, including:

• vegetable garden
• orchard
• vineyard
• olive grove
• vinsantaia
• historical cellar
• a collection of agricultural tools

What I like about this structure is how it matches the food and wine. You’re tasting organic wine, so it helps to understand organic farming in plain sight—how different crops grow on the same estate, and how the olive side of things fits in. And because you see both the vineyard area and storage areas like the cellar and vinsantaia, the tasting feels grounded instead of abstract.

You’ll also get a better sense of why certain pairings work. When you taste something later and you’ve already seen the garden products and the olive oil process angle, the flavors make more sense.

One practical tip: wear shoes you don’t mind getting a little dusty. Even if the walk isn’t described as a hike, you’re touring working farm spaces and historical areas, and comfort beats fashion here.

Inside the vinsantaia and historical cellar: what it adds to the wine

The most unique part of the experience is the visit to the vinsantaia. This is the traditional setting tied to Vin Santo-style dessert wine. Even without turning it into a chemistry class, seeing the place where those wines connect to storage methods gives the tasting a different kind of meaning.

Then you also visit the historical cellar and a collection of agricultural tools. This is where the tour becomes more than tasting—it becomes heritage and craft. You see how the estate works across time: farming tools, old storage spaces, and the way family knowledge carries forward.

If you’re the type who likes “how it’s made” as much as “how it tastes,” you’ll appreciate these stops. They’re not just a photo opportunity; they set up the tasting order and make the finale feel earned.

Eight organic wines, plus the IGT Sangiovese Arturo moment

The main tasting centers on eight organic wines selected from the winery’s own production, covering reds, whites, and rosés. That’s a lot of variety for an afternoon, and the tour keeps it structured so you’re not drowning in glasses.

The centerpiece you’ll want to pay attention to is the IGT Sangiovese Arturo. It’s paired with tailor-made artisanal chocolate pralines. That pairing is a big reason this experience earns its strong reputation. Chocolate and Sangiovese aren’t automatically a classic match, so it feels like something the winery chose intentionally to show how flavors line up—fruit, acidity, and sweetness.

Here’s how I’d approach tasting so you actually enjoy all eight:

• Take small sips and reset between wines
• Pay attention to how the rosé and white change the pace before the reds
• Use the food pairings to clear your palate instead of chasing the next wine too fast

Also, because you’re eating during the tasting, your palate won’t stay “dry.” That’s the point. These wines are meant to be tasted with food, not in isolation.

Tuscan tasting plates: cold cuts, cheeses, and garden-forward bites

Wine alone is fun. Wine with real Tuscan food is the main event here.

You’ll have a cutting board with side dishes made from a mix of:

• cured meats and cheeses from local farms
• products from the vegetable garden and orchard of the property
• an extra virgin olive oil tasting with baked goods

This isn’t the kind of tour where you get a couple of generic crackers. The food is built into the story of the estate. Olive oil from the farm, garden and orchard produce, plus local salumi and cheeses—so you’re sampling local supply chains, not just a tourist-friendly spread.

One of the smartest touches is how the olive oil shows up along with baked goods. If you’ve only ever tasted olive oil in small drizzle form, this gives you a clearer idea of how it tastes as a standalone flavor.

And yes, you should come hungry in a responsible way. The pacing is designed so you keep moving through the estate and then through multiple pairings without feeling like you’ll starve. Still, if you know you’re sensitive to wine or you’re not much of a drinker, you’ll want to pace yourself.

The finale: Vin Santo del Chianti Curato and Tuscan cantucci

The tour wraps up with Vin Santo del Chianti Curato and Tuscan cantucci (cantuccini). This is the classic Tuscan sweet finish, and it ties back to the vinsantaia you visited earlier.

I like that the sweet finale isn’t random. You see the storage context, then you taste the dessert wine at the end. That makes the final pairing feel less like a checkbox and more like a payoff.

If you like dessert wines, you’ll probably savor this. If dessert wine isn’t your thing, don’t panic—cantucci still work even if you sip slowly, and the overall experience has plenty of savory and wine moments before you reach the sweet portion.

Price and logistics: is $108.89 worth it?

Let’s talk value, because wine tours can feel overpriced fast.

At $108.89 per person for about 2 hours 45 minutes, you’re getting:

• a welcome aperitivo
• guided estate walk through multiple farm and historical stops
• tasting of eight organic wines from the winery’s own production
• food pairings: local cold cuts and cheeses, garden/orchard products, plus olive oil with baked goods
• a sweet finish with Vin Santo del Chianti Curato and Tuscan cantucci
• English offered
• private format (your group only)

For me, the “worth it” part comes from the combo. If you only cared about wine, you could do a basic tasting. If you only cared about food, you could do a meal. This tour adds the farm walk that connects both, so your time turns into something you can remember.

It also helps that this is a popular booking. On average, it’s reserved about 46 days in advance, so it’s smart to plan ahead rather than assume you can grab a spot last minute.

One logistics consideration: pickup is limited. If you’re staying in San Gimignano or near Certaldo train station, pickup can be a big convenience. If not, you’ll need to factor in how you’ll get to Casa Lucii and back to the meeting point.

Who should book Casa Lucii (and who might skip it)

I think this tour is perfect for:

• people who want a family-run organic winery experience with an actual estate walk
• wine lovers who like variety (reds, whites, rosés) and hate rushed tastings
• food-first travelers who want cured meats, cheeses, garden/orchard produce, and olive oil included
• couples and small groups looking for a calmer alternative to big tasting crowds

It might be less ideal for:

• anyone who can’t handle outdoor time in the afternoon (bring mosquito spray)
• people who want a super-fast wine hit with no extra steps—this is a full, guided 2h45 experience
• travelers staying outside the pickup areas who don’t want to arrange their own transport to the meeting point

Should you book this wine and food tasting?

If you want Tuscany in one afternoon—organic farming, a traditional vinsantaia stop, eight wines, and serious food pairings—yes, book it. Casa Lucii earns its reputation through the farm-to-table flow. You walk the estate, then you eat and drink in a way that makes sense.

If you’re the type who enjoys learning while you taste, or you want a relaxed, not-too-formal day outside San Gimignano, this fits nicely. Just plan for the outdoors, come hungry, and be ready to slow down and enjoy the pace.

FAQ

Where does the experience start?

It starts at Casa Lucii, Località Santa Maria, 49/C, 53037 San Gimignano SI, Italy.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 12:00 pm.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts about 2 hours 45 minutes.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates.

Do you taste eight wines?

Yes. The tasting includes eight organic wines from the winery’s production, and the experience finishes with Vin Santo del Chianti Curato.

What food is included?

You’ll have a cutting board with cured meats and cheeses, products from the vegetable garden and orchard, an extra virgin olive oil tasting with baked goods, plus Vin Santo with Tuscan cantucci.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is available only from San Gimignano and from Certaldo train station. It’s free of charge, but available only upon request.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, English is offered.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

You Might Also Enjoy

Douro Valley: private tour with lunch and wine estate all inclusiveChampagne Area Small-Group Tour including a Top Champagne house & Family WineryMartha’s Vineyard Private ToursJersey Premium Vineyard and Distillery Wine Tour and Tasting