Minibus Rental Across Italy

Winery days by coach, with a driver who never tastes

Italy's wine areas sit close to cities that groups already visit. Chianti lies between Florence and Siena, Valpolicella is half an hour from Verona and the Langhe are a little over an hour from Turin. The driver makes the day work: a professional driver's alcohol limit is zero, so nobody in the group has to stay sober.

Five areas and how far away they are

From Florence, Greve in Chianti is about 40 minutes. From Siena, Castellina in Chianti takes about 50 minutes and Montalcino about 1 h 20 min. Verona to San Pietro in Cariano, in Valpolicella, is about 30 minutes. From Turin, Alba is about 1 h 15 min and Barolo about 1 h 20 min. Milan to Erbusco, in Franciacorta, takes about 1 h 20 min, and Etna's north side at Piano Provenzana about 1 h 10 min from Taormina.

Passenger van rear compartment loaded with luggage
Passenger van rear compartment loaded with luggage

Size the vehicle to the lanes

Wine roads climb through small towns and end at farm gates. A midi-coach or a minibus handles hill roads and narrow drives better than a full-size coach, and a group of 30 fits a midi-coach. For a full coach, ask each winery where it can turn and park, and plan a short walk if it cannot reach the cellar door.

On Etna, coaches reach the Rifugio Sapienza on the south side and Piano Provenzana on the north. Higher up, access depends on volcanic activity and is set by ordinance, so the programme stays flexible.

Rules the organiser should know

  • Chianti Classico lies between Florence and Siena; the zone covers about 71,800 ha, including the whole of Castellina, Gaiole, Greve and Radda in Chianti, and its consortium, founded in Radda in Chianti on 14 May 1924, uses the Black Rooster (Gallo Nero) emblem
  • Franciacorta, in the province of Brescia near Lake Iseo in Lombardy, makes sparkling wine by the Franciacorta method; the Strada del Franciacorta wine road links wineries, art and nature around the lake
  • Book winery visits and tastings for groups in advance

Booking the tastings

Wineries take groups by appointment. Book each visit and tasting in advance and give the operator the times, so the drive between estates is planned rather than guessed. Three wineries and a lunch make a full day once the driving is counted.

Keep the day inside the driver's 9 hours at the wheel, and leave room for the pause due after 4.5 hours of driving. A Langhe day from Turin spends about 2 h 30 min on the road to Alba and back before any winery lanes are counted.

Questions organisers ask

Can the driver join a tasting?

No. Drivers carrying passengers professionally may not drink any alcohol before driving, and the limit is zero.

Which area suits a group staying in Venice?

Valpolicella is about 30 minutes beyond Verona, which is about 1 h 45 min from Piazzale Roma. Nearer Venice, the Prosecco hills at Valdobbiadene are about 1 h 30 min away.

Is Chianti Classico small enough for one day?

Not all of it. The zone covers about 71,800 ha between Florence and Siena, so pick two or three villages, such as Greve and Castellina, and leave the rest for another day.

Cities

Vehicles with a driver