San Gimignano and Winery Experience with Light Lunch from Lucca

Off the bat, we went on this tour in early September, to give you an idea of how potentially there might be some differences in the look of the scenery and numbers of people in San Gimignano. Now, the good bit!!! Our driver, Massimo, was a really nice chap. Very friendly, spoke really good English and very funny. He was also very knowledgeable about the area we were in and the other surrounding areas. From Lucca, the drive to San Gimignano was apparently an hour or so, but it doesn't feel that long. You get to stop at a couple of places on the way for photos (we didn't have great weather but I think with the sun out, these photos would be 'canvas-worthy'!!) San Gimignano is a lovely place, with more chances to see the amazing Tuscan countryside and also plenty of shops etc., should you want to spend your 'hard-earned' there. You will find this out from your driver, but they love a bell tower there, and there is one that you can climb (though my wife and I had been up Torre Guinigi in Lucca the day before and presumed that it would be a similar experience (busy and confined at the top). I think on a sunny day, it would very much be worth the fight with the other tourists for the view/photos you could get, but just not for us. Side note, it is very, very busy and in the sunshine, I would think busier still The winery was something else!! Again, if it's not biblically raining, it would be AMAZING, but even through the wall of water, it was fantastic. Amazing buildings and surrounding area were just 'wow', though as we were leaving, someone from another group who had just arrived slipped over (due to the rain), so just be wary of that (I'm sure this isn't a frequent incident) Food was awesome and there was a decent amount (I'll not spoil the surprise), and you get 6-10 wines to try, depending on if you ask about any other wines on the list... The host left us with open bottles on the table, so you can top yourselves up, if the wine you like is there. Host and staff were really lovely and attentative, and always happy to help with anything. You can buy bottles to take there and then or arrange for them to be shipped. Just to warn, there are no £7.00 bottles of wine here, but you can get some around £30-£40 bottles, which we have bought for special occasions (as we're not necessarily big wine drinkers on a weekly basis). The trip back to Lucca was the same as the way there, though being a little 'lubricated' you might find that everyone is a bit more chatty. All in all, we had an amazing day and Massimo was a bit part of that. San Gimignano is another amazing place that we wouldn't have known about or seen, without this tour, so really pleased to have gone. Winery was AMAZING, and I guess you would only go on this tour if you like wine in the first place, so you will love it. I am jealous for you!!!

The experience was great. We had Emilia as our tour guide and she was incredible. So full of knowledge, insight and passion for the region - it was infectious. We loved our trip to San Gimingano, our only criticism is it wasn't enough time for us to do everything. Gorgeous little town that is well worth the visit for the incredible building, delicious ice cream, and stunning views of the Tuscan region. We then headed to the winery. Let me be clear, the "light lunch" was a full three course meal including tasting platter, lasagne and then a beef and vegetables dish. It was all delicious but way more than we expected, so don't fill up before hand. Then we had a relaxing trip back with a couple of more pointers about the region before returning to Lucca and home. A really great tour that went quick because of how enjoyable it was. Thank you Emilia!

I stayed at Lemon Tree Hotel, Baddi from 6th to 7th September and had a wonderful experience. The staff was very polite, the room was neat and comfortable, and the food was tasty. The pool area was really great and relaxing. Overall, I am very happy with my stay. – Pardeep Kumar

This was a very good tour but the most excellence goes to our guide Massimo. He was informative, knowledgeable and fun. The long drive seemed shorter because of all the information he provided along the way. He even had exceptional information about the wines we tasted and how to best enjoy them. He made this experience much more than 5 stars for my husband and me.

Our guide Simona was very knowledgeable, warm and interactive and was able to answer any questions asked. We were given ample time to visit each site.

The whole trip was amazing but the best was our tour guide!!!! She made the whole experience easy and fun!

I must say that my parents and I, as well as the rest of the people on the tour today were very disappointed that we only experienced one winery. The description says wine tasting in both Siena and San Gimignano and we only had the one tasting in San Gimignano. The time spent in Siena was wasting 2 1/2 to 3 hours before returning to San Gimignano for a short tasting with mediocre wine compared to what we have been experiencing. The olive oil tasting consisted of five bottles of olive oil and some balsamic being dropped at the table with little packets of bread. This was a birthday gift for my father and we all walked away very disappointed. Stephen was wonderful and we tipped him accordingly. We all felt very misled as to what our expectations were from the description of the tour compared to what we actually received. I would like to hear back as to what you would consider to be the fulfillment of your duties as the tour operator. Thank you and I’ll look forward to hearing back from you. Nancy Pope

This tour was great if you only have a little time and want to see a few parts of Tuscany. The morning in Siena was not crowded at all. Spent a lot of time in the Duomo. San Gimignano was beautiful. Massimo our guide was very helpful. Generous pours at vineyard.

+2

Absolutely amazing experience, had the best time going around these beautiful cites with such a good driver who's also an incredible guide that truly wants to give us the best experience and reveals more about the beautiful culture here! I felt truly happy being on this tour, learning about and seeing the beautiful Tuscan history and nature. Beautiful cities, beautiful culture, an incredible guide and happy memories, what more could a curious tourist ask for?😁❤️ ... Ah yes, excellent wine too!

It was accurate tour, just as was promised. Massimo, our driver, was great to lift the spirits and to explain the surrounding. We had great time in Duomo di Siena and with the world champion jellato in San Gimigniano. The winery La Marronaia had an exellent view to make photos and we tasted wonderful proseco, vermencino and two chianties with some antipasta and various extravirgin oils. Every moment was wonderful.