…IDEAL for a road trip of wining and dining.
The northern Italian region of Tuscany needs little in the way of introduction. Famed for its fertile soil and rugged, rich terroir, the unique landscape lends itself to two of Italy’s most fervent passions; food and wine. But those rolling hills don’t only define what goes on the plate and in the glass; they also make for a spectacular driving experience. What could be better, then, than a road trip of eating, drinking and glorious vistas in Tuscany’s most famous wine region. Count us in; here are 5 of the best restaurants for wine lovers in Chianti, Tuscany, IDEAL for a road trip of wining and dining.
OSTERIA LE PANZANELLE
Between the towns of Raddo and Panzano in Chianti’s north is Osteria le Panzanelle, a roadside inn which appears unassuming (look for the white sign bearing the restaurant’s name or you’ll miss the place entirely) from the outside. Once you get inside, it opens up, and the pretty garden is always, dependably filled with local families enjoying a long, leisurely meal. This is testament to the quality of the kitchen here, as well as the affordability of the place; two can eat and drink handsomely for under 50 euros. As such, it’s worth reserving.
Truffles and porcini are hugely popular in the Chianti, with many foraged locally, so if there’s a pasta on using either earthy ingredient, it’s a must order. On our visit (in early winter), a dish of wild hare dressed simply with capers was spectacular.
OSTERIA DI PASSIGNANO
Osteria di Passignano, opened in 2000 close to the town of Greve, was founded by Marcello Crini and Allegra Antinori, connoisseurs and enthusiasts of traditional Tuscan cuisine and wine culture. The location is superb, with the journey up to the medieval abbey of Passignano and on to the restaurant taking you through vineyards, offering great promise of what’s to come.
The Antinori family owns those vineyards around the abbey, from which the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione wine Badia a Passignano is produced, and which is aged in the cellars beneath the monastery. Accordingly, you’ll find the family’s bottles on the restaurant’s superb, extensive wine list. The food here is not to be sniffed at either; in 2007, Osteria di Passignano earned a Michelin star which it has held on to ever since.
ANTICA TRATTORIA LA TOPPA
The medieval village of San Donato is more than simply a stop-off when travelling south from Florence to Siena. Nope, the Antica Trattoria la Toppa, open for more than 60 years, makes the hamlet so much more than that. There’s history and heritage by the barrel load to be found at the restaurant; a family-run affair, with father and son duo running the front of house and the kitchen slinging out Tuscan country cooking at it’s very finest.
True to the best Tuscan cooking, the ingredients do all the hard work, with fresh grassy olive oil on the tables to drizzle over the restaurant’s hearty soups. Or if it’s on, their wild boar stew, which is excellent. In the warmer months, the restaurant sets up tables on the street outside, making this the focal point of the community. As with any trattoria doing traditional Tuscan fare, bistecca alla Fiorentina is done right here, and pairs beautifully with a ‘riserva’ chianti. Or, in fact, anything from the Sangiovese grape; this famous beef goes equally well with Vino Nobile or Brunello.
LA TORRE
Executive Chef Di Pirro of La Torre seems to encapsulate Tuscan cooking succinctly when he says that ‘if you want quality then you must follow nature’. So, in the Como Hotel Castello del Nero’s (a 12th century castle) restaurant, you’ll look over vineyards, olive groves and verdant landscapes ripe for foraging, and know you’re going to get fed well indeed.
The elegant dining room is set in the castle’s old stables, with terracotta tile floors and huge windows taking in the views. Their porcini risotto and truffle gnocchi accentuate La Torre’s surrounds, and that’s a wonderful thing. It’s a Michelin starred affair, and as such, airs and graces are required. If you want to get a little looser, then head to informal sister restaurant La Taverna on the same grounds for excellent pizza and a more family-friendly vibe. Being one of Italy’s most famous wine producing regions, you’ll of course drink well here, too.
RINUCCIO 1180
Rinuccio 1180 sits on the rooftop of the Antinori winery, a charming setting with wide panoramic windows and views over Tuscany’s rolling hills, dotted with olive groves and ancient churches. The restaurant itself pays homage in name and soul to Rinuccio Antinori, the forefather of the Antinori family, with Chef Matteo Gambi on the stoves doing his name justice.
Owing to such an illustrious position, both geographically and in history, the focus here is as much on the wine as the food. Their wild lamb (grazing within view) chops with aubergine pairs exceptionally well with a light red Chianti brought up from the cellars below. Now that’s a celebration of terroir done right.
For even more inspiration, check out our 5 IDEAL reasons why foodies should flock to Florence.