Wine and food tasting in an organic family winery

The best part of this experience is its personal scale. Casa Lucii is a working family farm, not a large tasting hall, and the visit moves from vegetable garden and orchard to vineyard, olive grove, old cellar, and traditional vinsantaia. Orlando and Lucrezia are among the hosts who may guide you, with the family’s own story woven into the tasting.

I like the full meal served alongside the wines, especially the local cured meats, cheeses, garden produce, olive oil, and the Sangiovese Arturo with handmade chocolate pralines. I also like the free pickup offered from San Gimignano or Certaldo train station, though you must request it in advance. The main drawback is the fixed noon start and the fact that pickup is not available from every Tuscan town.

Key points to know before booking

• Eight organic wines: Taste the winery’s reds, whites, and rosés, with food matched to each stage.
• A real family farm: The visit includes gardens, orchard, vineyard, olive grove, historic cellar, agricultural tools, and a vinsantaia.
• More than a tasting: Local salami, cheeses, baked goods, olive oil, fruit, vegetables, chocolate, and dessert wine make this close to a light Tuscan lunch.
• Personal hosting: Orlando, Lucrezia, Pietro, Lorenzo, and other family members have welcomed visitors on different dates.
• Useful transport: Free pickup can be arranged from San Gimignano or Certaldo train station, but only on request.
• Private setting: Only your group participates, giving the visit a quieter feel than a large commercial winery.

Casa Lucii, a family winery outside San Gimignano

Casa Lucii sits at Località Santa Maria, just outside San Gimignano. That location matters. You are close to one of Tuscany’s most popular hill towns, yet the visit takes place among working vines, fruit trees, herbs, flowers, and old farm buildings rather than in the middle of the town’s busy streets.

The experience lasts about two hours and 45 minutes, beginning at noon. That timing makes it a natural choice for a long lunch with wine, followed by an afternoon in San Gimignano. It is less suitable if you want an early morning activity or a quick one-hour tasting between sightseeing stops.

The winery is family-run and organic. Those words mean more here than a label on a bottle. The visit takes you through the property itself, so you see the garden, orchard, vines, olive trees, old tools, and storage areas that connect the farm’s food to its wines. The setting has old-world character, including a family home dating to the 13th century.

You should expect a friendly, informal visit rather than a highly polished production tour. The emphasis is on the place, the family, and the food on the table. That will suit you if you want a sense of how a small Tuscan estate works. If you prefer a large cellar with elaborate technical displays and a formal lecture, this may feel simple.

The welcome aperitivo sets the tone

The first taste is a welcome aperitivo. It gives you time to settle in before the walk around the estate and starts the afternoon in the Italian way, with something to sip and small bites to enjoy.

From there, your host leads you around the property. The exact order can vary, but the visit includes the vegetable garden, orchard, vineyard, and olive grove. These stops help explain why the food later feels connected to the land. You are not only tasting wine made at Casa Lucii. You are also seeing where some of the fruit, vegetables, herbs, and olive oil come from.

The family’s approach to organic farming is part of the story. You can ask about grape growing, the estate’s history, and how the farm uses its produce. Orlando has been praised for explaining the winery and winemaking in a clear, personal way, while Lucrezia has led guests through the wine and food pairings with care and attention.

One small practical point: some of the visit takes place outdoors. In warm months, bring sun protection and mosquito spray. A past visitor found mosquito spray useful, and the advice is sensible for any garden and vineyard visit in Tuscany.

Old cellars, farm tools, and the vinsantaia

The historic parts of Casa Lucii give this experience its character. You visit the historical cellar and see a collection of agricultural tools. These details are easy to skip on a modern winery tour, but they show how the property functioned before wine tourism became part of the Tuscan travel circuit.

The vinsantaia is another special stop. This is the traditional area used for making and aging Vinsanto, Tuscany’s sweet dessert wine. You will see how this part of the wine tradition fits into the life of the estate before tasting Vinsanto del Chianti Curato at the end.

The old buildings and family home also add a human scale. You are not simply shown a series of stainless steel tanks and given a sales pitch. You get a sense of a property that has been used, cared for, and passed through generations. That makes the history easier to understand because it is tied to rooms, tools, vines, and family members.

The walk is not described as strenuous, and most people can take part. Still, you should be comfortable walking around an outdoor farm and standing during parts of the visit. Anyone needing a fully step-free experience should ask Casa Lucii about current conditions before booking, since the available information does not spell out the terrain or cellar access.

Eight wines with a generous Tuscan table

The heart of the afternoon is a tasting of eight organic wines from Casa Lucii’s own production. The selection includes reds, whites, and rosés, giving you a broad look at the estate rather than a single grape or one flagship bottle.

The wine is served with food from local farms and the property’s garden and orchard. Expect a cutting board with cured meats and cheeses, along with seasonal produce and baked goods. You also taste the estate’s extra virgin olive oil, which is paired with bread or other baked items.

This food changes the nature of the tasting. At many wineries, a few crackers are offered between pours. Here, the food is a central part of the afternoon. Portions are generous enough that you should not plan a separate full lunch at noon. Several visitors have described leaving very full, which is useful to know if you have dinner reservations later.

The pairings also give you a practical way to understand the wines. Salami and cheese bring out different qualities in a red than fresh vegetables or bread do. The meal keeps the tasting relaxed and makes the experience approachable even if you do not know much about wine.

A particularly unusual match pairs the IGT Sangiovese Arturo with tailor-made artisanal chocolate pralines. That is the kind of detail that makes this more memorable than a standard lineup of pours. You are encouraged to notice how a dry Tuscan red works with chocolate, rather than simply moving from one glass to the next.

The food is described as fresh, organic, and locally sourced. Exact dishes can change with the season, so you should not book expecting one fixed menu beyond the listed elements. The dependable structure is the wine, cutting board, garden and orchard products, olive oil, baked goods, chocolate pairing, Vin Santo, and cantucci.

Vin Santo and cantucci finish the afternoon

The final pairing is Vin Santo del Chianti Curato with Tuscan cantucci. These crisp almond biscuits are traditionally softened by dipping them into the sweet wine, making a fitting end to the meal.

This closing course is more than a small dessert. It introduces you to a classic Tuscan custom and gives the earlier visit to the vinsantaia a clear purpose. You have seen where this style of wine belongs, learned a little about the estate, and then tasted the result with a familiar regional sweet.

The ending also makes the activity feel complete. You begin with an aperitivo, walk through the farm, taste eight wines with savory food, and finish with dessert. That is why I would treat this as a half-day food experience rather than a quick winery stop.

The hosts make the difference

Casa Lucii’s strongest feature is the people who lead the visit. Orlando, one of the family members involved in the winery, has hosted tours and arranged pickup from San Gimignano hotels. Lucrezia has guided wine tastings and explained the estate’s history and pairings. Pietro, Lorenzo, Alessio, and other team members have also welcomed groups.

The hosting style is warm and conversational. You can expect explanations about organic grape growing, the family property, wine production, and food combinations. The visit is private, so only your own group participates. That is a major benefit for couples, families, or friends who want to ask questions without competing with a large crowd.

The private format does not guarantee the same host every day, and the exact tone may vary. Still, the family connection is built into the experience. You are meeting the people who manage and present their own farm, not a hired guide separated from the estate.

The setting also works well for special trips. Couples on a honeymoon, families with older children, and friends traveling together have all found the combination of food, views, and personal hosting appealing. Children can participate because most people can take part, but remember that the focus is wine tasting, so this is best for groups whose main interest is food, farming, and adult conversation.

Price, transport, and practical value

The cost is $108.89 per person. That is not a bargain-basement tasting, but it includes far more than wine. You receive a private farm visit, a guided walk, eight organic wines, a substantial food spread, olive oil, chocolate pralines, Vin Santo, and cantucci.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay for a separate lunch and a small wine tasting. Here, the food is part of the experience rather than an afterthought. You also get access to the estate’s historic areas and a family-led presentation, which is difficult to compare with a short tasting bar in San Gimignano.

Pickup is free from San Gimignano and from Certaldo train station, but only if requested. The provider coordinates the time and sends directions after you make contact. Pickup is not offered from Florence, Siena, or Pisa directly, although Certaldo can work for arrivals by train from those cities.

If you drive, on-site parking is available. This makes Casa Lucii easier to reach by car than a tasting room inside San Gimignano’s restricted historic center. If you are staying in San Gimignano, ask for pickup rather than assuming it is automatic. The service is available on request, and the exact meeting time must be confirmed.

The activity is offered in English and comes with a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided at booking. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is suitable for most people.

Who should book this Casa Lucii experience?

I would choose this tour if you want a relaxed Tuscan afternoon built around food, wine, and family connection. It is especially good for:

• Couples looking for a scenic, unhurried experience
• Friends who want a generous food and wine pairing
• Visitors staying in San Gimignano without a car
• Wine drinkers interested in organic production
• Families with older children who can enjoy the farm setting
• Anyone who prefers a small private visit to a large commercial winery

I would think twice if your schedule is tight, you do not drink wine, or you want a highly technical cellar tour. The noon start and nearly three-hour duration require a real block of time. The activity also centers on tasting eight wines, so it is not ideal for someone seeking only a light snack and one glass.

Booking well ahead is sensible. The experience averages 46 days booked in advance, suggesting that popular dates can fill. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want the kind of Tuscany experience that links the meal, the farm, and the people who produce both. The most convincing reasons are the private family setting, the full spread of local food, and the chance to taste eight wines while walking through the estate that made them.

Book it for a relaxed day, not as a box to tick between sights. Request pickup when you reserve, bring mosquito spray in summer, and leave room for a long lunch. If that sounds like your pace, Casa Lucii offers unusually good value for a personal San Gimignano wine experience.

FAQ

Where does the wine and food tasting take place?

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

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts approximately two hours and 45 minutes.

What time does it start?

The scheduled start time is 12:00 pm.

Is pickup available?

Free pickup is available upon request from San Gimignano and from Certaldo train station. The provider confirms the pickup time and directions by message.

Is pickup available from Florence, Siena, or Pisa?

Direct pickup from Florence, Siena, or Pisa is not listed. Pickup is available from Certaldo train station for arrivals from those areas.

How many wines are included?

The tasting includes eight organic wines produced by Casa Lucii, including reds, whites, and rosés.

What food is served?

The meal includes cured meats and cheeses from local farms, products from the vegetable garden and orchard, extra virgin olive oil, baked goods, chocolate pralines, Vin Santo del Chianti, and Tuscan cantucci.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, the experience is offered in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.