Wine and food tasting in an organic family winery

Casa Lucii gives you more than a quick tasting: you walk through a working organic farm, see its old cellar and vinsantaia, then sit down to eight wines with a generous Tuscan spread. Orlando and Lucrezia are among the hosts who make the visit personal and easy to follow. I especially like the link between the estate’s gardens, olive trees, and food on your plate, plus the chance to taste the Sangiovese Arturo with handmade chocolate pralines.

I also like that this is a private experience for your group, not a crowded tasting-room stop. The main drawback is the price, $108.89 per person, and the fixed noon start. Pickup is free only from San Gimignano or Certaldo train station, and you must request it ahead of time.

Key points at a glance

• A working organic family estate: Casa Lucii combines vineyards, an olive grove, orchard, vegetable garden, historic cellar, and agricultural tools.
• Eight wines with a full food pairing: Expect local cured meats, cheeses, produce, olive oil, baked goods, chocolate pralines, and dessert wine.
• A real look at old Tuscan winemaking: The visit includes the traditional vinsantaia and a historical cellar.
• Personal hosting: Orlando, Lucrezia, Lorenzo, Alessio, and other family members may guide different visits.
• Useful pickup options: Free pickup is available by request from San Gimignano or Certaldo train station only.
• A generous time commitment: The experience lasts about 2 hours 45 minutes and ends back at Casa Lucii.

Why Casa Lucii feels different from a standard tasting

Many wine stops near San Gimignano are built around a cellar, a tasting counter, and a few small bites. Casa Lucii takes a wider view of the farm. You see where some of the food comes from, walk among the vines and olive trees, and learn how the family uses the estate as both a home and a place of production.

That matters because the tasting has a clear sense of place. The garden and orchard are not just pretty scenery. Their produce appears alongside the wines, giving you a better feel for everyday Tuscan food than a plate of generic snacks would.

The setting also carries a family story. The property includes a 13th-century home, older farm buildings, a historical cellar, and a collection of agricultural tools. This is not a polished museum display detached from modern life. It is an old estate still connected to wine, olive oil, and food production.

You should also expect a warm, informal style. Orlando is described as especially involved in the family winery, while Lucrezia has guided visitors through the estate and tastings. Lorenzo and Alessio have also hosted tours. The exact guide can vary, but the experience is built around conversation rather than a scripted presentation.

Arriving at the estate near San Gimignano

The meeting point is Casa Lucii, at Località Santa Maria, 49/C, outside San Gimignano. The scheduled start is noon, and the full visit lasts roughly 2 hours 45 minutes. That makes it a substantial half-day activity, not a quick stop you squeeze between several sightseeing plans.

If you drive, on-site parking is available. That is a useful detail in the Tuscan countryside, where finding a convenient place to leave a car can be less simple than the map suggests.

Pickup is available at no charge, but only from San Gimignano or Certaldo train station, and only when requested in advance. Certaldo is useful for arrivals from Florence, Siena, or Pisa by train. The winery coordinates the time and directions by message, so do not assume a driver will appear automatically just because pickup is listed.

The tour ends at the same meeting point. If you are staying in San Gimignano, you can ask about pickup from your hotel or another agreed location in town. Some visitors have been collected near a San Gimignano gate or hotel, but you should confirm the exact location before the day of the tour.

Starting with the welcome aperitivo

Your visit begins with a welcome aperitivo. This first glass sets a relaxed pace before the walking portion begins. On a hot day, the opening rosé has been a particularly welcome choice, and the food may begin with fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, and other simple items from the property.

Do not think of the aperitivo as the whole meal. It is the opening note, with the main tasting and food service still to come. You will have time to settle in, meet your host, and get an introduction to the estate before walking around.

The setting is part of the appeal. This is a quiet rural property outside the medieval towers of San Gimignano, with views across the Tuscan countryside. Still, the tour is not only about taking photographs. The walk gives context to the wine and food that follow.

Walking through the garden, orchard, and vineyard

The estate tour moves through the vegetable garden, orchard, vineyard, and olive grove. Each stop adds a small piece to the story of how Casa Lucii works as an organic farm.

The vineyard is the obvious focus, but the other areas help explain the food pairing. Garden and orchard produce may appear later at the table, while the olive grove connects to the estate’s extra virgin olive oil. This farm-to-table link is one of the strongest reasons to choose Casa Lucii over a basic wine bar tasting.

The host also explains grape growing and organic production. The amount of technical detail can depend on your guide and your questions, but the visit is designed to help you understand the work behind the bottle without turning into a lecture.

You should wear shoes that are comfortable for walking outdoors. The supplied information does not promise a particular trail surface or accessibility setup, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask the provider before booking. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

The vinsantaia and historical cellar

The cellar portion gives the tour its old-world character. You visit a traditional vinsantaia, the part of the estate connected with making and aging Vin Santo, along with a historical cellar.

This is where the final dessert pairing becomes easier to understand. Vin Santo is not simply a sweet wine brought out at the end. At Casa Lucii, it is tied to a traditional Tuscan method and to the older parts of the property.

You also see a collection of agricultural tools. These objects show how farming on the estate has changed over time, and they make the visit more tangible than a talk about dates and production methods. If you enjoy family history, old farm buildings, and the practical side of rural life, this section may be as interesting as the wine tasting itself.

The historic setting does not mean the visit is formal or solemn. The hosts bring a personal touch, and the family’s pride in the property comes through in the way they explain the buildings and cellar.

Eight organic wines at the table

After the estate walk, you sit down for the main tasting. Casa Lucii serves eight organic wines from its own production, including reds, whites, and rosés.

Eight pours is a serious tasting. You can compare different styles and get a broader sense of the winery than you would from one white and one red. It also means you should plan your transport carefully, especially if you intend to buy bottles afterward.

The tasting is paired with food rather than treated as a separate wine lesson. You may try local cured meats and cheeses, products from the garden and orchard, the estate’s extra virgin olive oil, and baked goods. The food service is described as generous, so this functions more like a light lunch than a few token bites.

One pairing receives special attention: the IGT Sangiovese Arturo with tailor-made artisanal chocolate pralines. That combination gives you a chance to see how a dry Tuscan red can work with chocolate when the match is chosen carefully.

The exact order and selection can vary, but the central idea remains the same: you taste across the winery’s production while eating food connected to the area and, in some cases, the property itself.

Finishing with Vin Santo and cantucci

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

This ending also gives the experience a clear rhythm. You begin with an aperitivo, move through the grounds, return for the main wines and savory food, and finish with a classic Tuscan dessert pairing. It feels more like a hosted meal with wine than a rushed series of samples.

You will probably leave well fed. Several details point to a generous table, including the cured meats, cheeses, fresh produce, bread, olive oil, pralines, and dessert. If you prefer a very short tasting or want to stay focused on technical wine analysis, this may feel too food-centered.

What the private format changes

This is a private activity, so only your own group participates. That can make a major difference. You can ask questions at your own pace, spend more time on the family history, or keep the visit quiet if that suits your group.

The private format is also useful for mixed interests. Someone who loves wine can ask about grapes and aging, while someone else can focus on the gardens, tools, food, or architecture. Families and groups of friends have found the relaxed format especially appealing, and the experience has also worked well for couples on a honeymoon.

There is no promise that every visit will have the same guide. Orlando, Lucrezia, Lorenzo, Alessio, and other family members have led or joined visits. The repeated strength is the personal connection, not a single fixed personality.

Is $108.89 per person fair?

At $108.89 per person, this is not a bargain tasting. The price makes more sense when you count what is included: nearly three hours, a private format, an estate walk, eight organic wines, a substantial food spread, dessert, and possible pickup from San Gimignano or Certaldo.

You are paying for a meal-sized tasting and a hosted visit to a private family property, not simply eight small glasses at a counter. The historic buildings, garden, orchard, olive grove, and cellar add value for anyone who wants a fuller Tuscan experience.

The value is weaker if your main goal is to sample inexpensive local wine, or if you already have several winery meals booked. In that case, the food and long format may feel repetitive. But for a first winery visit in Tuscany, especially one that combines wine, organic farming, family history, and lunch, the price is easier to justify.

Bottle purchases may be possible, and one useful detail is that wine bought at the estate can be shipped home. Confirm the current shipping arrangements directly if that matters to you.

Who should book this experience?

I would point this tour toward couples, families, and small groups who want a relaxed afternoon outside San Gimignano. It suits people who care about food as much as wine, and anyone who prefers a personal family estate to a large commercial operation.

It is also a good choice if you are staying in San Gimignano without a car. Request pickup early and confirm the exact meeting details. If you are arriving by train from Florence, Siena, or Pisa, Certaldo station provides the stated pickup option.

You may want to skip it if you need a flexible start time, dislike long meals, or want a highly technical tasting focused only on wine production. The noon start and fixed duration require some planning, especially if you also hope to visit San Gimignano’s historic center that day.

Outdoor conditions matter too. The tour includes gardens, vines, and an olive grove, so bring sun protection and consider mosquito spray in warmer months. One visit specifically found mosquitoes irritating, though they did not spoil the experience.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

Confirmation is provided at booking. The tour is offered in English, and mobile tickets are accepted.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.

The listed start time is 12:00 p.m. Pickup is not automatic. Request it in advance, then wait for Casa Lucii to confirm the exact time and directions.

Should you book Casa Lucii?

Yes, if you want a full Tuscan afternoon built around a real family farm. The strongest reasons are the private setting, the generous food, the eight organic wines, and the chance to connect the vineyards and gardens with what reaches your plate.

I would book it for a couple seeking a special day, a family wanting an easy countryside outing, or a group that enjoys sitting down over food and wine. I would think twice only if $108.89 feels high for a tasting, or if you want a short, highly technical cellar visit.

For most people who want more than a quick pour and a souvenir photograph, Casa Lucii offers a satisfying look at Tuscan wine, food, and family farming in one well-paced visit.

FAQ

Where is Casa Lucii located?

Casa Lucii is at Località Santa Maria, 49/C, 53037 San Gimignano, in the province of Siena, Italy.

How long does the wine and food tasting last?

The experience lasts approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.

What time does the experience begin?

The scheduled start time is 12:00 p.m.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Free pickup is available upon request from San Gimignano or Certaldo train station. The provider will coordinate the exact time and directions by message.

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 food includes cured meats and cheeses from local farms, produce from the estate’s garden and orchard, extra virgin olive oil with baked goods, artisanal chocolate pralines, and Tuscan cantucci with Vin Santo del Chianti.

Is the activity private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.