Hills, Wine Glasses, and Coastal Vintages: September Wine Experiences Around Lucca

When thinking of wine in Tuscany, iconic Chianti classics and vast estates often come to mind first. But the true magic, the kind we at TuscanHouses love sharing with our guest, begins when you step off the beaten path.

Forget standardized group tours: our idea of wine tasting is an authentic experience where wine is deeply woven into the personal stories of the people who make it.

Today, we start in the rolling Lucchese hills before heading into the Pisa countryside and finishing along the coast, traveling from Versilia to the Ligurian border. These lands guard a vibrant, intimate, and surprising wine culture. We have selected boutique wineries where tasting is just the beginning: visits often start with a stroll through the vineyards to learn about local grape varieties, followed by a tour of the cellars, an introduction to the estate's philosophy, and a guided tasting. In other places, you'll gather around a table where local wines are paired with homemade Tuscan specialties.

Fattoria del Teso in Montecarlo (Lucca): Vineyard Walks, Winemakers, and Fine Vintages

Fattoria del Teso is a historic estate surrounded by ancient pine trees. Designed for small groups, the experience offers a peaceful, intimate atmosphere.

Upon arrival, you are welcomed in the courtyard by the cellar master and winemaker, who lead you on a scenic walking tour through five distinct vineyards. Among the vines, you will discover the secrets of Montecarlo DOC wines, local cultivation techniques, and the unique microclimate of these hills.

After the walk and a visit to the historic aging cellar, you will settle under a romantic garden pergola or beside ancient wooden oak barrels for a tasting guided by the winemaker featuring six signature labels: Montecarlo White DOC, Vermentino IGT, the unique Orange del Teso IGT, Montecarlo Red DOC, Montecarlo Red Riserva DOC, and the Super Tuscan Anfidiamante IGT.

The tasting is paired with a platter of local cured meats and cheeses alongside iconic Altopascio bread drizzled with the estate’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil, concluding with a glass of rare 1998 Vinsanto and classic artisan cantucci cookies.

Pet-Friendly Note: Four-legged friends are warmly welcomed!

Chicco d’Uva in Montecarlo (Lucca): Warm Family Hospitality

Connected to the historic Al Vecchio Olivo restaurant, Chicco d'Uva welcomes you into the heart of a family-run farm and olive oil mill. Producing Lucca PDO Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Montecarlo DOC Wine, here you can savor freshly pressed olive oil and enjoy relaxed, informal tastings where selected wines are paired with traditional Tuscan dishes prepared the old-fashioned way.

Tenuta Adamo & Fattoria Fubbiano (Lucca): Slow Rhythms and Conviviality

Arriving at Tenuta Adamo, the scenery takes center stage: panoramic outdoor terraces offer sweeping views over the entire valley. Time seems to slow down as the sommelier pours your glass and explains how evening sea breezes influence grape ripening.

The heart of the project lies in celebrating the local terroir by pairing production innovation with respect for local heritage. The estate purposefully focuses on indigenous grape varieties such as Canaiolo, Colorino, Hamburg Muscat, Trebbiano, and Malvasia. Alongside wine, the farm produces high-quality olive oil from an olive grove dating back to the 1700s, originally planted by the House of Bourbon. Today, classic local cultivars like Frantoio, Moraiolo, Leccino, and Baulino thrive here.

The estate produces Toscana Red, Toscana White, and Toscana Rosé, served alongside fresh crusty bread and estate extra virgin olive oil during tastings.

Podere Pellicciano in San Miniato (Pisa): An Intimate Journey into the Heart of the Land

In the hills of Pisa, the experience at Podere Pellicciano begins right in the vineyards, where the owners walk guests through the vines while sharing stories of passion, dedication, and respectful viticulture.

After the vineyard tour, take a seat for a guided sensory tasting featuring six distinct wines:

• Family Energy: start with wines named after the winemakers' children: Cimba (a fresh and lively Terre di Pisa DOC Rosé), Biondo (a bright Tuscan White IGT), and Tricche (a warm, versatile Terre di Pisa Red DOC).
• Pure Single-Varietals: continue with wines expressing the unfiltered identity of single grapes: Egola (an enveloping Malvasia Nera), Buccianello (100% Colorino, bold and deeply Tuscan), and Fonte Vivo (a complex Trebbiano to be savored slowly).

Guests can complete the experience with a tasting of the farm's organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, paired with selected local cheeses, cured meats, and an exclusive pour of their flagship CRUs (Prato della Rocca and Griso).

Il Segreto in Massarosa: Wines of the Sands

Heading toward the coast, we arrive in Massarosa, where Tenute Cantine Mariani - Il Segreto stretches from the coastal hills to the Versilia sea. Nestled between the Versilia hills, Lake Massaciuccoli, and the Tuscan coast, the vineyards breathe in salty sea air, resulting in mineral-rich wines filled with scents of coastal scrub and sea salt. This isn't just a wine tasting; it's an authentic connection with a working farm where every glass tells the story of the family and the land they cultivate.

Il Segreto produces traditional and Charmat method sparkling wines, including Segreto Metodo Classico Brut, Pas Dosé, and Fût de Chêne. Through the Segreto Experience, guests can sample wines paired with local specialties and organic olive oil.

For a truly unique sip, try SabbiaMare. Available in white and rosé sparkling versions, it comes from vineyards inside the Migliarino and San Rossore Park, planted on sandy soil just 600 meters from the ocean. Here, vine roots sink into maritime sand once washed by tides, and sea spray settles gently on the leaves. This coastal terroir creates fresh, salty, and fruity sparkling wines with a crisp minerality suitable for aperitifs or full meals. Grape varieties include Sangiovese vinified as a white, Vermentino, and Chardonnay for the white version, and Sangiovese and Syrah for the rosé. Produced with minimal filtration and low sulfites, it is a natural, refreshing wine.

Ca’ Lunae in Castelnuovo Magra: From the Versilia Coast to the Ligurian Border

Following the Versilia coastline, we reach Luni to complete our wine journey on the border between Tuscany and Liguria.

Ca' Lunae is a beautifully restored 18th-century manor house located at the foot of the Apuan Alps. More than a winery, it serves as a cultural gathering place designed to immerse visitors in the heritage of historic Lunigiana. The estate features an aromatic herb garden and a Wine Museum showcasing founder Paolo Bosoni's personal collection of historic farming tools and rural artifacts curated alongside historians.

And, of course, there is the wine! After exploring the history, guests sit down to taste famous Colli di Luni wines, led by their signature Vermentino, a true symbol of grapes grown between the mountains and the sea.

Enjoy an aperitif in the garden or lunch at L'Ostaia, the estate's on-site restaurant serving traditional recipes paired perfectly with local wines.

Ready to live your Tuscan wine story?

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