Francesco Stradiotti
Google
Our visit to this prominent Tuscan winery left us with mixed feelings. The tour began promisingly, offering an engaging look at their facilities, particularly the impressive barrel storage areas. However, the experience took a downturn during the pre-booked wine tasting and lunch.
While the food itself was quite good, the service was incredibly slow, especially considering the simplicity of the dishes. The wait became so prolonged that we decided to play a quick game of cards at our table to pass the time. Unfortunately, our guide abruptly and rudely informed us that playing cards was not permitted. While we understand that some establishments have such rules, the delivery of this message was unnecessarily harsh and could have been handled with more courtesy. Compounding this, one person in our group did not speak Italian, and despite asking the waiter to switch to English — which she initially agreed to — she repeatedly reverted to Italian. Despite being reminded five times, she clearly disregarded our requests, even though her English seemed perfect.
To further our disappointment, when we expressed interest in purchasing some wine after the tasting, we inquired about trying a specific Pinot Nero that hadn't been part of our tasting. We were told this wasn't possible because the bottle wasn't already open. This stood in stark contrast to other Tuscan wineries we've visited, where staff were always happy to open a bottle for a potential buyer.
Ultimately, our impression is that this winery, despite its reputation, prioritizes volume over providing a genuinely welcoming and personalized experience. For a truly friendlier and more pleasant experience, we suggest opting for smaller, more intimate producers.