Did you know that Umbria and Tuscany are home to some of the most prestigious vineyards in Italy? The Petrolo Estate, the Tenuta Sette Ponti, and the Vietti estate, to name just a few of the vineyards featured in James Suckling's "Top 100 World Wines."
These two neighbouring regions offer an idyllic setting in which to discover the Italian art of living — between tastings of great vintages, strolls through the vines, and stays in charming villas. At Villa Allegria, an exceptional villa rental in Foligno, Umbria, we invite you to explore the finest wine routes these extraordinary terroirs have to offer.
Tuscany is world-renowned for its flagship appellations such as Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Here, the reigning grape variety is Sangiovese, which gives birth to powerful yet elegant reds.
Umbria holds its own with the indigenous Sagrantino grape, producing deep, intense wines around Montefalco.
Together, the two regions count more than 60,000 hectares of vines and an annual production exceeding one million hectolitres. Tuscany alone boasts 42 DOC appellations and 11 DOCGs — hallmarks of viticultural excellence. A true paradise for Italian wine lovers!
No fewer than 91 wines from the region have earned the highly coveted "Tre Bicchieri" award in the 2025 Italian wine guide (Guida Vini d'Italia 2025 by Gambero Rosso); among them, three Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines easily accessible from Villa Allegria (≈ 100 km): the Nobile di Montepulciano 2021 by Boscarelli, the Cervognano Alto 2020 by Podere Le Bèrne, and the I Quadri 2021 by Bindella-Tenuta Vallocaia.
To discover these treasures, nothing beats a wine circuit along the region's dedicated routes. Before planning your escape, consult the table below — it summarises the major itineraries at a glance, complete with their appellations, grape varieties and signature experiences:
Main Wine Routes of Tuscany & Umbria
The wine routes closest to Villa Allegria are the "Strada del Sagrantino" and the "Vino Nobile Route."
Italy welcomes 14 million wine tourists every year, with 25% heading to Tuscany alone. The Strada del Vino Nobile is the second most visited wine route in the country.
Established in 1998, the "Strada del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano e dei Sapori della Valdichiana Senese" connects ten Tuscan villages across approximately 77 km. Amid cypress-lined hillsides, ancient thermal baths and Renaissance towns, it celebrates the Vino Nobile — the first Italian wine ever to be awarded DOCG status — as well as local flavours such as Pienza pecorino cheese and pici pasta.
From 2025, the route also shines a spotlight on the new "Pieve" category: 12 parish micro-terroirs requiring 85% Prugnolo Gentile and 36 months of ageing — a guarantee of remarkable aromatic precision. Make sure to try the first releases when you visit!
Established in the late 1990s, the "Strada del Sagrantino" winds through some 60 km of vine-and-olive-grove-dotted landscapes, linking five medieval villages — Montefalco, Bevagna, Gualdo Cattaneo, Castel Ritaldi and Giano dell'Umbria — the historic heartland of the powerful Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG.
The route is less than 1 hour 15 minutes' drive from Villa Allegria — the perfect day trip!
Our tip: For the ultimate wine experience close to the Villa, opt for the "Etrusco Romana" wine route (Umbria). This ideal itinerary will take you from the archaeological sites of Perugia to the vineyards of Montefalco, with tastings in historic cellars such as that of the Caprai family, pioneers of the Sagrantino revival.
Your wine route will also be an opportunity to immerse yourself in the dolce vita at the heart of a traditional villa. At Villa Allegria, we welcome you to our exceptional villa in Foligno, the ideal base from which to explore both Umbria and Tuscany.
Picture yourself enjoying breathtaking views over the vineyards from the terrace, sampling wines from our private cellar, or taking part in an Italian cookery class... Our high-end services are designed to satisfy every desire for authenticity and refinement.
To make the most of your wine tourism stay, we recommend visiting between April and June, or between September and November. This is the ideal time to witness the work of the winemakers up close, take part in the harvest, or simply wander through medieval villages at your leisure.
Don't hesitate to book your cellar visits and tastings well in advance, especially at the most prestigious estates. We will be delighted to help you plan a tailor-made itinerary.
Finally, use your wine route as an opportunity to indulge in local culinary experiences, discovering the art of Italian food and wine pairing — from Tuscan cheeses to bistecca fiorentina, via truffle and local olive oil. A true feast for the senses!
Here are a few classic food and wine pairings to enjoy during your stay:
Every year, on the last weekend of May, the whole of Italy celebrates Cantine Aperte, the must-attend event for wine lovers. For the 2025 edition (24 and 25 May), more than a thousand wine estates will open their doors to the public in a festive, convivial atmosphere entirely devoted to discovery.
Between exceptional tastings, breathtaking scenery and a stay in a charming villa, Umbria and Tuscany invite you on an unforgettable wine journey. At Villa Allegria, we would be delighted to welcome you in Foligno and introduce you to the finest wine routes these two iconic Italian regions have to offer. We look forward to seeing you soon for a stay truly in the spirit of the dolce vita!