Here you’ll find famed and niche wines from Tuscany’s classified appellations — and prized regions around the winemaking world — as well as exciting declassified and natural wines that are worth a taste. The most noteworthy are poured by brilliant sommeliers who are eager to explain their pairings and the winemakers’ stories. If you’re not in the mood for vino, we also have just the spots for unique suppers with craft cocktails. Cheers!
Enoteca Pinchiorri
This legendary culinary destination is also a dream for wine aficionados: Its extensive cellar is world famous for its incredible collection of over 100,000 bottles, mostly from Italy and France and ranging from well-known heavy hitters to rarities. Pinchiorri’s wine pairing options are vast and generous, but if you’d prefer a bottle you’ll have ample guidance from one of their passionate sommeliers. You may end up talking more about the wine than the food, but you’ll walk away with delicious memories of both.
Saporium Firenze
To accompany Chef Ariel Hagen’s vibrant, ferment-forward cuisine, Saporium Firenze offers an extensive wine cellar of over 1,000 bottles in sync with its gastronomic vision. Seasoned sommeliers curate both prestigious and niche regional Italian wines with a focus on cool-climate grapes (considered ideal gastronomic wines) and on independent and biodynamic producers. The wine menu offers an impressive range of vertical tastings beyond the expected regional Tuscan labels. Connoisseurs will also appreciate the presence of rare vintages from over the last 40 years, particularly the ’80s and ’90s. Next door, Saporium runs an elegant lounge serving playful small bites, fine wines and a variety of modern cocktails with fermented and botanical extractions.
Borgo San Jacopo
There’s a little something for every palate here. Polished Borgo San Jacopo, gazing at the Ponte Vecchio, has around 900 labels on hand curated by sommelier Salvatore Biscotti. The list is mostly Tuscan-focused Italian and French, with organic and biodynamic bottles peppered alongside prestigious Champagne and a few gems from Lebanon to round things out. We strongly suggest opting for the pairings versus grabbing a bottle off the menu (unless you’re drinking bubbles all night). Borgo San Jacopo’s wine list is ideal for Burgundy and Brunello di Montalcino fans and those tending toward fresher, elegant options.
Zeb
This upscale gastro bar in San Niccolò is a hidden treasure, not only for its decadent stuffed pastas and artisanal charcuterie, but for its dizzying offering of unique wines. It lacks a wine list, but the chef-owners and waitstaff offer personalized wine matchmaking in their “human menu” style of hospitality. Anything can be opened and poured by the glass — a plus for people usually underwhelmed by most by-the-glass offerings who don’t want to commit to an entire bottle. While it’s admittedly challenging for people who like to mull over wine menus, if you know what you like, pick a bottle off the shelf or let the showrunners choose for you. Wines are mostly Italian from offbeat, terroir-driven producers with a sprinkling of grower Champagnes.
Il Santo Bevitore
Meaning “the holy drinker,” Il Santo Bevitore is a candlelit contemporary ristorante in the Oltrarno with a buzzy yet laid-back vibe. Its natural, small-lot wines pair beautifully with classics like pappa al pomodoro and gourmet small plates. Dishes aren’t too complicated, drawn primarily from seasonal, local Tuscan traditions with a creative twist, like wild boar ravioli with cave-aged pecorino in smoked broth. On the wine list, expect emphasis on ready-to-drink gastronomic wines (versus prized aged vintages) that are hard to find outside Italy, including from unique producers who are reviving rare and obscure grapes or those growing Pinot Noir in the mountains above Lucca. The tasting continues with their eclectic spirit offerings, from craft cocktails made with local Tuscan gins to after-dinner digestifs of amaro infused with macerated foraged herbs.
Da Burde
The Gori brothers have built Da Burde’s reputation half on old-world family recipes served proudly in a white-tablecloth vintage trattoria, and half on its wine cellar. This is one of few trattorias in the city that embrace exceptional wines; most serve simple table wines or generic labels from big names. For those wanting a deep dive into Tuscan excellence or who have a penchant for Champagne, sommelier Andrea Gori has amassed an impressive collection. Sommeliers from around the country (and the world) come to dine at Da Burde for his outstanding curation. All of Tuscany’s classified wines are represented by a healthy choice of accolade-worthy producers. Though other territories are included, take advantage of the Tuscan specialization when you’re here. It’s evident the region's most prized years are on Gori’s mind when curating vintages. If possible, ask to pick a wine from the cellar with or without sommelier guidance.
Hero Image: Interior at Il Santo Bevitore, meaning "the holy drinker" © Il Santo Bevitore
