Updated April 8, 2018
Tuscan Winery – with Kids!
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Can you really have fun visiting a Tuscan winery with kids? Yes! Visiting a winery must be a part of every Tuscan experience…don’t let the kids hold you back.
Last summer we visited the lovely Tuscan winery Il Loggio winery in Cortona, and this summer we decided to switch it up. We wanted a place that would be good to take all the little ones (there being 4 in total, including my niece and nephew), and have something fun for them to do as well. Our research brought us to Castello Banfi, a beautiful family owned estate in Montalcino.
This Tuscan winery is not a small, boutique winery like the one we visited last year, but rather one of the big ones that people sometimes try and avoid. Yet, the reviews were good – of both the wine and the place – and as we learned it had a castle to explore around. Perfect for the kids. As we approached the estate we knew we were in for a treat – you could see the castle from miles away, perched up on the hillside overlooking the land and vineyards below. Sure enough we got there and the scenery and views were breathtaking. I mean stunning. If just for that, it was worth a trip.
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We walked around first and let the kids play in the courtyard and then headed into the castle, which happens to be a hotel. Only part of the castle is open for exploration, but it was still cool for them to walk around and check things out. We then headed into the wine tasting room to try some wines. The staff couldn’t have been nicer, and completely “got” the kids situation. We didn’t feel weird having them there at all, and they made sure to get seltzers for all of them. The wine was good – most of them, and a couple even excellent. They were generous pourings, unlike some other wineries we went to. All in all, between the setting, the castle, the wine and the nice staff, it was as successful a trip to a Tuscan winery with kids as we could have planned for.
On a side note, there is a fabulous restaurant called La Pieve about 5 minutes away from the winery. We had stopped there for lunch, but thought it was closed because there were no cars or people in sight. As we were about to leave, someone approached us and welcomed us in and apologized saying they were preparing for a wedding that evening. They nicely – and quickly – whipped us up an amazing meal full of meats and cheeses and pastas and soups. That they did all that and did it so well on the same day as a wedding was extraordinary to us. We felt like were in someone’s home who wanted to take care of us. Can’t recommend this restaurant enough. Beautiful setting too (as seen in the photos at the bottom).
It was such a pleasant and fun day – if you’re ever in the Montalcino area, consider these two places.
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Beautiful!
Author
Thank you!
We were just in Southern California and wanted to go to a couple of wineries but had our kids with us. What a great experience. So Italian.
Author
Ha – that’s funny – you’re probably right – easier in Italy. Makes me want to research kid friendly wineries in Napa and Sonoma..if there is such a thing..
Beautiful countryside and the pictures look as though everyone is having fun…winery with kids surely a +++
Author
Yep 🙂
GORGEOUS pictures!! 💜
Author
Thank you Cindy!
Looks beautiful; lovely photos.
Author
Thanks Su 🙂
A castle and wine tasting – sounds fantastic and generous portions too, my kind of place!! That little restaurant also sounds quite a find. Making notes here and yearning more for a Tuscan trip!!
Author
Thanks Joy! Yes the restaurant a total find – off the radar – love discovering new and unexpected places like that.
What a beautiful place for wine tasting! I love the idea to have Castle as hotel and next to it 🙂 it gives romantic feeling 🙂 Great review! 🙂
Author
Thanks Indah! I know, so romantic indeed – prob more of a couples get-away than families but they certainly made us feel welcome!
Author
Thanks Namz!
Sign me up for this #farawayfiles
Author
🙂
This is why I LOVE Italy. They are not bothered if there are kids at a wine tasting. They really encourage it. I’m book marking your posts for future wine drinking reference! #FarawayFiles
Author
Thanks Katy! 🙂
Ah you had me at WINE TASTING! We always travel to wineries with our 3 year old, and so far no one has really cared. this place looks pretty amazing! I will compare notes with you when I start publishing my guide to Barossa Valley wineries in South Australia (we visited 16 wineries). I will also be saving this post for future travels to beautiful Italy. #FarawayFiles
Author
16 wineries? Sounds amazing! Can’t wait to read!!