traveldk.com

The Antinori Marquises have been making wine since 1385, producing more than 15 million bottles annually of some of Italy’s most highly ranked and consistently lauded wines. You can sample their vini at Florence’s Cantinetta Antinori (see Cantinetta Antinori).

The Falvo brothers were key in reviving the quality and raising the status of Vino Nobile in the 1990s. The huge estate also produces vintages made with Merlot and Cabernet, and one of Tuscany’s finest Vin Santoe. A classy show-room/free tasting bar is in Montepulciano.

The estate that invented modern Chianti Classico is back in the Ricasoli family after years under Seagram’s, and the wines have improved vastly. “Iron Baron” Bettino Ricasoli, Italy’s second prime minister, perfected the formula here.

Massive American-owned estate founded in 1978, producing scientifically perfect wines and a massive Brunello riserva . There’s a huge shop and enoteca and a small glass and wine museum.

Full-bodied wines from the estate that was the first, in 1968, to make a single cru Chianti and a 100 percent Sangiovese Chianti.

One of the least pretentious major Montalcino vineyards, producing an award-winning velvety Brunello.

Federico Carletti has made Poliziano one of the top producers in Montepulciano, the first to introduce the cru concept (grapes from a single vineyard) to Vino Nobile with Vigneto Caggiole. The vineyards are private, but there is a sales outlet with free tastings.

The Frescobaldi Marquises, Tuscany’s largest private winemaking concern, have been viticulturalists for 30 generations (England’s Henry VIII kept some stock on hand). One of the first to experiment with non-native grapes (Pinots, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot). You can visit several estates.

Highly regarded estate in the Mazzei family since 1435, centred around a medieval village with a laid-back bar (in the osteria) for tippling. Recent vintages of the Chianti, Siepi and Brancaia have won the top Italian rankings.

A vineyard since 804, Capezzana single-handedly created the Carmignano DOC by adding 15 percent Cabernet to the otherwise Sangiovese mix. They also make a rosé version called Vin Ruspo. Book ahead for tastings.