Petra & Bolgheri

Florence (FLR) is the closest, about an hour from the Chianti hills and from Siena, and is reached with one connection through a European hub. Pisa (PSA) is a similar distance from the coast. If you would rather fly nonstop from the United States, Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is roughly three hours away by road and Milan Malpensa (MXP) around three and a half.

Late spring and early fall are the busiest windows, and the cars and the wineries for a given date are finite. As soon as your travel dates are firm, write to us: the team replies within one hour, Monday to Friday, so you will know quickly whether the day you want is open.

Italy asks drivers holding a non-EU license to carry an International Driving Permit alongside it. In the United States you get one from AAA, usually the same day, and it is valid for a year. Bring both documents on the day, together with a passport and a credit card in the driver's name.

Departures are from Siena or Florence; the Siena days meet at Villa Ermellina, Via Custoza. Most guests base themselves in Florence, in Siena or at a hotel in the countryside — tell us where you are staying when you book and we will agree the meeting arrangements from there.

Italy runs on Central European Time: six hours ahead of New York, nine ahead of Los Angeles. A message written in the American morning arrives inside the Italian working day, so you will normally have an answer before your afternoon.