Tuscany, northern Italy

Anyone with even a hint of romance in their soul has to come to Tuscany.  This is where Michelangelo designed rural hotel entrances you can still see today, where the Mona Lisa was born and where lovers and wine lovers have been coming for centuries to drink the wine and taste La Dolce Vita - the sweet life.

Start out in Florence and drive casually south through the charming Chianti wine region, full of hilltop towns with great little restaurants and rolling hills with patchwork squares of vineyards, sunflowers and those red, red poppies.

Chianti wine is made from the Sangiovese grape, with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon or other grapes allowed in the category known as DOCG.   Top wineries including Fonterutoli and Fontodi are here.

Photo of Tuscany Wine Valley showing the villa where Mona Lisa was born

A great little wine town south of Florence is Greve, where you can find a number of wine shops including Falorni.

Just south of Greve is a little town called Panzano with what we consider to be the best restaurant in Tuscany.  It's called Oltre il Giardino and you can't miss it - just go the highest point and be prepare to have your tastebuds tantalised by the dishes including a mouth watering pasta in wild boar ragu.

Accommodation near Greve is also good - try Podere il Casello on the main road between Greve and Panzano, run by Simone and Anna.  Rates are about 100 Euros a night and 160 Euros a night for a family room in a charming stone building with those typical Tuscan tiles on the roof and a stylish interior.

Then drive casually down towards Cortona, the setting of Frances Mayes' book and movie Under the Tuscan Sun.  This hilltop town also has superb views and although it's a little touristy these days, you can still see the typical old men on benches in the sun-filled square in the mornings.

Just north of Cortona in a little hamlet called Castiglion Fiorentino, stay at the aptly named Casa Portagioia (House of Joy).  This is run by Terry and Marcello, who have a wonderful rural property and cook up a storm as well.

And as you head south from Cortona, head west as well to find more wonderful hilltop Tuscan wine towns including Montepulciano and Montalcino.

The famous Brunello di Montalcino comes from here - it's also made from the Sangiovese grape and if it's aged for 5 years, it can be released as Riserva (Reserve).  A top winery here is Argiano.

Nearby Montepulciano produces the Vino Nobile from Sangiovese grapes as well, but it has different characteristics. 
Try for yourself at wineries including Boscarelli and Avignonesi.

And you should really try the Barbi winery which is signposted like many Italian wineries as a "Fattoria" (factory).  The name Fattoria is appropriate in Italy because many wineries are set up for production, and not so much for the tourist.

But at Fattoria dei Barbi, there's a charming restaurant with black suited waiters and their starched aprons, and some of the finest red wine in Italy.  Even the delicious main courses have a wine influence - try the vino rosso gnocchi pasta which appears at your table decidedly red.

Tuscany is certainly among the world's best wine holidays.

Photo of Tuscany Villa Accommodation near wine regions