Hot Air Balloon Ride over Chianti Vineyards, Tuscany

Chianti begins about 20 minutes south of Florence, close enough for an early start and far enough that the city disappears behind you. The wine made on these slopes has probably already reached your table at some point. This flight puts you directly above the vineyards that produced it, looking down the rows instead of walking between them. Balloons lift from San Casciano in Val di Pesa, and the meeting point is at Bargino. The pilot and the ground team run the safety briefing before take-off, then the burner fires and the countryside opens out below: hills marked by villas and castles, vineyards, olive groves and patches of woodland reaching to the horizon. Between burns it goes quiet. After landing, the crew pours a glass of prosecco. Timing depends on the weather, so keep the morning free. Final confirmation arrives by email by 6:00 PM on the day before the flight, and both the take-off field and the meeting time can change if conditions require it. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure.