At San Giusto autumn brings two harvests: first the grapes, then the olives. We are the Bucci family and we have farmed these hills in Montespertoli since 1965. Here is our place, how the harvest days go on our farm and how you can share them with us.
San Giusto, our home since 1965
Our farm is at Via Forcile 18, in the hills of Montespertoli, in the Florentine Chianti: about 8 km from the village and half an hour by car from Florence. Our grandfather bought it in 1965 and the family has worked it ever since, for three generations now.
Around the house are the vineyards that give us our wines (white, rosé, red, Gran Rosso and Vin Santo) and the olive trees that give us our extra virgin olive oil. Then there is our honey, and the family barn, now restored, which is our farm stay. We are a small farm and we mean to stay one: craft-scale work, with no trading quality for quantity. We write about the land our vines grow on in the article on the terroir of Montespertoli.
The harvest days
Between late October and November, once the grape harvest is over, it is the olives' turn. We spread nets under the trees and comb the branches with hand rakes: the olives fall onto the net, then we gather the nets, fill the crates and move on to the next tree.
We work from the ground, one tree at a time, and we work in company.
From the grove to the olive mill
From the grove the olives go to the mill, where they become oil. Our extra virgin olive oil is cold-pressed: green colour with golden highlights, fruity aromas with herbaceous notes, balanced bitterness and pungency. New oil is tasted the simplest way: on bread.
We put it in glass bottles and in tins, and the tin protects the oil from light. You will find it among our products, and you can taste it alongside our wines in the Territory Tasting.
A harvest day with us
From this autumn you can join our harvest. We meet at the farm at 9:30 am for a coffee, then pick together while we tell you about the grove and the harvest. You need no experience: we show you how, and everyone goes at their own pace.
Late in the morning we go to the olive mill together, we take you there: you see how the olives become oil.
Then we go back to the farm and sit down to lunch, with a tasting of our wines and a guided tasting of the new olive oil. We start with our bread and our own extra virgin olive oil, then two pasta dishes: penne with tomato sauce and penne with wild boar ragù. Next come traditional Tuscan bruschetta and a board of cured meats and cheeses with our own honey; to finish, apricot tart and Vin Santo with homemade cantuccini. We finish at about 2 pm; the times adapt to you.
The day costs €200 per person for one or two people and €150 per person for three or more; transport is not included. The programme, the menu and the request form are on the olive harvest page.
Getting here and where to stay
We are about 30 minutes by car from Florence, and parking at the farm is free. Directions on Google Maps.
If you would like to stay, you can sleep in our farmhouse: the family barn among vineyards and olive trees, all yours for up to 7 guests. On the days around your harvest there is time for a tasting of our wines, a cooking class with Sonia and Lorenzo, or a look at what to see in Montespertoli.
Frequently asked questions
When are the olives harvested at San Giusto?
Between late October and November. The days change with the season and the weather, which is why we choose the date of your day together.
Do I need experience to pick olives?
No: we show you how. You pick from the ground, with nets spread under the trees and hand rakes.
How much does the harvest day cost?
€200 per person for one or two people, €150 per person for three or more. The price includes picking olives with us, the visit to the olive mill, lunch at the farm with a tasting of our wines and a guided tasting of the new olive oil. Transport is not included.
What happens if it rains?
We don't pick in the rain. We let you know in good time and move the day; if the new date doesn't suit you, you cancel at no cost.
How far is San Giusto from Florence?
About 30 minutes by car. Parking at the farm is free; transport to the farm is not included, and we take you to the olive mill ourselves, depending on the size of your group.
Which languages is the day held in?
Italian, English and Spanish.
Is there a vegetarian lunch?
Yes, on request: write it in the notes. We cannot guarantee gluten-free dishes.