In the beautiful historic heart of Florence, just a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio, on the way to Palazzo Pitti, you’ll find a hidden gem. It’s a place where you’re sure to enjoy the perfect food and wine experience.

Back in 1992, winemaker Emilio Monechi decided that Florence needed a new type of wine bar, something that would stand apart from the anonymous and commercial ones all over the city. Sommelier Riccardo Comparini felt the same way, as did Giancarlo Cantini and Ciro Beligni.

Since then, this team of sommeliers, winemakers and wine lovers has been researching and selecting some of the most interesting and lesser-known wines: produced by small wineries, they represent the best in quality, taste and price.

Every year Le Volpi (the foxes) attend wine fairs and visit wineries all over Italy in order to find new and remarkable wineries. They search for winemakers who are passionate about their wine and every step of the winemaking process, from the vine to the bottle, and not just the commercial side of wine. These winemakers produce wines in a manner that respects nature and the environment: their wines are a reflection of their terroir, or territory.

Left: Le Volpi. From left to right, Riccardo, Giancarlo and Ciro.

In our enoteca (wine bar) our wines are paired with what our clients have described as an "incredible" selection of Italian and French cheeses, hams, salami, crostoni, and salads, and even a little cake or dessert, washed down with a fine vino dolce, naturally.

Many of our clients visit from all over the world, giving Le Volpi e l'Uva a unique atmospherer, that is at once local, yet international, and our 'regulars' could come from anywhere, from 500 metres away here in Oltrarno, to the other side of the world.

Yet many 'regulars' from further afield often wish to take a bit of our hospitality home with them, and we didn't want to disappoint them! So now a new Volpe has joined the 'pack'...

Chris Dobson is passionate about food and wine, and he has been a friend and associate of the Volpi almost from the beginning. Chris divides his time between the UK and Tuscany, and speaks Italian fluently. He administers this website, and acts as our UK agent and support for UK sales through our online shop.

Right: Giancarlo and Chris.