Vino al Vino: a Gourmet Food Store in the Heart of Florence

Cheeses, cured meats, olive oil, pasta and wines: a journey through the finest products of Tuscany and Italy

In the heart of Florence, just a stone’s throw from Santa Maria Novella, Vino al Vino is a gourmet food store in Florence for those who love to discover the most authentic side of Italian gastronomy. More than just a wine shop, it brings together wines, cheeses, cured meats, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegars, artisan pasta and regional specialities, showcasing the work of small-scale producers and the richness of Italy’s regions.

For those visiting Florence and looking for typical Tuscan products to take home, Vino al Vino offers Pecorino di Pienza, Parmigiano Reggiano of various ages, Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pici and artisanal pasta, cured meats, preserves, saffron, and sweet and liqueur-based specialities. Many products can also be sampled directly in the wine shop, turning a shopping trip into a mini-journey through flavours, regions and producers.

For visitors looking for a gourmet food store in Florence where they can discover and buy authentic Italian and Tuscan specialities, Vino al Vino offers a carefully curated selection of products chosen for their quality, provenance and artisanal production methods.

Vino al Vino

Tuscan Pecorino and Italian cheeses

Among the specialities that characterise the local cuisine is a wide selection of Pecorino, with a particular focus on Tuscan varieties. From Pecorino di Pienza to raw-milk, semi-matured and matured versions, the range also includes cheeses matured in unique ways, such as those wrapped in walnut leaves, in grape marc or with truffles. This offers a chance to discover the diverse expressions of the Tuscan cheesemaking tradition, ranging from softer textures and delicate flavours to longer-aged, savoury and more intense varieties.

The selection continues with Italian cheeses from various regions, including Fontina d’Alpeggio, Taleggio, Gorgonzola, Puzzone di Moena and Robiola, alongside mountain specialities from Trentino and the Aosta Valley. There is also an international selection, particularly from France and the UK, featuring Camembert, Reblochon, Saint-Félicien, Comté, Langres, Roquefort, Pont-l’Évêque, Saint-Nectaire, Époisses, Stilton and Shropshire.

For those wishing to take their purchased cheeses home with them, those suitable for transport can be vacuum-packed, making it easier to turn them into a gastronomic souvenir from Florence.

Parmigiano Reggiano: a range of maturities to discover

Parmigiano Reggiano is also available in a range of maturities, allowing you to appreciate how time alters its texture, aromas and flavour. The selection generally includes Parmigiano Reggiano aged 24, 30, 36, 40 and 48 months, including raw-milk and mountain-produced varieties. The younger cheeses retain a greater softness and milky sweetness, whilst the more mature ones become crumbly and concentrated, with greater aromatic complexity and the characteristic presence of tyrosine crystals.

This is a particularly interesting comparison to make during a tasting, to understand the differences between the various ages and choose the one best suited to your tastes.

Vino al Vino

Tuscan extra virgin olive oil

Among the products that most directly reflect the Tuscan landscape is extra virgin olive oil. At Vino al Vino, the selection spans various areas of the region, from Chianti to the Florentine hills, from the Maremma to Monte Amiata and on to the Garfagnana, featuring not only blends but also single-variety oils made from individual cultivars, including Moraiolo and Leccino.

Tasting different oils means discovering just how much their aromas and intensity can vary depending on the variety and the region: from fruity to herbaceous notes, from artichoke to almond, with different balances between bitterness and pungency. The tasting allows you to compare the different expressions of Tuscan extra virgin olive oil and to explore the cultivars, production techniques, sensory characteristics and food pairings in greater depth.

Balsamic vinegar: from younger ageing to long-aged varieties

Our range of condiments also includes a selection of Balsamic vinegars from Modena, including organic and biodynamic varieties. Vintages aged approximately 10, 15 and 25 years demonstrate how time can alter texture, concentration and aromatic profile, creating vinegars characterised by different balances between sweetness and acidity. Here too, it is possible to taste and compare the different types, discovering traditional pairings such as that with Parmigiano Reggiano, particularly with the more mature vintages.

Pici, artisan pasta and Italian specialities

The Vino al Vino pantry also features a selection of artisan Italian pasta, with producers chosen for the quality of their ingredients and production methods.

Among the shapes on offer are Tuscan pici, a symbol of regional tradition, alongside spaghetti, paccheri, penne, rigatoni and other specialities. Producers featured include Monograno Felicetti, whose philosophy centres on a meticulous approach that begins with the raw ingredients and extends through to the production process. Pici, in particular, are among the most appealing choices for those wishing to take home a taste of Tuscany and, once back home, recreate some of its most traditional dishes.

Tuscan cured meats and pantry specialities

The gastronomic journey continues with a selection of Tuscan cured meats from semi-wild rearing and a pantry brimming with Italian specialities.

Sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes in oil, traditional ragù, ribollita, chicken liver pâté, mostarda, preserves and San Gimignano saffron are just some of the items available to help you put together a small Italian pantry, or a personalised Tuscan gourmet hamper. A range of products designed for both those who live in Florence and those just passing through, looking for something more authentic than traditional souvenirs.

Vino al Vino

Limoncello, grappa, gin and vermouth

Alongside wine, Vino al Vino offers a selection of spirits and liqueurs from various regions of Italy. These include organic limoncello from the Amalfi Coast, Tuscan gins, vermouth from the Chianti region, grappa from Montalcino, artisanal Negroni, craft beers and kombucha. These products round off the gastronomic offering and make ideal Italian food gifts to take home after a stay in Florence.

Vino al Vino, a wine shop in the centre of Florence

Wine remains at the heart of the business. The selection spans the main appellations of Tuscany, from Chianti Classico to Brunello di Montalcino, from Vino Nobile di Montepulciano to Vernaccia di San Gimignano, including Vermentino and Super Tuscans. The selection also extends to the rest of Italy, with Barolo, Amarone and other appellations, and to France, with Champagne from small vignerons, Crémant and wines from Burgundy, the Rhône, the Jura and Savoy. Particular attention is paid to small, independent, organic and low-intervention producers, alongside the best-known appellations. This approach allows readers to discover not only the most famous labels, but also lesser-known regions and wineries.

Tastings in the heart of Florence

One of the hallmarks of Vino al Vino is the opportunity to taste some of the products before purchasing them. Extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cheeses and wine can be compared in terms of origin, variety, maturation and ageing. These tastings thus provide an opportunity to get to know the raw ingredients more closely and understand what sets one product apart from another. From the different ages of Parmigiano Reggiano to Tuscan Pecorino cheeses, and from single-variety extra virgin olive oils to aged balsamic vinegars, the experience focuses on the product and its history.

Gourmet Food Store in Florence: Where to Buy Local Specialities

For those looking for where to buy local specialities in Florence, Vino al Vino offers an alternative to the traditional souvenir shops in the historic centre. The selection brings together some of the finest products of Italian and Tuscan gastronomy: Pecorino di Pienza, Parmigiano Reggiano, Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pici and artisan pasta, cured meats, preserves, saffron, limoncello, grappa and Italian wines. Cheeses suitable for travelling can be vacuum-packed and, for certain products – including wine, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar – international delivery is also available.A spot in the centre of Florence where you can pop in to buy a bottle, choose a cheese to take home, discover a small producer or simply sample a speciality before buying it: Vino al Vino tells the story of Italy through what ends up on the table.