Coach and minibus hire for wine tours
On a wine tour, nobody in the group should drive. A booked coach or minibus with its own driver solves that. The planning is in the route, the stops and the driver's hours.
Wine routes from Florence, Paris and Vienna
Chianti is close to Florence: Greve in Chianti lies about 30 km away, 40 to 50 minutes. San Gimignano and Siena are each 1 to 1.25 hours from Florence. Reims, in Champagne, is about 145 km from Paris, 1.5 to 2 hours, which makes a full day. From Vienna, the Grinzing Heurigen wine taverns are within reach, with a coach set-down there that runs 24 hours. Melk Abbey and the Wachau Valley lie about 90 km from Vienna.
What the rules require
- Break of at least 45 min after 4.5 h driving, splittable 15 + 30 min
Minibus, midi coach or full coach
Wine estates often have narrow drives and small yards. A minibus seats 16 to 19. A midi coach seats 29 to 35 and is more manoeuvrable than a 12 to 14 m coach. For a small party, an executive van seats up to 8. Pick the smallest vehicle that fits everyone comfortably, and ask the operator to check that it can reach each estate.
Breaks, driving limits and a realistic day
Every 4.5 hours of driving must be followed by a break of 45 minutes or more, taken in one go or as 15 then 30 minutes. The daily driving limit is 9 hours, which may rise to 10 hours twice a week. A Champagne day from Paris uses a large share of that on the road, so keep the number of stops realistic.
Give the operator the order of estates and the length of each stop. They can then check the day against the driving limits before you confirm tastings.
Questions
How many wineries can we visit in a day?
That depends on distances. Driving is capped at 9 hours a day, with a break after 4.5 hours. Near Florence, two or three stops is a sensible plan; a long Champagne day allows fewer.
Can the driver wait while we taste?
Yes. Tell the operator how long each stop lasts, so the driver's breaks and hours fit the day.
Is a wine outing from Vienna possible without a long drive?
Yes. The Grinzing Heurigen are close to the city, and coaches have a set-down point there that runs 24 hours.
Cities
Vehicles
- Full-size coach — 49-57 seats
- Midi coach — 29-35 seats
- Minibus — 16-19 seats
- Executive van (Mercedes V-Class / Sprinter class) — up to 8 seats
- Executive car (E-Class sedan class) — 1-3 seats
- Wheelchair-accessible minibus — 10-16 plus wheelchair spaces seats
Price a wine tour vehicle
Send the date, pickup point, estates and group size. A partner operator quotes a vehicle and driver for the day, and you decide whether to book.
Request a quote or call ++442046529800