If you’re interested in vino sfuso in Siena, you’ve discovered one of Tuscany’s best-kept secrets—buying local wine by the liter at neighborhood bulk wine shops. Known as vini sfusi, these shops offer a budget-friendly and eco-conscious way to enjoy Siena’s regional wines.

Before you visit, it’s helpful to know a few basics about the local wine varieties and how the refill process works. We visited many vini sfusi during our stay in Siena. We’ve provided a quick guide below to help you prepare.

Pro tip: Bring an empty 1-liter water bottle to get filled. If you don’t have one, most shops will sell you a reusable bottle that you can bring back for refills. This tradition is not only affordable but also reduces packaging waste.

We frequented La Bottega del Vino numerous times during our stay in Siena. It has a large selection of bulk wines, including many local wines from Tuscany. We paired them with local cured meats and cheeses for a wonderful meal.

La Bottega del Vino was our “go-to” source for wine in Siena. They have a large selection of high-quality bulk wines at reasonable prices. Don’t forget your bottles!

Address: Viale Trieste, 20, 53100 Siena SI, Italy

Check out the Siena Wine page for more information about wine shops in Siena.

The bulk wine shops are primarily selling to locals. Because they are not part of the traditional tourist industry, the owners and employees do not always speak English. For this reason, it helps to know what you’re looking for when you go in. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t need to speak Italian, and you don’t need to be a sommelier, but you increase your chances of success with a bit of information.

The bulk wine shops have a wide variety of wines. Most are local wines from Tuscany. Importantly, bulk wines are often identified by the grape variety rather than the wine varietal. Consequently, it helps to know what grapes are used to produce the common wines.

• • Sangiovese
  • Canaiolo
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot

• • Trebbiano Toscana
  • Vernaccia
  • Vermentino

If you get lucky, you might find bulk wines identified by the wine varietal (which may indicate the wine is of higher quality). Here’s a list of the most common.

• • Rosso di Montalcino
  • Carmignano
  • Chianti
  • Rosso di Montepulciano
  • Bolgheri

• • Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Check out the Tuscany Wine page for more information about these grapes varieties and wine varietals.

Shopping at the local Italian bulk wine shop is not a tourist activity but a local activity. Our experience with the local bulk wine shop owners is that they sometimes speak limited English. Although we speak limited Italian, we have always been successful and left the shop carrying the type of wine we wanted.

Our experience has been universally positive, with everyone being extremely kind and patient. But, there are a few Italian words that will make it much easier:

• • Red Wine – Vino Rosso
  • White Wine – Vino Bianco
  • Semi-Sparking Wine – Frizzante
  • Dry – Secco
  • Sweet – Dolce
  • One liter – Un litro
  • Two liters – Due litri
  • Bottle – bottiglia
  • Please – Per favore
  • Thank you very much – Grazie mille!

Our recommended bulk wine shops in Siena are La Bottega del Vino and Il Vinaio di Furio. They are located just outside the gates of Old Town.