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The sunny, dry hills surrounding the small Tuscan town of Montalcino produce some of the best Sangiovese grapes in the world, which local producers have been carefully crafting in Brunello di Montalcino for centuries. This wine is one of the most exclusive (and expensive) in the world, and seeing the process up close, serious oenophiles and casual wine lovers from all over the world visit the beautiful wineries of Montalcino.
As with any winery tasting trip, it’s always more fun to do your visits with the help of some sort of designated driver, so you can sample to your heart’s content. For English speakers visiting the Montalcino region, a guided tour also helps with the language barrier, and a good tour guide can be invaluable in planning an itinerary that gives you a real insight into the history and culture of wine. of the area. Take a look below to see which one we think is the best of Montalcino’s many wine tour options.
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Best Budget Tour: Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano Wine Tour
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Believe it or not, it is very possible to get a good look (and taste) of this legendary wine country without breaking the bank (or the need to designate a driver), and this tour is a great place to start. It is a bus tour that departs from a central meeting point in Florence and includes a tour guide (tours are conducted in English).
You will start the day at a winery in Montalcino, where you will enjoy a tour of the winery that includes a wine tasting and some appetizers. From there, you will enjoy touring the medieval town of Montalcino, where you will have some free time for sightseeing. The day continues with two more self-guided stops: one in the famous town of Pienza, where you can have lunch (own expense), and another in the beautiful Renaissance town of Montepulciano. It’s a great way to see much of the area while also having ample opportunity to taste the region’s wines while staying within a budget.
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Best Biodynamic Winery Tour: Brunello di Montalcino, Small Biodynamic Wineries
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Biodynamic production is increasingly popular with Italian wineries and indeed wineries around the world. This production technique goes beyond organic farming practices and includes everything from ultra-traditional folk techniques (such as planting based on moon phases) to rather new approaches (some farmers, for example, play specific types of music for their farmers. growing crops). Whether or not you necessarily agree with the approach (experts are quite divided), there is no doubt that the tender and highly individualized care with which biodynamic producers treat their products results in something special.
This small-group tour, departing and returning to a central meeting point in Florence, explores two different biodynamic wineries in Montalcino. You will have plenty of time to see the facilities and learn about the biodynamic processes and of course you will be able to taste a lot of wine and other products. The tour includes a Tuscan lunch, as well as snacks throughout the day, and between visits to the wineries, you will enjoy a quick guided tour of the town of Montalcino.
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Best Private Tour: Top Wine Tour of Brunello di Montalcino
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There’s a lot to be said for booking a private tour – you receive personalized attention from your guide, so you can ask all the questions you want throughout the day, and you also have great flexibility in your itinerary. Having a good time in one place? Great, stay longer. Do you want to hurry? No problem. There is no one to wait or rush, it’s your day.
This wonderful private tour combines all that flexibility and personalized attention with a deep inside knowledge of the Montalcino region and its best wineries and wines. The day begins with a pickup from your Siena or Florence hotel and departs on a suggested itinerary that includes three winery stops, accompanied by your professional sommelier guide.
Throughout the day, you will visit wineries and vineyards along with tasting rooms and meet some of the top wine growers and winery owners in the places you visit. You’ll also enjoy a traditional homemade Tuscan lunch paired with a selection of wines and accompanied by a lesson from your sommelier-guide on traditional regional wine pairing techniques.
As a special treat, the tour also includes an olive oil tasting in one of the wineries. Your wine-filled day ends with a return trip to your accommodation in Florence or Siena (no one will blame you if you nap along the way).
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Best tour from Rome: Montalcino and Pienza Tour from Rome
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Rome is a bit further than Florence or even Pisa (it’s about a 2.5 hour drive), but visitors to Rome should absolutely consider a day of wine tasting in Montalcino / Tuscany – it’s beautiful and the wine is second to none, so Why not? This tour includes luxury private transport from Rome to Montalcino with a driver / guide who will first take you to a winery in Montalcino to start your day with the hearty Brunello di Montalcino.
From there, you will make a quick visit to the town of Montalcino and then to Pienza to taste the local crumbly and shredded sheep’s milk cheese. Afterward, you will head to the world-renowned Poliziano winery in Montepulciano to taste the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and learn a little about what makes this wine different from Montalcino. This is a private tour, so you have quite a bit of flexibility – if you prefer to try more and make fewer visits, it is definitely doable, and vice versa.
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The best tour from Pisa: food and wine tour of Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano
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Foodies on a short schedule, look lively – this is the perfect tour for you. The day begins with a drive from Pisa to Florence, from where you depart to head for the Tuscan hills, with Montalcino first on the record. You will visit one of the best wineries in the region to enjoy a Brunello di Montalcino tasting along with an aperitif consisting of local specialties.
From there, you’ll head to Montalcino, suitable for a quick tour, and then head to the architectural gem Pienza, where you’ll dig into the prized local cheese, Pecorino di Pienza . This pecorino (a dry sheep’s milk cheese) is not as famous as its Roman counterpart, but it is just as delicious and a real treat to taste in its place of origin. The last stop on the tour is at a Montepulciano winery, where you will taste the rich red wine Nobile di Montepulciano before returning to Pisa via Florence.
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Best Tour from Siena: Brunello di Montalcino Small Group Wine Tasting Trip
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You’re a rare visitor to Siena who doesn’t have “visiting the Tuscan wineries” on his list of must-do while in the area, and if that sounds like you, consider this wonderful small-group tour. Your first stop will be at a small winery, where you will visit the vineyards and cellars with your expert guide, and get to taste the famous Brunello di Montalcino for the first time.
From there, you’ll head to the town of Montalcino to have some free time to explore, nibble, or shop at your leisure. As lunch approaches, you will head to a local family-run winery, where you will meet the winemakers and enjoy a traditional three-course lunch with wine pairing. Walk for lunch on the grounds of the former Benedictine Abbey of Sant’Antimo as your guide shows you and explains the historical significance of this extraordinary place.
Finally, stop at a third winery, where you will learn about contemporary production and aging processes and get a final taste before heading back to Florence. It’s a good full day that includes guided tastings and some free time for a good overall balance.
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Best Connoisseur Tour: Brunello and Nobile Wine Lovers Tour
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For wine lovers who already know their stuff, traditional tours can sometimes be a bit tedious. There’s no shame in wanting to dig deep and get a little nerdy, and if that’s your goal, this is the tour for you. It is a private tour that departs and returns to your accommodation in Florence (note that the price is per group, not per person) and gives you the undivided attention of a sommelier guide throughout the full day of wine tasting.
The tour includes two in-depth winery stops: one in Montalcino and one in Montepulciano. Hardcore oenophiles know that these two small Tuscan regions have a friendly (and ancient) rivalry with each other, and you will enjoy comparing and contrasting their superstar wines: Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The former is made from 100 percent Sangiovese grapes, while the latter contains up to 30 percent Canailo Nero and other specialty local varieties. What fun, savoring them both, catching hints of their so slightly different terroirs , and getting the scoop from your guide and their winery hosts. All of that, plus one of the most beautiful off-the-beaten-path tours through the Tuscan hills – you can’t beat it.
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Best Luxury Tour: Montalcino Luxury Wine Tour
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You’ve come to Tuscany, why not consider going all-inclusive on a top-of-the-line luxury tour? This private tour departs from your accommodation in Florence and takes you in a luxurious air-conditioned hotel to the hills of Montalcino. Your first stop of the day will be at Podere Le Ripi, a biodynamic winery with organic certification where you will have a private tour that explains the biodynamic winemaking process. You’ll enjoy a gourmet three-course lunch prepared by Michelin-starred chef Massimo Rossi as you sit on a tranquil terrace overlooking rolling, vine-covered hills that stretch into the distance. Naturally, the food will be paired with the finest wines from the estate. Your second stop will be at Castel Giocondo, a property that has been in the same family for almost 1,000 years. You will taste more wines and learn about the history of viticulture in the region while enjoying one of the best views in the region. At the end of the day, you will be taken back to your accommodation in Florence in comfort.
