Montalcino wine tour
TOUR N° 4 – (8/9 hours)
THE MONTALCINO WINE TOUR
This tour is a must for wine lovers. Driving south of Siena, we reach Montalcino. We are in front of the castle where the Senesi were besieged for 4 years before surrendering to the Medici. This is where the Brunello wine was born. Every corner of this marvellous walled village is worth seeing. Then the highlight of the day for wine lovers: the Banfi, the Biondi Santi, the Altesino, the Barbi wineries, and many others. The tour of the cellars will open the minds and the palates to some of the secrets of what is considered one of the best wines in the world. After a delicious lunch in a local trattoria or winery, we will go to visit the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, dating back to the 10th century and its small Benedectine congregation of 7 monks. This is one of the most spectacular examples of Romanic architecture in Tuscany.
Alternative tour: Pienza and Montepulciano
Pienza is a rare example of a Renaissance town, created by the Pope “Pio II” in the 15th. Century, which still represents the search of realizing a perfect model of life, enjoying beautiful panoramas over looking the Orcia valley from the walking terrace. Pienza is world famous also for its “Pecorino” Cheese.
Montepulciano, designed by Sangallo for the Cosimo the I in the 16th. Century, has streets and alleys lined by imposing palaces and churces. The main square is “Piazza Grande”, a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance buildings. Montepulciano has become well known for its wines, the Nobile di Montepulciano.
Ancient documents concerning this wine go back to the 800’s. We will visit a few cellars on our tour.
