With Montepulciano as a home base for 3 days, we are looking for winery tours of the Val D'Orcia region. Is it necessary to book in advance for October, or do you simply drop in to visit the wineries? Would be interested in one that included a meal. We will have our own car. Thank you for suggestions.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7982 posts
Many wineries have ambitious formal restaurants, but they require reservation and prepayment. I had our luxury hotel do the bookings before we arrived in July. Some, like Avignonesi, provide much more comprehensive (and voluminous) tastings at the meal than in the winery. (That was a highlight of our whole trip. ) OTOH, our meal at Antinori was more ordinary, and we didn't like the crowded, corporate atmosphere of the, admittedly, spectacular physical property. The Search box top center may be helpful to you.
Edit: We had a third lunch at Poggio Antico Winery, but that (very attractive, gracious, outdoors before Covid) restaurant was less formally connected with the winery, and was not as serious a tasting project. This winery has a nice view from a hilltop, and persuaded us to make a short visit to Sant'Angelo In Colle, which itself has some restaurants.
Posted by
172 posts
Castello Tricerchi Winery is 6.5 miles north of Montalcino and very easy to get to. We did a winery tour and tasting there last month. Some people on the tour were staying for a cooking class and lunch after the tour and tasting ended.
Corte Pavone Winery, 4 miles west of Montalcino, and Azienda Tornesi / Cantina Tornesi, 1/2 mile south of Montalcino, both have lunch available.
Enoteca la Fortezza di Montalcino Srl offers wine tasting within the walls of the castle in Montalcino.
We have found that reservations are usually requested.
Just as a side note...there are several wineries that we've visited in ancient castles and abbeys in the Chianti area of Tuscany. send a private message if you want a list.
Posted by
172 posts
In case you don't know, you can visit two ancient wine cellars right in Montepulciano. Contucci is just off Piazza Grande, and De' Ricci Cantine Storiche (at Palazzo Ricci) is just a short walk from Piazza Grande.
Gattavecchi Winery, known as Cantina Gattavecchi, is just outside Montepulciano, near Parcheggio P8, just south of the fortress.