We will be staying in Agritourismo near Montelpuciano for a few days and would like to stop at Montalcino on our way from Sienna. We would like to tour one of the Brunello wineries and then walk around and have a lunch in Montalcino. Or we can have lunch at a winery along with the tasting. We prefer outside tasting with nice views. Of course, quality of wine is very important , we are wine lovers :-)
I was doing some research and these are the wineries I was looking at but I am open to any recommendations !
- Altesino
-Poggio Antico
- Castello Banfi-Poggio alle Mura ( seems too commercial)
-Ciacci Piccolomini D'Aragona
- Mastrijanni
Posted by
Seattle
142 posts
I’ll preface by saying we didn’t visit any of the other wineries on your list but Ciacci Piccolomini was my favorite winery of the trip! Great values to buy wine to take home as well.
I don’t know if they offer outdoor tastings, but our tasting was inside (it was quite hot out so inside was preferred anyways). We ended up with a private tasting by virtue of there not being any other customers on a midweek afternoon.
Posted by
28 posts
We also toured Ciacci Piccolomini. Excellent and accommodating host, good tour and great tasting. Not much in the way of food to make it a lunch, though. Pretty much just breadsticks with their olive oil, which was delicious! I don't believe they have anything else available like charcuterie, like we experienced at other tastings (none of the ones you mentioned).
Posted by
OP
New York
12 posts
Thank you very much Ksea and Caron! Ksea did you ship wine home back to US?
Posted by
Seattle
142 posts
Thank you very much Ksea and Caron! Ksea did you ship wine home back to US?
Yes - the Mail Boxes Etc in Montalcino packs and ships wine back. We shipped a case collected from various winery visits. 6 weeks later it arrived just fine.
Also most wineries will ship to the US. If you’re willing to commit to 6/12 bottles from the same winery it is probably worth it, and they take care of everything. Next trip I’d do that for the simplicity. I wouldn’t say no to a case from Ciacci for sure!
Posted by
OP
New York
12 posts
Thank you very much Ksea! Sounds good, will definitely consider!
Posted by
143 posts
We visited Patrizia Cencioni in Montalcino and had lunch with at least 5 different wines (you'll need a driver!). That morning we also visited a farm in Pienza where pecorino cheese is made from their sheep and had a tasting of the different cheeses. This was a day trip that also included a stop in Pienza and an "underground" tour in Montipulciano. It was a wonderful day. I can supply the contact info if you are interested.
Posted by
OP
New York
12 posts
Thanks a lot Faye! Sound wonderful. Please share contact info if you do not mind. Did the wine tasting take place outside? Was Cugusi the cheese farm you have visited? How did you visit underground Montelpuciano? Did you book tasting in advance? Appreciate any info you can provide!
Posted by
143 posts
I’m so glad I checked your post again! I would have missed your question!
Her name is Debora Mazzierli. She has a Facebook page under that name, it had great pictures. She does tours all over Tuscany and Umbria. Her email is [email protected]. You can tell her you heard about her from me. She picked us up at our agriturismo and took care of us the entire day. Where are you staying? We were at La Bruciatta just outside Montepulciano. What is in my pictures is Bottega Farm. The winery visit included lunch with 5 different wines. It wasn’t outside but in a room overlooking the vineyards. Her husband, Ryan, is a chef and does cooking classes in his home in Cortona- so much fun! My husband even loved it! Deborah took us underground in Montepulciano to the underground wine cellars. I had no idea they were there! All was included in her day-tour. Let me know if you need any more info!
Posted by
OP
New York
12 posts
Thank you very much Faye!
Posted by
60 posts