My wife and I spent two and a half weeks in Tuscany in October -- and it was amazing! Except for one day in Montepulciano.
We walked from our apartment down the hill to the Temple of San Biagio, which was beautiful. (Try doing the "echo clap" from the very center of the church floor below the dome -- very cool!)
We decided we wanted something light to eat. There was a restaurant across from the church that's recommended in Rick's book (Ristorante la Grotta), but we didn't want a full meal. So we stepped into a small shop, Cantina San Biagio, a couple of doors down.
Stella, the proprietor, was helping a group of guests check out, but she had a huge pile of samples -- olives, prosciutto, salami, walnuts, etc., as well as small wine tastings -- on a table and counter against the wall, and she urged us to try. We did -- and everything was excellent. We didn't want a full lunch, but she sat us just outside the door and started bringing us appetizers and a wonderful glass of Vino Nobile.
It was a lovely time, and we decided to buy some wine and have it shipped home ... it was pricey at 40 euros a bottle, six bottles minimum, but we decided it was worth it. Then, the upsell started ... but it was all part of the Italian experience. So we added olive oil, cheese, olives and chocolate. All quite expensive, but Stella assured us everything was very top quality -- and I was hesitant to back out after she quoted the price because I didn't want to be an "ugly American" and upset a local. I knew I'd overpaid, but I figured it's top quality stuff, and we'll extend our Italian experience once we're home.
(Oh, and the appetizers and one glass of wine? She graciously discounted that 5 euros and "only" charged us 35 euros.)
It took several weeks for the shipments to arrive, but once they did, we quickly realized that all the non-wine items had the cantina's label taped over the original manufacturer's label. When I peeled off the outer labels, I found ordinary brands that could be purchased at a Conad grocery store anywhere in Italy (or at World Market here in the U.S.) -- and for perfectly ordinary prices.
And the wine? We didn't get the same wine we'd been served. She shipped us a lower grade that could be purchased in town for at least 10 euros less per bottle.
Stella's family also owns a local farm restaurant, Fattoria Pulcino, a couple of kilometers away from the cantina ... and the online reviews are decidedly mixed.
The rest of our time in Tuscany was absolutely wonderful. But keep a sharp eye out for Stella in Montepulciano. She’ll utterly charm you right before she wildly overcharges you for the Tuscan wine and foodstuffs you want to ship home.