Montalcino, medieval fortress, is part of Val d’Orcia, UNESCO World Heritage site. One of its wines especially makes the Val d’Orcia known all over the world: the Brunello.
Info & Booking
- English language driver
- Departure from your accomodation in Florence
- If you are a small party, then this is the tour for you...you own guide all over Tuscany!
- Includes Full Day Car&Driver, Visit and tasting in 2 wineries, 3 course lunch at Taverna Banfi.
- Duration: 10 hours
- Cancellation policy: There will be no penalty for cancellations of excursion bookings communicated in writing to the organization at least eight days prior to the booked excursion date. Between eight and two days prior to the excursion, 10% of the fare will have to be paid; from two days prior to the excursion departure, the payment of the entire amount will be due and no reimbursement will be granted. No reimbursement will be granted to any client who is not at the place of departure at the time established; similarly, no reimbursement will be granted to clients who lose contact with the guide or who do not complete the excursion.
Discovering the Brunello di Montalcino | Weekend in Italy
You'll be picked up at your accommodation in Florence by your English-speaking driver. Your day begins with an easy drive south of Florence – through the hills of the Chianti region and past Siena, you'll reach picturesque Montalcino. The scenery here and during your entire trip is breathtaking – cypress trees, olive groves, vineyards, fields and livestock, with the extraordinary palette of colors Tuscany is known for all over the world.
Montalcino is an ancient hilltop town, famous for the Brunello wine, which is produced here using Sangiovese grapes. Every activity in this town revolves around wine production – and rightly so:
“If you want to understand what great Italian wine is all about, buy a bottle of Brunello. No wine in Italy matches Tuscany's Brunello di Montalcino when it comes to class and ageability. And over the past decade, no other Italian region (with the possible exception of Barolo) has enjoyed so many outstanding vintages and made so many beautiful wines.” (The Wine Spectator, 2007)
The first stop on your tour around the Brunello is at a small winery near Montalcino. During this informative visit you will learn all about the winery and meet those who work on the premises while following the different stages of wine production. You will learn about the history and origins of the Brunello wine and the other wines produced on this estate.
After a walk through the vineyards and the cellars, you'll end your visit with a wine tasting that will teach you how to recognize the excellent quality of the products.
After the visit it’s time to go to enjoy your three-course lunch at Castello Banfi, a medieval castle towering above the mountainous forests and lush, rolling vineyards - definitely a must-see. The La Taverna restaurant offers delicious Tuscan cuisine in a casual setting in the vaulted cellars of the building, with sturdy wooden tables placed under the broad brick arches where oversized wooden casks of Brunello di Montalcino once rested.
After lunch, you will visit another very special winery, a producer of one of the most renowned Brunello wines... The visit is followed by three tastings.
At the end of your day around the Brunello, you'll be taken back to your accommodation in Florence.