Montalcino: Guided winery tour and Tuscan wine tasting

Along the Via Francigena, on the northern side of Montalcino, lies a special and sometimes fairy-tale-like place. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Here, stands an ancient medieval castle that now houses a winery that you can visit. In fact through this experience you will have the opportunity to discover the history of the place and taste their three red wines.

The castle is easily accessible by car: in fact, you will have the opportunity to park within walking distance of the site of your experience.

Before savoring the aromas of the land you will be taken by an expert on a tour of the historic vineyard that has been yielding the highest quality grapes for centuries. From the top of the hill where the castle stands, you can admire the beautiful surrounding Tuscan landscape and the splendid hills of the Val d’Orcia, so enchanted by the beauty that Mother Nature has given us.

You will hear the story of the castle, which was completed in the mid-1400s, and of the family that has always lived there, as you tour the grounds and cellars, which are located in the old dungeons. The latter are the ideal environment for the barrique cellar, since they are insulated by thick walls, thus maintaining cool temperatures throughout the year, and are surrounded by air chambers below and above, which promote the proper maturation of the wine.

You will discover all the secrets of the production, bottling and aging of Montalcino red wines, which give rise to some of the world’s finest wines, first and foremost the famous Brunello di Montalcino.

During this voyage of discovery of the local food and wine world, an expert will explain in precise detail the unmistakable characteristics of these Excellencies, taking you on a discovery of their bouquet of smells and flavors that characterize these wines to such an extent that they are unmistakable.

Following the winery tour, you will take part in a wine tasting, accompanied by ciaccini, a typical Tuscan product similar to a flat focaccia.

You will have the opportunity to taste three local wines, including a glass of Sangiovese IGT and a glass of Brunello di Montalcino, both of which are world-renowned.

Pets are allowed in this experience, so you can bring your faithful four-legged friend with you to discover the world of Montalcino wine.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A plunge into the past

This winery stands in a special and unique place: an ancient medieval castle along the Via Francigena, becoming a landmark for all pilgrims.

In fact, over the years, the Castle became a place of refuge for all those making pilgrimages to Rome.

Its construction was completed in 1441, and today this wonderful place is home to wineries that produce excellent wines every year.

The historic vineyard

From the top of the hill, you will have the opportunity to visit the hill where the rows of vines are carefully tended, giving birth to the finest grapes: the absolute protagonist of the production of these wines.

You will also find out which slopes receive the most or the least sunlight, which techniques are used to best cultivate the surrounding vineyards, which are the ideal soils for this type of vine to produce the best yields, and you will get to know the morphology of the area and why the regulations are so strict for each and every aspect of Brunello wine production.

The ancient barrique cellar

You will embark on a journey of discovery from the point of view of production, how we get from the land to the bottle, through ancient and traditional processes that meet today’s standards of safety and sustainability. The present cellar is nothing more than the castle’s former prison. Here, you can admire and touch the ancient wooden barrels that are used for aging these fine wines. You will also be intoxicated by the fragrance of wine. This is a multisensory experience that will stimulate all five senses.

Tasting of three wines

During the experience you will taste the three typical Montalcino wines that are produced at this winery, accompanied by “ciaccini,” a variety of focaccia typical of the area.
It will be a time of exchange and discussion with the expert who has guided you on this journey and with the other guests, in which you can ask any question you can think of about the wine or comment on it together.