Montepulciano: Guided winery tour with tasting

If you’re exploring Tuscany, you definitely shouldn’t miss a visit to Montepulciano, with its wonderful views of of the Sienese hills. This ancient town was founded in the Etruscan era, and it feels like a step back in time.

A place of millennial history, but that’s not all. Today Montepulciano is famous not only for its history and beautiful scenery, but also for its ancient culinary and wine-making traditions. In fact this area is the birthplace of the famous Nobile di Montepulciano wines, known and loved all over the world.

In the picturesque streets of the historic centre, there’s a historic winery of extraordinary uniqueness. At first glance it might look like a classic Tuscan wine shop, but once you enter and are shown down a 15-metre staircase to the cellar, the sight that greets you is unique and priceless.

Here you’ll have the opportunity not only to admire a cellar beneath beautiful Montepulciano, but also to marvel at vaults, tunnels and even a rare example of an authentic Etruscan tomb, dating back to the 16th century.

Your guide will explain the history of the winery and the family that owns it, and tell you about the winemaking process, from the grape harvest to the final stage of bottling.

After the tour of the cellar, you can take a seat in the spacious tasting room, whose large windows overlook the long rows of antique barrels where these excellent wines rest.

The tasting will be accompanied by bruschetta drizzled with extra virgin olive oil produced from the winery’s own trees.

What to expect:

The historic winery

You’ll enter the historic winery via a 15-metre-long staircase that takes you right into Montepulciano’s basement. These underground rooms date back to the Etruscan period. Indeed, you’ll notice clear evidence of that era, with vaults and tunnels carved into the rock. You’ll even see a rare example of an authentic Etruscan tomb, preserved in perfect condition.
Down here in the basement, the temperature is around 15 degrees centigrade. The microclimate makes it the perfect place for the Nobile di Montepulciano wines resting inside their large oak barrels.

Extra virgin olive oil

The tasting will be accompanied by bruschetta drizzled with extra virgin olive oil produced from the winery’s own trees, growing near the vineyard. In fact, in addition to wine, the property also offers the opportunity to sample their other products, such as olive oil.

Nobile di Montepulciano

You’ll taste three Nobile di Montepulciano wines, each with its own distinct personality. All these wines are utterly extraordinary and unparalleled. The wines are made from Sangiovese grapes, which give great character and bold, full-bodied flavour. All are certified DOCG, and are produced in accordance with rigorous and detailed guidelines, although each wine enjoys distinct ageing techniques and times. From the simplest and most harmonious Nobile di Montepulciano to the more complex and structured, these three wines are the perfect accompaniment for meat-based first and main courses.

Super Tuscan wine

The fourth and final wine tasted is a Super Tuscan. Considered a “rebel wine” because it does not comply with the usual guidelines, it is nevertheless considered an extremely prestigious product with a unique flavour. Made from Merlot grapes, the ageing and maturation process is much longer than that of a normal Montepulciano wine. And it is precisely this that gives this wine its bold and assertive character.