On a one-day private tour from Rome you can experience the beauty of Tuscany, taste fantastic Brunello di Montalcino wines and visit the charming hill top town of Montalcino.
When staying in Rome, most people don’t have a car, so we can arrange the rental service with driver of a luxury car or minivan to get you out of the Eternal city and arrive into the Tuscan countryside for a day of wine tasting and exploration that will be the highlight of your entire trip.
Excursion to Montalcino in Tuscany
With a departure from the heart of Rome, the English-speaking driver will take you to your destination in about two and a half hours.
Leaving the capital city, at first the drive is mostly highway, but then you will get off and wind through some of the most picturesque areas of rural Tuscany on your way to Montalcino.
The town is located about 45 minutes south of the medieval town of Siena on a hill with a commanding view of the beautiful valleys spread all around.
One of the valleys is the Val d’Orcia, which was designated in 2004 as a UNESCO World Heritage site because of the incredible landscape that was carefully planned during the Renaissance and has remained virtually unchanged since then.
The population is less than six thousands inhabitants, but thanks to its famous wine and striking beauty is one of Tuscany’s most famous hill top towns.
The entire region is covered in vineyards and olive orchards as well as crops like wheat and sunflowers and lots of woodlands. The most important wine from this area is the famed red wine called Brunello di Montalcino.
Tasting Brunello di Montalcino Wines
Any trip to this area must include a visit to a Brunello di Montalcino winery.
There are around 200 Brunello producers, ranging from tiny boutique wineries making just a few thousand bottles a year to large industrial wineries producing millions!
It is always best for us to book ahead for you so that you will be met upon arrival by a friendly and knowledgeable English-speaking staff member.
Your guide can take you to visit the various places of interest within the winery such as the vineyards themselves, the wine cellar, the aging rooms and of course the tasting area.
At the tasting you will get to try Brunello di Montalcino wine, a ruby red wine aged at least five years and made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, as well as Rosso di Montalcino and perhaps other wines or extra virgin olive oil.
Many wineries offer tastings that also include a small food pairing or even a light lunch or entire meal. Local specialties for appetizers might include salt cured meats made from the rare breed Cinta Senese pigs and pecorino sheep cheese from nearby Pienza with a drizzle of honey or Brunello reduction jelly.
The most popular pasta dishes from the area are: tagliatelle homemade noodles with wild boar sauce or pasta with truffles or porcini mushrooms from the nearby woods.
Montalcino fortress and exploring the town
If you prefer to head to town for lunch, there are many delicious restaurants to choose from. Along the main street there are several typical Tuscan restaurants serving the local cuisine, some with outside eating areas either on the street or on terraces overlooking the valley below. If you want something more casual, there are several wine bars serving food as well.
Along the few main streets you will find beautiful churches and squares where the locals hang out, dozens of wine and food shops, as well as cute little boutiques for finding something special to bring home with you like local artwork or handcrafts.
At the very top of the town is the imposing fortress, once an essential building for defending the townspeople from attack, it is now a cool place to visit and provides the best photo opportunity to those who climb the ramparts. The fortress is also home to a great wine bar and shop where you can try more Brunello di Montalcino labels or purchase a few vintages to have shipped home.
Return to Rome or on to Siena or Florence
After your day of exploring Montalcino and tasting Brunello di Montalcino wines, you can either return to Rome or continue your journey up through Tuscany heading to nearby Siena or Florence.
Whatever you choose as your final destination you will have spent the day soaking up the beauty of Tuscany and tasting the best wine and food the area has to offer.
