Let’s discover together the new generation of natural Brunello di Montalcino producers
In Montalcino there is a whole new wave of natural winemakers attentive to the genuineness of the wines they produce and their impact on the environment. We will show you the unknown world of the small wineries of Montalcino to meet the organic and biodynamic winemakers or, simply, Brunello artisans on a tour that includes visits to the cellars, sommelier escorted tastings, food pairings and explorations of the nearby villages of Val d’Orcia in southern Tuscany.
In this week of immersion in the world of natural wine (& food) you will meet the characters who are making Montalcino one of the world capitals of organic and biodynamic wines. We will be guests in their homes and at their tables, we will listen to their stories, we will taste rare bottles produced in very small numbers and we will create human connections destined to last over time..
(7 days, 6 nights)
GO PRIVATE! Contact us to reserve a custom departure on your preferred dates
Meet & Depart: Florence
Accommodation: charming agriturismo by an organic winery in Montalcino’s countryside
Highlights
- visit organic wineries and natural food producers: taste and talk with the owners
- meet a small group of wine lovers and small collectors coming from all over the world
- get to know the new generation of Brunello producers, attentive to the wholesomeness of their wines and their soil
- access premium Brunello di Montalcino wines produced in very small quantities
- same accommodation for the entire week
- wine expert guide escorting you for all the week and sharing secrets of the Montalcino natural wine scene
Day 1, Sunday – On the terrace of wonders
Montalcino is a fascinating microcosm of 150 square miles around which the complex world of Brunello revolves and which has its centre buzzing of life in the beautiful medieval village.
Our accommodation will be really exclusive by an organic winery estate. After check-in we will begin a tasting of great Montalcino wines in one of the historic cellars near the town.
For dinner we enjoy Montalcino delicacies in a typical restaurant in the medieval heart of the town.
Day 2, Monday – South-East side: elegance in the Sangiovese
At breakfast we will meet our concierge, the escort who will support us throughout the week in the land of Brunello. Then go! A walk among the millenary stones of the historic centre of Montalcino to discover its walls, its fortress, the treasures contained in the city museum and an excellent tasting lunch in a tavern with a first pairing of a selection of Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino of small producers.
In the afternoon we leave for the immersion in the deep countryside of Montalcino: thousands of hectares covered with woods, pastures, olive groves and the precious Brunello vineyards. The Montalcino terroir is a mosaic made up of very different slopes. Today we are going to discover two small producers who practice biodynamic viticulture on its most famous side, the south-east made of sandstone and galestro rocks with the presence of tufa of volcanic origin. We will appreciate the diversity of biodynamic approach to the vineyard and winemaking by noting how this clearly reflects in the wines and in the agricultural landscape surrounding the farms.
Day 3, Tuesday – The North face of Montalcino, hidden gems
Following up our great journey in one of the most important wine territories in the world we have reserved three other small wineries … The first on the north side of Montalcino which is perhaps the most unknown and fresh but which, thanks to the exposure and the land composed of marl mixed with clays, it is the home of excellent Brunellos with fine aromas and a delicate bouquet where we will be guided in the tasting of Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino.
We will then move west and upwards, in the most wooded area of Montalcino. Here the soils are enriched with limestone and alluvial sandstone systems and we will have lunch in a beautiful biodynamic cellar enjoying wines and breathtaking views. In the afternoon we will go even further west to go to the wild, semi-unknown countryside of Montalcino where in a magnificent farmhouse a wine poet will entertain us with the story of his life and his Brunello.
Day 4, Wednesday – The other Sangiovese: Montepulciano and passage in Val d’Orcia
Sangiovese is the jewel of Montalcino: here we vinify in purity, but in southern Tuscany a similar clone is also grown in the nearby area of Montepulciano with enormous different results in the bottle that we are going to discover.
Today we also make a panoramic detour through the hills of the Val d’Orcia, passing through the jewel villages of Bagno Vignoni and Pienza to taste the excellent Pecorino di Pienza and other cheeses in a bio-ecological farm, up to Montepulciano where we will let ourselves be transported between its alleys listening to the fascinating stories of this medieval town and visiting a small artisan cellar to get to know (and taste, of course!) the Nobile di Montepulciano wine.
Day 5, Thursday – Please, we need some more Italian food!
Today we cook together by a small organic farm near Montalcino. In the morning we visit their permaculture garden where we help to pick some healthy food. Then we learn to make fresh pasta in many different shapes with their sauces. We prepare tiramisù and a main based on fresh products farm to table. Finally we enjoy a convivial lunch under the pergola passing there Val d’Orcia landscape.
In the afternoon, of course, we have time for a visit to S. Antimo abbey, a magnificent church immersed in the countryside. Here we visit the botanical garden and we can shop the pharmacy by the monks.
In the late afternoon we will have some free time for relax or shopping around Montalcino before dinner reserved by a local bistro.
Day 6, Friday – South West, the call of the Mediterranean Sea
Today we have another intense day of wine in the game-bag. In the morning we will be guests of a family of long Montalcino origins who will guide us to discover their history and the generational transition at the helm of the winery, from grandfather to grandson. We will taste directly from the casks some of the Brunello vintages, now in the aging phase, in order to closely observe and understand the evolutions of the wines on wood.
At lunchtime we will be guests with another family who will tell us about their wines in combination with the dishes that have always been present on their Sunday table or when there are special guests like today.
Finally, in the afternoon, it will be time to immerse ourselves in the art and fascination of Biodynamics in the Steinerian meaning of the first hour: the one that intends to bring human sensitivity and artistic intuition back into the sciences. In this case into agronomic science.
Farewell tasting dinner by one of our favorite restaurant of Montalcino: let’s enjoy and challenge ourself in the blind tasting organised to prove the knowledge absorbed during the week.
Day 7, Saturday – Departure
Check-out and transfer to Florence where you can connect the rest of your trip to Italy
Organic food from the Val d’Orcia, ancient varieties of grains like Senatore Cappelli and Verna, Pecorino and Caprino (sheep milk cheese and goat milk cheese) by organic raw milk, the famous honey of Montalcino, Tuscan Prosciutto, Cinta Senese, Porcini mushrooms and White Truffle (October trip)…
Traditional Osteria and Trattoria, Gourmet spots, family lunches, home make pasta by the cooking school, wine bars, tasting by the dairy farm …
Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano, Sant’Angelo in Colle, Castelnuovo dell’Abate, Monticchiello, Bagno Vignoni …
Pickup Points: Florence, ask us for a different location.
Departures: on your preffered dates
Season: All year long
Would you like to modify this tour or design your own experience in Tuscany?
Let us know your needs and wishes and we will tailor the perfect program for your trip to Italy.
