staying in rome and looking to hit a fairly local winery,then heading to avinzano area by car.any suggestions on places to visit?

YES.

ORVIETO? YES.YES

YES!

YES

Orvieto is NOT the only town in Umbria, although that is the impression one receives in this forum...

I think the consensus is shaping up as YES! See the "Search this Forum" box at the top of the page? Type in Orvieto, and previous posts from the archives will come up on the left-hand side of your screen. Sit back and browse for a while.

I am with Eloise. Give me Todi, Assisi, and Gubbio any day.

Specifically as to the local winery part of your quary...Orvieto Classico.. mmm... do I remember a delicious white wine?? Or was that the Orvieto Pino Grigio, well chilled - really nice on a warm day??

YES, for a side trip that is very easy from Rome, Orvieto is super. It can be a quick day-trip from Rome, or a place to stay for a night or so on the way elsewhere.

Assisi is lovely, but more of a drive (while Orvieto is reachable conveniently by train and on the road from Rome to Florence). Gubbio is much much more of a drive.

YES. Orvieto is about 1 hr. by train from Rome & makes a very nice day trip. Tashak is right about Assisi & Gubbio. Although both of those are nice I would pick Orvieto even if all 3 were equidistant from Rome.

thanks for the tips.we are winemakers ourselves and would like to get some ideas.been to all the tourist sights in rome last year,so looking for something else.

Of course there are many lovely towns in Umbria, Toscana. But I thought you asked about Orvieto. The answer is yes, for Orvieto, yes for Todi, yes for Assisi, yes for Gubbio etc.