Tuscan Winery Suggestions
 

My boyfriend and I will be going to Tuscany for a few days next month. We will be staying in Montepulciano. We will do a day trip to Montalcino for a tasting/lunch one day that I already have reserved with Poggio Antico. The second day I would like to go to a winery or two in Chianti, maybe have lunch there and then one or two closer to Montepulciano this way we experience many different wines over a couple days. Can folks provide recommendations on wineries for the Chianti and Montepulciano areas? We are American, spend a lot of time in Sonoma, as well as Burgundy - we really love to experience wine. Many thanks!

We had an excellent lunch at La Badia di Coltibuono near Castellina. After, we took a tour of the gardens and wine cave inside the old monastery. This is the home that belonged to Lorenza de Medici, famous chef and cookbook author and decendant of the Medici family.

Their Reserva is wonderful.

Chianti is a good distance from Montepulciano.
Do you want to spend 1.5 hours finding other wineries?

>>> We are American, spend a lot of time in Sonoma<<<

It's not like Sonoma in the sense where you can just drive and pop into wineries. While there are a few that might have set tasting times, many wineries in Tuscany will require an appointment.

I agree with Bob. Stick around the Montepulciano area (or Montalcino). I would forget the vineyards and go to the Fortezza in Montalcino and do their wine tasting (they will set you up in the courtyard if the weather is good). Or try one of the enotecas in Montalcino and sample Brunello (or other wines). Enoteca Osticcio has sweeping views. Get a table in front of the window, sample some wines and have some snacks.

http://www.enotecalafortezza.com/inf...00003/Tastings

http://www.osticcio.it/visita.htm

http://www.osticcio.it/

Don't forget to stop in Pienza and sample all the cheeses.

Check for the dates of the cheese festival in Pienza and the Bravìo delle Botti in Montepulciano. Perhaps you will be there for one of those. The Chianti festival isn't until Sept.

http://www.fattoriadeibarbi.it/

http://www.aziendaagricolalechiuse.it/it/

Try the sparkling Sangiovese rose, two generations of women wine makers.