Wine tours in Tuscany - Reservations necessary?
Aug 20th, 2010, 02:32 PM
#1
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Wine tours in Tuscany - Reservations necessary?
We'll be in Tuscany next month.....staying 3 nights in Montalcino.
We'll have a rental car and want to tour some great wineries.
Do we need to make advanced reservations?
Or, perhaps we hook up with a tour guide that has an "in" if it's too
late for us to make reservations...??
We'll have a rental car and want to tour some great wineries.
Do we need to make advanced reservations?
Or, perhaps we hook up with a tour guide that has an "in" if it's too
late for us to make reservations...??
Aug 20th, 2010, 03:32 PM
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Look at the web sites for:
Castello Banfi
Fattoria Barbi
Poggio Antico winery
for details on what they offer. All are just south of Montalcino and have both wonderful places to eat and places to taste and buy wines. Barbi is on theroad to San Antimo abbey if you plan to alos see that--and you should.
Castello Banfi
Fattoria Barbi
Poggio Antico winery
for details on what they offer. All are just south of Montalcino and have both wonderful places to eat and places to taste and buy wines. Barbi is on theroad to San Antimo abbey if you plan to alos see that--and you should.
Aug 20th, 2010, 03:54 PM
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Just a note about buying wine at the winery. I found when I was in Montepulciano in 2007 that the local supermarket (Despar, i think it was) had the exact same wine on special sale for about 40% less than I'd paid earlier the same day.
It didn't bother me, as buying wine at the winery is part of the touring process, but I did chuckle a little.
So what I did was buy an additional bottle for cook at home dinner that night, along with the nice thick Chianina T-bone to cook on the hot, wood fired grill! Perfetto!
It didn't bother me, as buying wine at the winery is part of the touring process, but I did chuckle a little.
So what I did was buy an additional bottle for cook at home dinner that night, along with the nice thick Chianina T-bone to cook on the hot, wood fired grill! Perfetto!
Aug 20th, 2010, 05:10 PM
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diane9,
This may help http://www.consorziobrunellodimontal...-wineries.html
Follow the road from Montalcino to Sant'Antimo and you will see after 3 km Croce di Mezzo http://www.crocedimezzo.com/eng_index.asp
Then after one more km Frattoria dei Barbi http://www.fattoriadeibarbi.it/
Both have tours and tastings without reservations. Five km farther is Sant'Antimo http://www.antimo.it/pagine_en/00FRAME.html
This may help http://www.consorziobrunellodimontal...-wineries.html
Follow the road from Montalcino to Sant'Antimo and you will see after 3 km Croce di Mezzo http://www.crocedimezzo.com/eng_index.asp
Then after one more km Frattoria dei Barbi http://www.fattoriadeibarbi.it/
Both have tours and tastings without reservations. Five km farther is Sant'Antimo http://www.antimo.it/pagine_en/00FRAME.html
Aug 21st, 2010, 08:37 AM
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This all sounds great! Thanks for the tips everyone.
We are actually staying at the Castello Banfi for 3 nights, so we'll definitely have the opportunity to taste there!
I'll print this info and bring it with me.
On another note, do we need reservations to hear the chanting at Sant'Antimo or do we just show up?
We are actually staying at the Castello Banfi for 3 nights, so we'll definitely have the opportunity to taste there!
I'll print this info and bring it with me.
On another note, do we need reservations to hear the chanting at Sant'Antimo or do we just show up?
Aug 21st, 2010, 08:57 AM
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There is no need to reserve at the Sant'Antimo Abbey but do check ahead for the times--I think it was around 11:30 am when we were there last year. Banfi offers a great wine tour. Had a wonderful dinner at Barbi. A good place for lunch near the Abbey is Basimondo--Ribolitto was the best ever.
Aug 21st, 2010, 09:11 AM
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Some wineries require reservations some not. Banfi will give your a tour and tasting and they would probably help you book others.
Some great tours in the area.
Castello Verrazzano. They have an entertaining tour where they weave in life in Chianti, how it was created etc. You can do a lunch/tour combo. Reservations required. Just google them.
Castello di Fonterutoli is good no reservations needed
Dievole is good and again no reservations required.
Castello Monsanto is great. Email them and see if they would do a tour.... I don't know if they do non trade tours or not.
Aviognasi is a little farther away (other side of Montepulciano) but they do a great tour and lunch and you would be in Brunello country.
As someone else mentioned you can purchase many of the wines at a local enoteca for less $$ (but some wines will only be available at the winery) Also, most of these wines are sold in America so don't ship unless it is something special.
Some great tours in the area.
Castello Verrazzano. They have an entertaining tour where they weave in life in Chianti, how it was created etc. You can do a lunch/tour combo. Reservations required. Just google them.
Castello di Fonterutoli is good no reservations needed
Dievole is good and again no reservations required.
Castello Monsanto is great. Email them and see if they would do a tour.... I don't know if they do non trade tours or not.
Aviognasi is a little farther away (other side of Montepulciano) but they do a great tour and lunch and you would be in Brunello country.
As someone else mentioned you can purchase many of the wines at a local enoteca for less $$ (but some wines will only be available at the winery) Also, most of these wines are sold in America so don't ship unless it is something special.
Aug 21st, 2010, 02:18 PM
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Yes of course Bob, sorry about that I was in a hurry. Aviognasi does make one of the best vin santos around (very very price as they may be).
In Montalcino, we have toured Biondi Sante after a call the day before.
Casanova di Neri was a really good tour and it was during crush. Email to see if you can get an appointment. www.casanovadineri.com
Altesino does a good tour and tasting. I don't know if it is open to non trade but email to see if you can get an appointment. www.altesino.it
In Montalcino, we have toured Biondi Sante after a call the day before.
Casanova di Neri was a really good tour and it was during crush. Email to see if you can get an appointment. www.casanovadineri.com
Altesino does a good tour and tasting. I don't know if it is open to non trade but email to see if you can get an appointment. www.altesino.it
Aug 21st, 2010, 03:07 PM
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Aviognasi== Avignonesi A long way from Montalcino!
Check out the "consorzio" website and obtain their very good map of the wineries when you get to Montalcino. Most good tasting shops, including the Fortezza, will give the map to you. The map includes addresses, websites, phone numbers and info regarding the winery's tasting fees and availability. A call ahead is the best method and be ready for italian hospitality. There is some terrific country and wine to explore. Cin Cin! Paul
Check out the "consorzio" website and obtain their very good map of the wineries when you get to Montalcino. Most good tasting shops, including the Fortezza, will give the map to you. The map includes addresses, websites, phone numbers and info regarding the winery's tasting fees and availability. A call ahead is the best method and be ready for italian hospitality. There is some terrific country and wine to explore. Cin Cin! Paul
