The Wines of Amiata

We shall meet producers of Montecucco and Montalcino wines

This is a gastronomic weekend tour in which to discover Amiata – a week-end wandering with friends through cellars and estates that specialise in typical productions.

Day 1 – Arrival and introduction to the area

Guests will arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon. After checking in there will be a preview of the tour by your leader and a cocktail to welcome you. Finally, dinner. The chef will have prepared traditional local dishes with Montecucco wines specially selected to enhance them. There will be a thorough presentation of each dish and the wine served with it.

After dinner, introduction to the area with slides accompanied by splendid music.

Day 2 – The wines of Montecucco and Montalcino

After breakfast leave for Montalcino. Our first visit will be to one of the most important wine producing estates, Castello Banfi. After a visit to the cellars, where we will be able to witness an extraordinary blending of technology and tradition, we shall move on to their wine shop and the Glass Museum. From there we shall turn towards Montenero and visit a Montecucco estate vineyard and a fourteenth century barrel – a truly magical place and the short walk there is worthwhile. The breath-taking view includes Monte Amiata, the Val D’Orcia with the hills of Montalcino in the background, the medieval village of Montenero, with the Maremma in the distance. Then, we shall have an appetizer on the Terrazza where you can truly take in the scenery presented to you.

Lunch awaits us in a typical restaurant made out of the old village cellars where the principles of “Slow Food”, the pleasures of eating, are scrupulously observed. On our way back from Montenero we shall stop briefly in Arcidosso, another medieval village, where we shall visit an oil press and have an olive oil tasting. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

During dinner we shall sample other DOC wines from Montecucco. After dinner we will learn about aromatic herbs of Monte Amiata and taste some liqueurs made by a local artisan using ancient recipes which once belonged to the Cistercian monks at the Abbazia San Salvatore.

This will be followed by dancing to live music.

Day 3 – Seggiano, the land of the Olivastra, and great cheeses

Today it is Seggiano’s turn. After breakfast guests will set out to visit this old medieval village perched on a hill. After a short walk in the village, our first stop will be at the oil and wine shop where we will have different oils to taste and we will discover the best culinary combinations for them. We shall continue with a visit to a typical estate, a farm house built in characteristically Tuscan style where we will enjoy a breath-taking view and learn how to make very special soaps from oil.

We will have typical lunch and then return to the hotel for the final departure.

For groups or individuals.
Available all year long