First day - MONTEPULCIANO
In the first morning departure for Tuscany
Stop through the route for free lunch
In the early afternoon arrival in Montepulciano
At 4.00pm meeting with the guide at the Church of St. Agnes for the guided tour of the historic center and its cellars.
A walk through Montepulciano can’t ignore the visit of at least one of its historic cellars. In the basements of old buildings that overlook the narrow streets of town, it lies a dense network of tunnels dug into the rock. Here rests the symbol treasure of this land: the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG. A suggestive descent takes you to the heart of Montepulciano, between the gigantic oak barrels, where the Vino Nobile is aged before being tasted in the cup once you surface.
Discover Montepulciano and the deep bond that for centuries has existed between the town and its wine by visiting the dense network of underground cellars dug into the tuff. A guide will show you the places where the wine "lies" and will accompany you in the discovery of the historic center of Montepulciano to taste the Rosso di Montepulciano DOC and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG.
After the visit of Montepulciano will reach the hotel
Check-in at the hotel
Dinner at the hotel
Overnight stay
2nd Day - A day in the Val d'Orcia
Breakfast at the Hotel
9.00am meeting with the guide and departure for the visit of Radicofani.
Radicofani was once a fortress that has controlled for centuries the border between the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Papal State. The village offers a beautiful view of the Val d'Orcia, Amiata, the Apennines and the lakes Trasimeno and Bolsena, all around, easily reachable in a short time. In Radicofani was settled the Ghino di Tacco lordship, who took possession of the Rocca (Rock), intimidated all the territory with his deeds, for someone he was a "punisher of injustices and powerful", for others simply a "daring bandit".
In these years imposes his legendary figure of rebel ghibellino, making Radicofani the basis of his businesses as "gentleman bandit", mentioned by Dante and Boccaccio. Between the buildings worth mentioning are the Praetorian Palace, the church parish of St. Pietro the Apostle, the Church of St. Agatha, and of course the remains of the fortress very well maintained, with the keep and two fortifications that you can visit.
12.30am / 01.00pm Lunch at local restaurant
3.00pm We will move towards Bagno Vignoni, the only village in the world to have a large spa tub in the middle of the square.
Bagno Vignoni is an urban singularity where the inns, homes and St. John the Baptist church have developed around the tub in which the original hot spring waters gush from the volcanic soil. This arrangement is to give this tank the position and function which normally are inherent to the main square of a village.
5.00pm Arrival in Pienza, for a walk with the guide in the historic center of the city. This charming village is widely known as the "ideal" city of the Renaissance, the creation of the great humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who became Pope Pius II. Piccolomini had the economic means and influence to turn his humble home village, Corsignano, in what he believed would be a utopian city, which was supposed to embody the principles and philosophy of the classical age and the great Italian Renaissance.
The project was designed by the architect Bernardo, called Rossellino, under the guidance of the great humanist Leon Battista Alberti. In just three years it was built a complex of beautiful and harmonious buildings: the Cathedral, the papal residence or Palazzo Piccolomini, the City, and the lovely central square.
8.00pm Return to hotel
8.30pm Dinner at the hotel
Overnight stay
3rd Day - The vineyards of Montalcino and Brunello
Breakfast at hotel
9.00am Departure with your bus to Montalcino.
10.00am Meeting with the guide and departure for the visit of the Abbey of St. Antimo.
Visit of the Abbey, according to legend, was built by Charlemagne to give thanks for the miracle received: he did heal from the plague his soldiers. The complex is one of the finest examples of monastic architecture of the 12th century. The grandeur of the building, built with a particular kind of veined travertine which makes it bright, is enhanced by the beauty of the countryside that surrounds it
11.30 Guided visit in the city center of Montalcino
1.00pm Lunch at local restaurant in the old town.
Among the vineyards of Brunello
03.00pm After lunch, participants gather at the hotel with our tour guide from where we will reach two of the most representative wineries of the Brunello territory: Castle Tricerchi and Sassodisole.
Immerse yourself in the quiet of the Tuscan countryside, lost in a thousand shades of Sangiovese, the vine that has made known Montalcino worldwide. In the Castle Tricerchi, after the tour of the property, we will move in the cloister of the castle cellar for a wine tasting of Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino
Castle Tricerchi
The winery is located where in the fifteenth century the Tricerchi family decided to be the best place.
In the "secret" of the castle, in fact, the temperature is stable throughout the year, thanks to strong walls and to the underlying and overlying inner tubes.
In the structure there are still visible some ancient "granges" which has been salvaged during the renovation. In the structure we are still visible some ancient "granges" which has been salvaged during the renovation.
Everything in this area is the Castle was like 600 years ago, in the preservation of tradition, with the indispensable assistance of technology.
After aging, the bottles complete their maturation in other area of structure, dark and temperate, so as to attain and satisfy the taste of those who appreciate these noble wines.
Sassodisole
The estate SassodiSole, family run, has the rare peculiarity of being both in the north-east of Montalcino that in the Natural Artistic Park of Val d'Orcia UNESCO heritage.
The 8 hectares of vineyards are situated at an altitude of about 300 mt. Slm .. They are entirely made from native grape Sangiovese, trained to spurred cordon and low grown exclusively with their agronomic practices of Montalcino tradition.
Careful manual selection of the grapes and an aging process in barrels 35 and 50 Hl. strictly in oak casks, are the guarantors of the Terzuoli family willingness to seek the quality with respect to the typical Montalcino.
The Terzuoli family comes from an ancient agricultural tradition; records date back to at least the early 17th century. Son of farmers, Bruno was able to set up a new company thanks to the meeting sentimental and professional, in the mid-70s, with his wife Graziella Bindi, also from a local farming family. While cultivating ever since the company vineyards, the largest commitment of the neo-couple was facing the cereal department (wheat and pulses).
Their only son Roberto has always accompanied them since childhood absorbing every day more love and respect for the land and nature.
With the increasing passion of Roberto to the wine sector, also SassodiSole firm has undergone a shift in that direction with the planting of new vineyards until reaching the current 8 Ha and the building of a new and more equipped cellar. In addition to the staff of the agronomist and enologist, Roberto takes charge of the promotion and marketing of their products.
Soc. Agr. SassodiSole launched in 2012 its own Quality Policy aimed to implement a business management system strongly oriented towards the safety and health Food "foodsafety" and the sustainability of its activities and products on the market. Ensuring traceability, the history of its products and the origin, trying to maintain a strong link with the territory and cultural identity.
6.30pm / 7.00pm Departure to the hotel
8.30pm Dinner at the hotel
overnight stay
4th Day - On the way back…
Breakfast at hotel
After breakfast, depart for the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Built in 1319 by Giovanni (Bernardo) Tolomei, Ambrogio Piccolomini and Patrizio Patrizi, it was responsible for the Benedictine Congregation Olivetan. One of the oldest functions of the Abbey was that of the hospital. The Via Francigena that passed near the Abbey was traveled by pilgrims who could stop and find shelter, comfort, couch, dining and even cure diseases and purchase of medicines.
In the Abbey of Monte Oliveto, in addition to the frescoes, valuable are also the wooden choir and the library, both works by Fra Giovanni da Verona who worked in the Abbey in the same period with Sodoma influence each other, in fact, the colonnade built in the library very reminiscent of the colonnade that is seen in one of the frescoes painted by the painter. Being a public holiday there is the possibility to attend the Mass of 11'00 where there are Gregorian chants.
Departure for the return home.
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