Cortona and Montepulciano Wine Tour

If we had to choose an iconic image of the "Tuscan town" we would definitely choose Cortona or Montepulciano which have much in common.

On this tour you will be so lucky not only to see these two beautiful towns, to appreciate their millenary history but above all to taste their wine tradition, trying the Sangiovese di Montepulciano and the International wines of Cortona.

Cortona is located on the slopes of a steep hill. From every house in Cortona you can see the Val di Chiana, beyond which stands Montepulciano. To the south, not far away, are the borders between Tuscany and Umbria and the beautiful Lake Trasimeno.

Between the 8th and 7th centuries BC, Cortona was born as an important "Lucumonia", that is one of the powerful Etruscan state cities which, thanks to its strategic position, controlled a large territory and the traffic of goods produced in Ancient Greece that arrived from the Adriatic Sea and that can be found in the monumental Etruscan tombs.

The imposing walls that surround the city for about three kilometres were built by the Etruscans in the IV century B.C..
In Cortona the Tabula Cortonensis was found, a bronze sheet with one of the longest and rarest inscriptions in Etruscan language.

Montepulciano also has Etruscan origins, even though the splendid travertine palaces that adorn its main square belong to the medieval and Renaissance periods, around 1500, when Montepulciano saw its golden age.

Both towns were at the centre of the medieval fights between Guelphs and Ghibellines and the alternating events that saw as protagonists the two most important cities of Florence and Siena.

The Etruscans centuries B.C. practiced in Cortona the tradition of producing wine and extra virgin olive oil.

Recently the introduction of the cultivation of different international vines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah have found a very suitable terroir and a favorable microclimate. although the consortium of producers was not established until 2000, it already has an international reputation.

In Montepulciano, Sangiovese has been produced since the Middle Ages, in its Prugnolo Gentile variety. Its sandy soils have made this product famous throughout the world.

For this tour we will meet you at your accommodation and after about 90 minutes you will reach the territory of Cortona and your first winery surrounded by hills of olive trees and vines.

 

 

The winemakers will be happy to welcome you and while you visit the vineyards and cellars, they will introduce you to the territory and to the production methods of the Cortona Wine. A relaxing and educational wine tasting combined with a snack will introduce you to its main features.
Afterwards we will climb up the steep curves that lead to the interior of the medieval city where you will have time for a walk and shopping.
We can plan lunch with you at a trattoria in the village or at a winery.

After lunch we will drive in the Val di Chiana and we will reach Montepulciano, where you will visit the historical centre and you will have the possibility to stroll in the enchanting streets of the medieval town.
One of the peculiar characteristics of Montepulciano is that under the ancient palaces the cellars are still used to age the wine. Some of these noble residences offer the possibility to be visited and we will organize for you the second tasting after a visit that will take you to Montepulciano underground where the Etruscans already dig into the tufa safe caves where to save from incursions the precious "nectar of the gods".

Both the Cortona and the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines are DOC and DOCG (Denomination of Origin Controlled and Guarantied) certified products and their production is regulated by the Producers' Consortiums, which establish the production rules and carry out analyses and controls on the characteristics and quality of the wine.
In addition to regulated wines, this area also produces Supertuscan Wines, Vinsanto, and Tuscan white wines, such as Vermentino.

In the afternoon we will slowly return home and you will have time to take pictures of the countryside of Montepulciano that, we are sure, you will never forget.
We can organize the day to include a visit to 3 cellars. If you already know of the producers you want to visit we will be happy to book a visit for you. Otherwise, we will propose solutions.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

Available: All year round. Rain or shine

Duration: 9/10 hours

Traveling time: 4 hours

Area: Cortona and Montepulciano and surrounding areas in the south province of Siena – (see map)

Allergy Caring: We can cater to all sorts, please let us know ahead of time.

Wineries: Well Rated

Wine Tasting: Reds Mainly certified as Cortona DOC and Vino Nobile di Montalcino DOCG, Rosso di Montepulciano DOCG, Cortona Cabernet Souvignon DOC, Cortona Merlot DOC, Cortona Syrah DOC, Supertuscans Blended IGT, Vinsanto aged sweet wine, Some Whites certified as IGT.

 

INCLUDED IN THE TOUR

 

• Fluent English speaking Driver, Wine-expert
• Panoramic Drive through the hills of Tuscany Region
• Visit of Medieval Town of Cortona and Montepulciano and tour of 2 Wine estates
• Wine tasting fees
• Lunch with typical Tuscan food paired with Cortona wines or Montepulciano
• Luxury Air Conditioned vehicle
• Pick up and drop off in Florence or its immediate surroundings.
• All local Taxes, gasoline, driver's meal

 

 

Please note that you can pick up at your place outside of Florence.

We are also available to personalize your itinerary, for example visiting 3 wineries.

Contact us and we'll send you a personalized program and quotation.

 

PRICES

Starting from 200 euro per person

 

TYPICAL SCHEDULE

9:00 Start from accommodation and panoramic drive to Cortona area

10:30 Visit and Tasting of Cortona DOC Wines and other wines produced at the first Wine Estate in the countryside

12:00 Visit of the town of Cortona for stroll and shopping

12:30 Lunch and Tasting in the village or at the winery.

14:30 Visit and Tasting at the second Wine Cellar inside the town of Montepulciano

16:30 Panoramic Drive with stop for landscape pictures in the Tuscan hills

18:00 arrive at accommodation

 

NOT INCLUDED

• Anything not previously mentioned