10 Exciting Montepulciano Winery Tours & Tastings To Explore (2024)

by Hunter Robillard

Montepulciano can be likened to a bottle of fine wine itself, aged well and retaining everything that makes it unique!

This small town in the Siena province of Southern Italy is steeped in wine tradition.

In a gist, Montepulciano offers wine lovers the chance to explore what makes Italian wine special.

So the next time you visit Italy, go on a Montepulciano winery tour at the right time and get transported back to the Renaissance age!

10 Must-Do Montepulciano Winery and Vineyard Tours

Montepulciano is a Renaissance town in Abruzzo, Tuscany, and home to the famed DOCG Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. You’ll also find many other incredible Italian red wines made using the Montepulciano grape from various wineries in the region.

Let’s explore ten amazing Montepulciano wineries!

1. Avignonesi

Situated outside the quiet village of Valiano di Montepulciano with Montepulciano on one side and Cortana on the other is the Avignonesi winery.

With over 170 hectares of vineyards and a strong dedication to sustainability, Avignonesi wines showcase the best of Montepulciano.

In addition to their award winning Vin Santo di Pernice, they also produce the Nobile di Montepulciano and Rossi di Montepulciano using the Sangiovese grape.

Their 1.5-hour tour takes you through the viticulture process and culminates with a wine tasting session of four of their best wines:

Grandi Annate Toscana IGT
Il Marzocco Chardonnay Toscana IGT
50&50 Toscana IGT
Grifi Sangiovese - Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT

You can also try their sweet reds - Occhio di Pernice and Vin Santo at an extra cost.

They also offer all these wines with their honey and olive oil for purchase at The Cellar Door so that you can take a piece of Avignonesi home with you!

2. Poliziano

Near the village of Gracciano, you’ll find the Poliziano winery, which offers a picturesque Montepulciano winery tour that is not to be missed.

Named after the famous Renaissance poet, this Tuscan winery has produced the esteemed Vino Nobile wine since 1961.

Their wine tour includes a visit to:

Their cellar
The vineyard
The historic archive

Ending the tour is a fantastic wine tasting opportunity of Poliziano’s selection in their renovated Angelo Ambrogini room.

3. Contucci

One of the founding fathers of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the Contucci family’s eponymous winery takes you back to the 15th century.

Due to this preservation of culture, Contucci receives visitors from all over the world to view their wine cellars which were once part of Montepulciano’s old inner walls.

Contucci is known for exclusively growing local Montepulciano grapes such as:

Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese)
Mammolo
Canaiolo Nero
Trebbiano Toscan
Colorino
Grechetto
Malvasìa del Chianti

Using these hand-picked grapes, Contucci produces the following wines:

Vino Nobile
Rosso di Montepulciano
Vin Santo
Il Sansovino
Bianco della Contessa

Visitors can taste two of their exquisite wines free of charge from April to November. For more, you can head over to their guest house, Palazzo Contucci.

4. Gattavecchi Winery

A historic name in Montepulciano, the Gattavecchi family has dedicated itself to wine production for four generations.

Their guided tour offers a tasting of their wines and other local products in the refectory of the 19th-century Monastery of Santa Maria de Servi.

You can choose to partake in a meal prepared by Lilian’s Kitchen that reflects the traditional Tuscan cuisine or simply opt for the wine tasting.

Their tasting room also features a terrace that overlooks the Tempio di San Biagio to enhance the entire experience.

5. Villa S. Anna

An all-women winery owned by Simona Ruggeri Fabroni’s family, the Villa S. Anna can be found on the hills around Montepulciano.

Committed to upholding the tradition of producing high-quality wines, this winery’s tour includes a visit to their historical cellars and a look at their winemaking process.

You’ll also get to taste the following wines:

Rosso di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Chianti Colli Senesi
Poldo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

These tastings are typically paired with Tuscan finger food such as Pecorino cheese, cold cuts, and Tuscan bread.

A truly unique matriarchal winery, the Villa S. Anna effortlessly stands out from the crowd.

6. Montemercurio

If you’re a wine traditionalist, you’ll love your visit to the Montemercurio winery!

The Anselmi family’s grandfather, Damo, planted the first vine back in the 1960s. Since then, the family has worked hard to preserve the goodness of the Montepulciano hills.

Every step of the winemaking process, from the manual grape collection to the aging in traditional Tuscan oak barrels, showcases respect for the terroir and its offerings.

The Montemercurio wine tour consists of a complete itinerary with a tour of the vineyards and cellars, followed by a chance to taste every wine in their portfolio.

7. Icario

Hidden in the Montepulciano countryside, the Icario winery greets you with a breath-taking view of the Valdichiana Valley.

Their guided wine tour takes you through the complexity of Icario, which sits at the intersection of many of Tuscany’s wine subregions.

You can choose between focusing on Montepulciano wines, Icario specifics, or a complete experience with appetizers.

Regardless, the tour will take your through the cellars and include a tasting of their olive oil, grappa, and the following wines:

Rosso di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Icario Vitaroccia Riserva

Icario also offers visitors the chance to lounge on their terrace and share a bottle of Rosé or white wine surrounded by picturesque vineyards.

8. Ercolani

The Underground City of Montepulciano is where the Gothic-Renaissance atmosphere comes alive again. Marked by cool tunnels and hidden crypts, the Ercolani family offers various services in this hidden gem.

With a reservation, they can offer a tasting of their farm products such as olive oil, salami, truffles, and pecorino.

All of this while sipping the grand Vino Nobile di Montepulciano surrounded by the memory of 15th-century nobility in ancient rooms.

The winery also offers:

A guided tour of the Underground City
Excursions in search of truffles
Harvest participation activities
Basket and gift box preparation

As you leave the Underground City, you receive a small tasting opportunity of their specialty wines and even buy some from their wine shop.

9. Antinori

With a visit that merges the past, present, and future of the Antinori winery, the tour allows visitors to marvel at the winey’s:

Iconic spiral staircase
Vineyards which cover the winery’s roof
Wine production areas
Museum

In the museum, guests will be able to view the family’s impressive art collection while sipping on the following wines:

Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva
La Vigna Sul Tetto Chianti Classico Riserva
Cont'Ugo Bolgheri

Visitors will also get to purchase choice Antinori and other fine Italian wines from their wine shop.

10. Canalicchio di Sopra

On the slopes of Montalcino, you'll find the family-owned estate best known for its Brunello wines.

Explore their philosophy of elegance through a guided tour of their vineyard, cellar, and wine tasting.

Offering various packages on a reservation, you can expect to taste the following in each:

Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Canalicchio di Sopra Rosso di Montalcino
Extra virgin olive oil

But, when is the best time to visit these wineries?

The Right Time to Visit Montepulciano

The Montepulciano area features over 75 wineries open from spring to autumn. So, that’s the best time to witness the vineyards in full bloom and take in the picturesque Southern Tuscany town.

While you’re there, sit back at one of many Montepulciano’s wine bars and enjoy a glass of fine Tuscan wine.

We highly recommend the wine bar Per Bacco that offers white wine from the region!

You can visit La Bottega Del Nobile offering both indoor and outdoor seating options so you can take in the view. Or Consorzio del Vino with its glass floors that allow you to view the cellars below your feet as you sip their beautiful wine!

We've spoken so much about all the fantastic wineries in Montepulciano, but what about the actual wine?

What to Expect from Montepulciano Wine

Grown in the Abruzzo (Abruzzi) region in Tuscany, Italy, this red wine grape produces well-rounded wines with soft tannins and low acidity.

Montepulciano is often confused with the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - a classic Tuscan wine made primarily using the Sangiovese grape.

On the other hand, Montepulciano is an easy-going wine similar to Merlot.

It features fruit flavors of blackberry, plum, and wild cherry with thyme, dried tobacco, and oregano notes. Oak-aged Montepulciano may also contain notes of clove and chocolate.

We’ve listed five of the most popular Montepulciano wines below:

1985 Azienda Agricola Valentini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($1,650)
1994 Masciarelli Villa Gemma Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($253)
1999 Praesidium Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($109)
2009 Pasetti 'Harimann' Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($72)
2015 Binomio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($54)

Montepulciano's natural acidity cuts through fat, making this red wine pair beautifully with meaty pasta dishes like lasagna, beef bolognese, and baked ziti.