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Brunello Di Montalcino Wineries: Visiting Montalcino on a Wine Tour from Florence
Visiting Brunello di Montalcino wineries from Florence takes a full day: the $258.51 Brunello wine tour pours at a family winery in Montalcino in 10.5 hours, and the $82 Val d'Orcia wine tour adds a Montepulciano winery in 11.5 hours. Roughly 250 wineries make Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino, and visitors should book an appointment. This guide covers how to visit, which wineries and vintages to know, what a tasting includes and how Brunello compares with Chianti.
Quick answer The short answer on visiting Brunello wineries from Florence
Roughly 250 wineries produce Brunello di Montalcino, and visitors should book a winery appointment beforehand. From Florence, the $258.51 Brunello wine tour visits a family winery in Montalcino with up to 8 guests in 10.5 hours, with a three-course lunch in Pienza. The $82 Val d'Orcia wine tour is the coach day with no lunch. Neither includes hotel pickup on its standard option.
Key takeaways
- Browse all winery tours florence departures
- See the dedicated Brunello wine tour from florence day through Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano
- Taste Brunello on a budget on the Val d'Orcia wine tour, lunch not included
- See which Montalcino winery to visit before you book
How do you visit Brunello di Montalcino wineries from Florence on a day tour?
You join a guided wine tour from a meeting point in Florence that drives to Montalcino, tastes Brunello at a winery there and returns the same evening.
A guided day removes the driving, the ZTL restrictions in historic centres and the need to plan appointments yourself.
The Fortezza of Montalcino, built by Siena in the 14th century, where Brunello is poured by the glass. Photo: Anna.Massini, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the day looks like
The table compares the tours from Florence that reach Montalcino, with figures from their listings.
The Brunello wine tour at $258.51 per person meets the driver at 8:00am beside Cantina Antinori, tastes Brunello at a family winery in Montalcino at 9:45am, stops 15 minutes at Montalcino castle, has a three-course lunch with wine in Pienza, and ends with the underground city cellar in Montepulciano, back at about 6:30pm. Groups are up to 8 in a premium van.
The Val d'Orcia wine tour at $82 per person leaves Piazzale Montelungo by coach for 11.5 hours, with a cellar tour and Brunello tasting in Montalcino, pecorino in Pienza and Vino Nobile in Montepulciano. Lunch is not included, so bring money for food. Both carry free cancellation 24 hours ahead.
| Tour | Price | Length | Montalcino stop | Lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunello wine tour | $258.51 | 10.5 hours | Family winery, Brunello vintages | Three-course lunch in Pienza |
| Val d'Orcia wine tour | $82 | 11.5 hours | Cellar tour and Brunello tasting | Not included |
Which winery in Montalcino is the best to visit?
Biondi Santi's Il Greppo is the most historic name because the oldest existing Brunello bottles, dating back to 1888, still mature there.
There is no single best estate, but a shortlist of names covers very different styles, from the birthplace of Brunello to modern biodynamic cellars.
The historic birthplace
Biondi Santi's Il Greppo cellars hold the oldest existing bottles of Brunello, dating back to 1888, and they keep maturing there. A visit here is a visit to the oldest record of the wine itself. Book the appointment beforehand, as at every Montalcino estate.
A shortlist worth booking
Casanova di Neri is a family-run estate famed for its Brunellos and elite crus. Casato Prime Donne is a historic Brunello winery. Podere Le Ripi, owned by Francesco Illy, works organically and biodynamically in a cellar built brick by brick without cement or iron.
Castello Romitorio belongs to the artist Sandro Chia, who bought the castle in 1984. Fonterenza is run by twin sisters Margherita and Francesca making biodynamic wines. Uccelliera, run by Andrea Cortonesi, sits near Sant'Antimo abbey, and Sesti's Castello di Argiano is a medieval hamlet estate.
Map of the Brunello di Montalcino Wineries
The estates from the shortlist that the map can place, around the hill town of Montalcino.
- 1 Montalcino fortressFree time up here on the Val d'Orcia tour.
- 2 Casanova di NeriFamily-run, famed for its Brunellos and crus.
- 3 Castello RomitorioCastle bought by the artist Sandro Chia in 1984.
- 4 FonterenzaBiodynamic wines from twin sisters.
- 5 Castello di Argiano, SestiMedieval hamlet estate.
- 6 Podere Le RipiOrganic and biodynamic, cellar built without cement or iron.
- 7 UccellieraRun by Andrea Cortonesi, near the abbey.
- 8 Abbey of Sant'AntimoAbbey south of Montalcino.
Numbers match the pins on the map.
Map data: OpenStreetMap.
Which vineyards produce the best Brunello di Montalcino?
Wine Spectator reviewed more than 125 Brunello di Montalcino wines in its report on the 2019 and 2018 vintages, which is a practical starting point for judging which vineyards currently lead.
Montalcino is a large zone with roughly 250 producing wineries, so the vineyard matters as much as the name on the label. Critics help narrow the field.
Vines and olive trees on the slopes around Montalcino, the home of Brunello. Photo: Librarygroover, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Using critic reports on your visit
Wine Spectator's tasting report covered the 2019 and 2018 vintages and reviewed more than 125 wines. On a winery visit, ask to taste from those vintages. The Brunello wine tour pours Brunello di Montalcino vintages at a family estate, which is the place to compare years side by side.
What the wine is made of
Brunello is made from Sangiovese, called Brunello locally, with a maximum yield of 80 quintals per hectare. It must age at least two years in oak and at least 4 months in bottle, 6 months for a Riserva. It cannot be released before 1 January of the year following the end of the fifth year after the harvest, and a Riserva a year later.
Source: Brunello di Montalcino Consortium.
Do you need to book Brunello winery appointments in advance?
Yes, visitors should book a winery appointment beforehand rather than arriving without one.
Montalcino estates expect visitors with an appointment, so plan the bookings before the drive.
How booking works
Agree a time with each winery before you travel. On a day tour the operator arranges the visits for you: the Brunello wine tour books 1 family winery in Montalcino and a cellar in Montepulciano, and the Val d'Orcia wine tour books 2 wineries, one in each town. If you drive yourself, remember that historic centres require a pass and you can be fined for driving past a ZTL sign without one.
What does a Brunello di Montalcino wine tasting include?
A tasting usually pairs a cellar and aging-room tour with several wines, and some estates add vertical formats of older vintages with food.
Formats range from a simple flight of wines to long seated tastings with food.
Autumn vines below a Tuscan hill town. Illustrative image.
Formats and durations
Castiglion del Bosco, which crafts Sangiovese wines from 62 hectares in Montalcino, runs a 90-minute winery tour that includes the cellar, the aging room and a tasting of six wines. The same estate offers a 90-minute Brunello vertical tasting of six vintages paired with Pecorino cheese, Tuscan bread, olive oil and honey. The table compares those estate formats with the day tours from Florence, with durations from the estate page and the tour listings.
| Format | What it includes | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Standard winery tour | Cellar, aging room and a tasting of six wines | 90 minutes |
| Vertical tasting | Six Brunello vintages with Pecorino cheese, Tuscan bread, olive oil and honey | 90 minutes |
| Day-tour tasting | Brunello at a Montalcino winery, Vino Nobile in Montepulciano | 10.5 to 11.5 hours |
Which year is considered the best for Brunello di Montalcino?
The vintages most recently covered in a major tasting report were 2019 and 2018, when Wine Spectator reviewed more than 125 wines.
Vintage talk changes every year, so anchor your expectations to the wines currently in the market and to what each cellar offers to taste.
Vintages and ageing rules
Because Brunello cannot be released before 1 January of the year after the fifth year from harvest, the wines on sale were harvested at least five years earlier, and a Riserva takes one year more. Ask each cellar which vintage is drinking well now and taste a Rosso di Montalcino beside it for contrast. Rosso is also made only from Sangiovese but has no minimum wood ageing and cannot be released before 1 September of the year after the harvest.
Source: Brunello di Montalcino Consortium.
How much does a bottle of Brunello wine cost?
Each estate sets its own bottle price, so ask the winery when you book the appointment, and budget for the tasting day itself from $82 per person.
Brunello waits at least five years before release, and prices vary between estates and vintages.
Farm buildings and a cypress beside the Abbey of Sant'Antimo near Montalcino. Photo: Jakala86, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What you pay on the day
What you can plan for is the cost of the day itself. The Val d'Orcia wine tour costs $82 per person, with lunch and gratuities extra. The Brunello wine tour costs $258.51 per person with lunch in Pienza included, gratuities extra.
Bottles bought at the cellar travel in checked luggage, since TSA allows carry-on liquids only in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less.
Source: TSA.
Can you visit Montalcino wineries without a car?
Yes, one winery is reachable on foot from Montalcino town centre, and a guided tour covers the rest of the zone.
Without a car, either walk to the estate near town or join a tour from Florence.
Walking and touring
One winery can be reached on foot from Montalcino's town centre. It is owned by Richard Parsons and run by Laura and Marco, according to Mapitout Montalcino. For everything beyond walking distance, a tour from Florence is the simplest option: the Val d'Orcia wine tour leaves free time up to the fortress after its Montalcino winery.
If you do drive, hire companies may set a higher minimum age and require an International Driving Permit.
Which Florence tours cover several stops in one day?
The Brunello and Val d'Orcia days cover Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano in one outing, and the Chianti tours combine tastings with villages and San Gimignano.
Compare the day formats before you choose where to spend your wine time.
The Abbey of Sant'Antimo in the valley south of Montalcino. Photo: Photo2023, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Day formats at a glance
The table compares the Montalcino days with the full-day Chianti and San Gimignano tours from Florence, with durations and prices from the tour listings. The Brunello wine tour runs from Florence through Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano. For Chianti-focused days, the Tuscan wineries tour with lunch runs 8 hours, and the wine safari Florence adds a 4x4 and lunch over 6 to 9 hours.
| Tour | Duration | Price per person | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keys of Italy Brunello Wine Tour with Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano | 10.5 hours, 8:00am start | $258.51 | 4.6 |
| Ciaoflorence Val d'Orcia Day Trip with Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano | 11.5 hours | $82 | 4.7 |
| Prestige Rent Small-Group Tuscan Wineries Tour with Olive Oil and Lunch | 8 hours | $168.20 | 5.0 |
| Walkabout Florence Tours Small-Group Chianti Wine Safari with Lunch | 6 to 7 hours morning, 9 hours full day | $117.40 | 4.9 |
| Italy on a Budget Tours Tuscany Wine Tour with 2 Wineries and San Gimignano | 7 hours, 10:00am start, back about 5:00pm | $84.66 | 4.9 |
Source: Brunello di Montalcino Consortium.
Tours That Fit
Florence departures that reach Montalcino for a Brunello tasting.
Keys Of Italy Brunello Wine Tour with Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano
A guided day in a van of up to 8 guests: a family winery in Montalcino for Brunello, a three-course lunch with wine in Pienza, then the underground wine cellar in Montepulciano. Gratuities are extra.
- Category
- Montalcino and Val d Orcia wine tour
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- Keys Of Italy / Florence
Ciaoflorence Val d Orcia Day Trip with Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano Wine Tasting
An 11.5-hour coach day to Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano with two winery tastings of Brunello and Vino Nobile and a pecorino tasting. Lunch is not included, and the order of stops can change.
- Category
- Montalcino and Val d Orcia wine tour
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- Ciaoflorence Tours & Travel
Is Brunello better than Chianti?
Neither is better, they are different expressions of the same Sangiovese grape, and Brunello demands much longer ageing than Chianti Classico.
If you only have time for one wine region from Florence, the rules below help you decide.
How the two wines differ
Brunello is made from Sangiovese in Montalcino and must age at least two years in oak plus 4 months in bottle, with release only after the fifth year from harvest. Chianti Classico needs a minimum of 80% Sangiovese, and its Annata needs at least 12 months of ageing while Gran Selezione needs 30 months. From Florence, Chianti fits a 4.5-hour half-day tour, while the Montalcino tours take 10.5 to 11.5 hours.
Taste both on separate days
Splitting the two wines over two days keeps each one unhurried. Start with the chianti wineries tour at $55 for 5 to 6.5 hours, then commit a full day to the val d'orcia wine tour or the Brunello wine tour.
Sources: Brunello di Montalcino Consortium, Chianti Classico Consortium.
Brunello Wine Tour FAQ
Which vineyards produce the best Brunello di Montalcino?
Wine Spectator reviewed more than 125 Brunello di Montalcino wines in its report on the 2019 and 2018 vintages, and estates such as Casanova di Neri are famed for their Brunellos and elite crus. Taste vintages at a family estate on the Brunello wine tour.
Which winery in Montalcino is the best to visit?
Biondi Santi's Il Greppo is the historic choice, because the oldest existing Brunello bottles, dating back to 1888, still mature in its cellars. Book every visit in advance on a winery tours florence day.
Who makes Costco Brunello?
The producer or bottler is printed on the bottle's label, so check it in the store. To taste Brunello where it is made, the Val d'Orcia wine tour pours it at a Montalcino winery.
How much does a bottle of Brunello wine cost?
Each estate sets its own bottle price, so ask when you book the appointment. The tasting day itself starts at $82 per person on the Val d'Orcia wine tour, lunch not included.
Is Brunello better than Chianti?
They are different wines from the same grape. Brunello waits at least five years before release, while Chianti Classico Annata needs only 12 months of ageing. Compare days on the Chianti wineries tour and Brunello wine tour pages.
Is there free time to explore Montalcino town?
Yes. The Val d'Orcia wine tour leaves free time up to the fortress after its Montalcino winery, and the Brunello wine tour stops 15 minutes at Montalcino castle.
Is transportation included and where does pick-up take place?
Transport is included, but hotel pickup is not on the standard options. The Brunello wine tour meets at 8:00am beside Cantina Antinori in a premium van for up to 8, and the Val d'Orcia wine tour leaves Piazzale Montelungo by coach.
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