If Chianti is the everyday pleasure of Tuscan wine, Brunello di Montalcino is the special occasion. Made from a single grape — Sangiovese Grosso — and aged for years before release, it is Italy’s most prestigious red, and the town it comes from sits about an hour and a quarter south of Casole d’Elsa. This is a day for people who take their wine seriously.

Brunello vs Rosso di Montalcino

Two wines come from the same hills, and it helps to know the difference:

  • Brunello di Montalcino — long ageing (a minimum of five years, more for Riserva), built to last decades. Structured, powerful, expensive.
  • Rosso di Montalcino — the “younger brother”, released sooner, fresher and more approachable. Often superb value and lovely with lunch.

Tasting both side by side at an estate is the best way to understand what the ageing does.

Two estates, chosen for the day

A proper Brunello day means one classic, well-known producer and one smaller estate that rarely sees passing traffic — where, if the cellar allows, you can taste an older vintage. I book both ahead so you are expected. See how the Brunello di Montalcino day runs.

Don’t skip Sant’Antimo

On the way, the Abbazia di Sant’Antimo stands alone among olive groves below Montalcino — a honey-coloured Romanesque abbey that is one of the most peaceful stops in southern Tuscany. It takes twenty minutes and rewards every one of them.

Two estates, an older vintage from the cellar, lunch in a hilltop town, and a Romanesque abbey — that is a full, unhurried Tuscan day.

When to visit Montalcino

Montalcino is good year-round, but spring and autumn are ideal — mild, uncrowded, and beautiful. Combine it with a stop in the nearby Val d’Orcia if you want the scenery too.

Plan your Brunello day

Tell me your dates and group size, and whether you’d like to focus on older vintages or a broader tasting. I’ll arrange the estates and lunch. Quoted on request — one price for the whole van.