Last updated on April 19th, 2024
Are you planning a trip to Montepulciano and feeling overwhelmed by the selection of vineyards to visit?
Montepulciano is one of Tuscany’s richest areas for wine production, making wine tasting one of the top activities in Montepulciano. If you take a drive around the countryside, you will notice almost all of the land is dedicated to wineries and vineyards.
In this article, I will share with you my top five Montepulciano vineyards to visit on your next trip. I’ll include:
- What each vineyards is known for
- What to expect in terms of tours, tasting and pricing
- Types of tours and tastings are offered
- How to book
More on Tuscan Wine:
Wine Tasting in Tuscany
Wines to Try in Tuscany
Montepulciano’s In-Town Wineries
My Favorite Enoteche in Montepulciano
Montalcino Vineyards to Visit
Montepulciano Wineries
Avignonesi Winery
Conti Costanti Winery
Ravazzi Cantina
Siro Pacenti Winery
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Montepulciano Wines
When visiting Montepulciano wineries, there are the wines that you will be trying:
Vino Rosso di Montepulciano
Montepulciano red wine, known as Rosso di Montepulciano in Italian, is made from a minimum of 70% Sangiovese grapes. The remaining 30% can be a combination of other grapes as decided upon by the winery.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
A Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has the same 70% Sangiovese grape but it’s then aged for at least 2 years, one of which must be in a barrel.
Una Riserva
When you see the term riserva added to any montepulciano wine, it’s an indication of a longer aging process, resulting in a more complex wine.
A riserva has been aged for three years instead of just two. The price point will be higher than another comparable Montepulciano wine without the extra year of aging.
For more specific information on Tuscan wines, read Wines To Try In Tuscany – A Comprehensive Guide Written By A Local.
Quick Guide To Montepulciano Vineyards to Visit
| Montepulciano Vineyard | Address | Best For | Max Number In A Group For Visit & Tasting | Price Estimate Per Person | Booking Required |
| Tenuta Valdipiatta | Via della Ciarliana, 25/A, 53045 Montepulciano (SI) | Intimate private tours with guided wine tasting (especially for newbies) | 14 | €14.00 – 95.00 | Highly recommended +39 0578 757930info@valdipiatta.it / online booking platform |
| Avignonesi | Via Colonica, 1, 53045 Montepulciano (SI) | Sustainable winemaking and organic practices OR travelers looking for several immersive wine experiences | 12 for daily tours / 20 for private tours and tastings | €25.00 and upward | Yes +39 0578 724304 info@avignonesi.it |
| La Combàrbia | Via Poggio Golo 3 – Cervognano53045 Montepulciano (SI) | Guided tour and tasting from a small winery in montepulciano | 20 | €20.00 for standard tasting€40.00 for a tasting of older vintages | Yes +39 329 8216540 info@lacombarbia.it |
| Vecchia Cantina Montepulciano | Via Provinciale, 7, 53045 Montepulciano (Si) | Large groups and events (ideal for large weddings, birthday celebrations and other parties) | 150 | €25 and upward, depending on type of visit | Yes – accoglienza@vecchiacantinadimontepulciano.com |
| Contucci | Via del Teatro 1, 53045 Montepulciano (Si) | Visitors who don’t want to get in a car and go outside the city walls / Unplanned visits | Free with purchase or for various prices with cheese and charcuterie boards up in Palazzo at the Contucci Enoteca. | No |
- Tenuta Valdipiatta
Buying Wine: Directly at the estate or in restaurants and wine bars
Children Welcome: Yes but please indicate in form when booking online
Most Sold Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (classic label, single vineyard and Riserva)
Largest group: 14 maximum
Annual Wine Production: 70,000-80,000 bottles
Tenuta Valdipiatta has seven wine tasting and tour options, all of which involve different price points. You can easily email to book a tour or book through their user-friendly digital booking page.
The estate is family run and just a 5 minute drive from the base of Montepulciano, making it an easy trip for the whole family.
Valdipiatta is not only a certified organic winery and vineyard, but also offers guided wine tastings, providing education information on each of their wines. This aspect sets Valdipiatta apart, making it accessible to a wide array of clients from newbies to wine lovers and hobbyists all the way up to professionals.
| Experience | Length | Includes | Price |
| Guided Wine Tasting 5 Wines (no tour) | 20-30 minutes | 5 wines, fettunta with extra virgin olive oil | €14.00 per person* |
| Classic Tour And Tasting | 45 minutes -1 hour | Wine cellar and estate tour with a tasting of four wines | €22.00 per person |
| Flavors of Tuscany | 1 hour | Wine cellar and estate tour with tasting of four wines paired with local pecorino cheese, cured meats, bread and extra virgin olive oil | €32.00 per person |
| Old Vintages Tasting | 1-1 ½ hours | Wine cellar and estate tour focusing on DOC and DOCG regulations and wine production with tasting of the winery’s finest vintages. Guests will learn how to analyze and appreciate the finite details of each, paired with local cheeses, extra virgin olive oil and bread | €46.00 per person |
| Valdipiatta Experience – The Appellations (from May through October) | 1 ½ hours | Guided estate and wine cellar tour with complete tasting including all of Tenuta Valdipiattas wines (total of 8 wines) paired with aged pecorino cheese, extra virgin olive oil and bread | €58.00 per person |
| Wine Tasting from Barrel and Barrique | 1 ½ – 2 hours | Exclusive wine cellar tour and wine tasting in the historical cellar carved out of the tufa, where the most prestigious wines are aged. Guests will continue onto a second tasting with four of Valdipiatta’s finest wines paired with pecorino cheese, extra virgin olive oil and bread. | €80.00 per person |
| Private Wine Making Class | 2 hours | A private wine making tour starting in the vineyard and finishing in the aging room where guests will learn the ins and outs of the wine making process, including the opportunity to taste wine directly from the barrels. The visit is closed with a formal tasting of a selection of wines paired with cheese, extra virgin olive oil and bread. | €95.00 per person |
*Prices are subject to change
- Avignonesi
Buying Wine: Directly at the vineyard or at supermarkets, wine bars or restaurants.
Children Welcome: Yes
Largest Group: 12 maximum for daily estate tour and tasting / 20 maximum for private tour and tasting
Annual Wine Production: 600,000
Avignonesi is one of the largest and most famous wineries in Montepulciano with 14 different wines to choose from, all of which are made using biodynamic and organic methods of production.
Located just a short 15 minutes’ drive from Montepulciano, Avignonesi winery is one of the best wineries for any kind of client including families with children, newbies or wine professionals.
They offer a variety of tour and tasting options, including opportunities to pre-book cooking lessons, private events, dinners at their sustainable farm to table restaurant and luxury driving tours of the Tuscan countryside.
I highly suggest you pre-book your visit online but walk-ins are welcome at their morning and afternoon tours (run daily) and at their wine bar. If you opt to stop into the wine bar, you can choose to do a tasting or order wine by the glass and cheese and charcuterie boards off their à la carte menu.
| Avignonesi Wine Tasting | Includes | Price Estimate* |
| The Discovery | Four wines (QX Rosato, La Stella, Grandi Annate and 50%50) with olive oil and homemade sourdough bread). | €25 |
| Taste Of Tuscany (end of March – November) | Light lunch (food options vary) + wine tasting, no reservation required | €55 |
| Grand Experience & Discovery Lunch | Estate tour + wine tasting (including 8 wines) paired with full course lunch at their farm to table restaurant “Le Capezzine” | Prices vary. Please contact the winery for estimates at info@avignonesi.it |
*Prices may vary year to year
A Closer Look: Read about my experience at Avignonesi.
- La Combàrbia
Buying Wine: Directly at the winery without reservation
Children Welcome: Yes
Most Sold Wine: Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva, Nobile di Montepulciano, Bianco IGT.
Largest Group: 20 maximum
Annual Wine Production: 33,000
La Combàrbia is my top pick for travelers looking for a guided tour and tasting in a small, familiar setting. This winery in Montepulciano offers a single kind of tasting with 4 wines for €20.00 per person. For clients who wish to try older vintages, the price will change depending on what is added to the tasting menu.
Combàrbia kindly asks that you pre-book with them to better organize your tasting. They are managed by a small team, making it difficult to host drop-ins or large groups, which is why I suggest this winery for people looking for a unique and well curated experience, families included.
Drinking Age: To learn more about drinking in Italy, check out
The Legal Drinking Age In Italy + Advice From A Local
Where To Buy Wine In Italy – Tips From A Local
Where To Drink Wine In Italy
- Vecchia Cantina Montepulciano
Buying Wine: Directly at the winery without reservation, in enoteche (wine bars), grocery stores, online or through their wine club
Children Welcome: Yes
Largest Group: 150 people
Annual Wine Production: 4 million
La Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano is a cooperation of local wine producers who have come together to create accessible and affordable wine. This Montepulciano winery is my top pick for people visiting Montepulciano but don’t want to go far, being just a 3 minute’s drive from the base of Port al Prato but are looking for a full-immersion wine tour and tasting experience. Although enormous and readily available abroad, this Montepulciano winery has continued to invest in innovation and niche wines, create one of a kind wines to try exclusively at their wine shop.
Once here, it’s easy to park with plenty of space for both large tour buses and individual cars. All tours can be pre-booked online but walk-ins are welcome with tour times departing at 10:00 am, noon, 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm, seven days a week. At noon, you can choose a light lunch served with antipasti, simple first courses and a dessert paired with your wine tour and tasting, as long as you pre-book it.
In addition, the Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano offers other wine tasting formulas for larger parties or visitors with limited time. For people who are just swinging in, you can stop in for a quick tasting at the bar or order wine by the glass, a great option for travelers looking to fill a small window of time or who have other commitments.
For larger groups, up to 150 people, La Vecchia Cantina, kindly asks you to get in touch with them in advance as to best accommodate you and your desires. La Vecchia Cantina is also available for private cooking lessons in which you can learn to make some of the territory’s most beloved dishes.
Good To Know: La Vecchia Cantina also has a large rooftop terrace adorn with umbrellas, perfect for wine tasting with a view.
| Vecchia Cantina Wine Tasting | Includes | Price Estimate* |
| Poliziana | 3 wines from the “Cantina del Redi” selection to taste the tradition | €25 |
| Vino Nobile Full Immersion | 4 Wines accompanied with Pecorino cheese from the local cheese factory Cugusi | €30 |
| La Toscana | 4 wines accompanied by a platter of typical Tuscan products (such as bruschetta, charcuterie, etc). | €30 |
| Private Tours and Guided Tastings | Tailor made based on your experience, desire and agenda | €70 and upward |
*Prices may vary year to year
- Contucci
Buying Wine: Directly at the winery or wine bars or restaurants
Children welcome: Yes
Most Sold Wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Classico
Largest group:
Annual Wine Production: 100,000
Cantina Contucci is Montepulciano’s oldest winery, currently under its 41st generation of family-management!
I recommend this cantina for visitors to Montepulciano who want to stay within the town walls and not take the car. It’s easy to visit Contucci, just outside of Piazza Grande at any time during their opening hours for a self-guided tour of their historic cantina.
Good To Know: Contucci doesn’t require a guide to visit the cellar, making it perfect for families to move at their own pace.
The actual tasting room isn’t very kid friendly. Rather, I suggest you have a more formal tasting with cheese and charcuterie boards up in Palazzo at the Contucci Enoteca. For a formal, guided tour of the Palazzo di Contucci and tasting with local food products pre-book via email info@contucci.it
The staff is great and very helpful, especially Simona, who speaks great English. This is definitely one of my favorite Montepulciano wineries in the historic center.
Fit In: Learn How to Toast in Italian!
More on Montepulciano:
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One Day Itinerary for Montepulciano
My Favorite Cafés in Montepulciano
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My Top 5 Wine Bars (Enoteche) in Montepulciano
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Montepulciano Restaurants – My Favorite Spots For First Time Visitors
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