La Dolce Vita Wine Tours

Tuscan Trek

Walking the Wine Roads of San Gimignano and Montalcino

Slide Show:

After a pick-up in Florence, we head straight to MONTALCINO
Ready to hike!
Our trailhead: MONTALCINO's medieval city gate
Our warm-up hike is short, but steep. (Note the 20% grade/)
Brown signage points to Brunello wineries everywhere
We arrive at one of our favorite wineries: CAPANNA
CAPANNA owner Patrizio Cencioni takes us inside the world of Brunello
Day 1 might feature other Brunello wineries, such as CIACCI PICCOLOMINI…
…or Mastrojanni
…or Donatella Cinelli Colomini
Day 2, we hike on a scenic ridge to the Abbey of Sant’ Antimo
Sheep (for pecorino) encountered along the way
Our trail passes by vineyards…
…where it’s hard to resist sampling the goods
Our destination: SANT’ ANTIMO abbey, founded by Charlemagne
We arrive in time to hear the monks chant
Afternoon features another Brunello winery, like SESTI
SESTI is boutique, biodynamic, and beautiful.
Evidence of Montalcino’s past as a sea bottom
Elisa Sesti, our gracious host
Chillin’ on SESTI’s terrace with a glass of sauvignon blanc. Sweet!
Before dinner, we have an informal tasting on our hotel terrace…possibly with a treat from our personal cellar, like this 1999 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello.
Day 3 begins in the Renaissance village of PIENZA
We sample some of PIENZA's famed pecorino.
You know you're in cheese country when they roll a cheese wheel, instead of a ball.
Hiking towards Montepulciano amidst fragrant broom
We might spot vineyard workers en route
Refueling at an al fresco lunch
Stopping to smell the roses (and daisies and poppies…)
A Dolce Vita car gives evidence of the dirt roads we travel
Mission accomplished! The end of the trail.
MONTEPULCIANO is a gem of Renaissance architecture…
…and home to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Sangiovese grapes coming in for Vino Nobile
Day 4, we stop in SIENA
SIENA’s black-and-white cathedral is one of Italy’s most spectacular
If the season is right, we might see preparations for the palio, Siena’s famous horserace.
Part 2 of Tuscan Trek is based in SAN GIMIGNANO
Here, the wine is white Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Famous for its 14 towers, this walled city is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns.
Swordsmen at the Ferie delle Messi, an annual spring festival in San Gimignano.
SAN GIMIGNANO’s medieval magic peaks at night, after the crowds depart
Day 5: Over the river and through the woods, we loop around San Gimignano
The trail partly follows the Via Francigena, a pathway for medieval pilgrims en route to Rome.
Some well-educated, modern-day pilgrims.
Drinking in the view
A pheasant hunter approves his portrait
One of San Gimignano’s prettiest crops
Post-hike, we visit PANIZZI to sample 6 styles of Vernaccia
PANIZZI’s charming tasting room
Or we might go to GUICCIARDINI STROZZI, where the descendents of Mona Lisa live and make wine.
The regional star: Vernaccia
Working our way through PANIZZI's tasty line-up
Got oil? Pausing near an amphora, once used to store olives
Day 6, we hike to VOLTERRA. Here, its Roman theater
But VOLTERRA is best known for its Etruscan museum…
…and its alabaster
One last Vernaccia winery: Letizia CESANI welcomes us to her family’s estate
Here’s to a a great tour!