Looking for the best wineries in Montepulciano Italy? We got you covered! This village is not only world-famous for its vineyards, but the one of a kind wine bars that line its medieval streets. Here’s why tasting wine in Montepulciano Italy is so unique and 7 easy tips to know before your visit.
7 Tips For the Montepulciano Wineries in Italy
1. Stroll Through the Town Center
When searching for the best wineries in Montepulciano, you actually want to head directly to the center of town! After arriving and walking through the San Donato gate, you’ll be welcomed to the city with winery after winery offering tastings.
So what makes these wineries so special? Well, the Montepulciano grape is obviously grown in the vineyards. Yet, much of the wine is stored and aged inside the walls of the town, and sold out of each company’s storefront.
This means that instead of driving between the Montepulciano wineries, you can stroll through the medieval town sampling all the amazing flavors. How cool is that?? Be sure to check out more of our favorite things to do in Montepulciano Italy before your visit.
2. Explore the Underground Montepulciano Wine Cellars
While looking out over the town from the many panoramic viewpoints, you’ll quickly see that Montepulciano is surrounded by lush vineyards. From every direction, there are long straight lines of vines growing grapes that are eventually turned into delicious wine.
So where is all the wine stored? Something that is completely mind-blowing about the wineries in Montepulciano Italy is that there is an in-depth network of cellars built below the city.
Connecting several of the largest Montepulciano wineries, you can explore some sections on your own or even set up a private tour of an individual winery.
Head to Ercolani, which is one of the most popular wineries in Montepulciano. Here you can get a map of the cellars, learn more about the area, and of course have a wine tasting!
This is such a great way to learn about the process and taste some of the BEST wines in the world from Tuscany.
3. Paid & Free Montepulciano Wine Tastings
The number of Montepulciano wineries and tastings can be overwhelming for any wine lover! When walking around, know that there is a range of different options.
Some shops offer free tastings as a way to invite you to try the wines and pick one up to enjoy later. There are also tastings throughout town that aren’t free, but will cost between 10-12 Euros per person.
These are often a little more in-depth, as they explain the different wines and history of the town. Book an official tasting and cellar tour here!
Whatever the case, popping into the different Montepulciano wineries is never a bad idea. Experiencing a mix of free and paid tastings is such a fun way to spend the afternoon.
4. Wineries in Montepulciano vs Wine Bars
By now, you know there are dozens of amazing places to buy and drink wine in town. The only difference is some of the wineries in Montepulciano simply sell it, while other spots are wine bars.
One of the best things to do in Montepulciano is stop at one of these amazing shops and try some delicious local wine. However, if you don’t have time, simply buy a bottle (or two) to enjoy later.
There are also many great wine bars and restaurants where you’ll have a spectacular view of the Tuscan countryside. Below we’ve listed some of our favorite wineries in Montepulciano Italy and wine bars to visit in town.
Best Montepulciano Wineries
- Ercolani
- De Ricci
- Contucci
- Talosa
- Crociani
- Gattavecchi
Fun Montepulciano Wine Bars
- La Dolce Vita
- Per Bacco
- La Bottega Del Nobile
- Consorzio del Vino
5. Bring Your Own Bottle to Fill Up
That’s right! You can actually bring your own jug and fill it up at some of the Montepulciano Italy wineries. We were based in Montepulciano during our visit to Tuscany and found ourselves at Ercolani several times.
For just a few Euros, we could take wine from the massive vats on display and bring it home with us. The first time we discovered this is by watching the locals.
It seemed as if filling up their wine bottle was a part of daily life like stopping in at the bakery or market. So if you’re wondering… The Montepulciano wine is still top quality getting it this way!
6. Ship Home Wine From Montepulciano
This is something else to consider or even plan for before visiting. Many of the Montepulciano wineries offer free international shipping with a minimum order. While this might feel extravagant, it can actually be a great deal.
Many of the bottles are honestly cheaper than we would find in the U.S. and were infinitely better quality. You can also mix a match with different wines from the same cellar.
Save them for special occasions, give them as a gift to friends, or simply enjoy them at home to remember your adventures in Tuscany.
7. Plan to Spend a Night or Two!
Travelers that want to sample the different Montepulciano Italy wineries should plan to spend a day or two. This is also the perfect town to base yourself from, with Pienza, Siena, Cortona Italy, and Florence a short drive away. You can even visit the leaning tower of Pisa in just 2.5 hours!
Be sure to check out our first-time guide for how to plan a trip to Tuscany. You can also compare rates for rental cars here to fully explore the region with a vehicle.
Honestly, there is nothing better than tasting Montepulciano wine and wandering around this magical medieval village. There are several historic hotels inside Montepulciano like Palazzo Nobile di San Donato that are perfect for a luxury vacation. Also, check out Il Tosco for the ultimate bed and breakfast experience!
One of the best days we spent in Tuscany was relaxing at our hotel pool surrounded by vineyards. Later in the evening, we walked into town to do some wine tasting before dinner.
If you couldn’t tell after all these tips, the wine from Montepulciano is more than worth the visit for!
Have any questions about the wineries in Montepulciano Italy or want to share your own favorite vineyard? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
