Montalcino wine tasting: Brunello, olive oil & local flavors

Montalcino makes saffron as well as Brunello, and you taste both in one afternoon.

A guided tasting in Montalcino pairs Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino wines with saffron beer, then moves to a seated food tasting of local dishes built around saffron, olive oil, cheese and cured meat. The cellar visit and rolling-hills drive take 3.5 hours total. Your guide speaks English or Italian and travels with you in an air-conditioned vehicle.

The experience

Saffron arrived in Montalcino centuries ago and stayed. Most visitors know the region for Brunello, the wine that made it famous, but the tasting starts in a cellar where you taste the Rosso di Montalcino first (the younger, more approachable sibling), then move to the Brunello itself. A saffron beer rounds out the wine portion, a pairing that signals what comes next: the food is not an afterthought, and saffron is not a garnish here.

The seated tasting that follows builds the afternoon around what Montalcino actually produces. Bruschetta arrives with extra virgin olive oil and saffron oil; the salami comes fennel-flavored with parmesan flakes and saffron honey; the cheese course pairs fresh ricotta and pecorino with saffron honey. Saffron cantucci and a saffron herbal tea close the meal. Between the cellar and the table, your guide drives you through the vineyards and explains how the territory supports not just wine but olive oil, honey, truffles, ancient grains and the expensive saffron that most Tuscany visitors never encounter.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and holds your group throughout. Public transportation options exist nearby if you prefer to arrange your own way there, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• Tutored tasting of Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino wines plus saffron beer.
• seated food tasting with bruschetta, salami, cheese, cantucci and herbal tea.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the group throughout the afternoon.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 10:00

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 4

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ARTEMISIA VIAGGI SRL

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste what Montalcino is actually known for beyond Brunello (the saffron, the olive oil, the honey) all paired with the wines in one afternoon. The 3.5-hour format fits a half-day slot without rushing the cellar or the table.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What wines do you taste at the cellar?

You taste Rosso di Montalcino first, then Brunello di Montalcino, plus a saffron beer. The guide walks you through the cellar and explains the differences between the two red wines before the food tasting begins.

What food is included in the tasting?

The seated tasting includes bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil and saffron oil; fennel-flavored salami with parmesan flakes and saffron honey; fresh ricotta and pecorino cheese with saffron honey; saffron cantucci; and saffron herbal tea.

How long does the whole experience take?

The experience runs 3.5 hours from start to finish, including the cellar visit, the drive through the vineyards, and the seated food tasting.