Montepulciano: Historic Cellar Wine Tasting & Food Pairing

Summary

Deep Montepulciano cellars, Etruscan echoes and noble reds

You’ll step beneath Montepulciano’s streets into ancient Etruscan cellars for a guided tour, taste six DOC and DOCG wines—including Vino Nobile—and enjoy fresh bruschetta drizzled with local olive oil. Expect stories from your guide, cool tunnels lined with oak barrels, and a sense of time stretching back centuries.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to feel the air shift so quickly—one minute we were blinking in the Tuscan sunlight, then suddenly ducking into Montepulciano’s old stone cellar. It smelled earthy and cool, like wet clay after rain. Our guide, Francesca, grinned when she saw me shiver (I’m always cold) and waved us further in. She started talking about the Etruscans and how these tunnels were carved way before any of us could imagine. Someone pointed out a fossil in the wall—just sitting there like it was no big deal.

The barrels here are enormous. I mean, you read about “aging in Slavonian oak” on wine labels but seeing them lined up under flickering lights is different. Francesca tapped one gently as she explained Vino Nobile di Montepulciano—how it sits for years in this half-light, picking up flavors from the wood and the tufa stone. There was this faint scent of wine-soaked wood everywhere, mixed with something almost sweet? Or maybe that was just my mind wandering because I was hungry.

We tasted six wines—Supertuscan, Nobile, Nobile Riserva… I’m not going to pretend I could pronounce all their names right (Francesca laughed at my attempt). The bruschetta came out simple but perfect: thick bread with grassy olive oil from just outside town. We stood around a barrel-turned-table while everyone compared notes—someone said one red tasted like cherries; I mostly got “warm” and “good.” It felt easy to lose track of time down there.

When we finally climbed back out into daylight, everything seemed brighter and louder—the contrast stuck with me more than anything else. If you care about history or just want to taste what centuries feel like (and eat good bread), this day trip in Montepulciano is worth it. I still think about that first sip underground sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit and tasting in historic cellar

• Explore rows of oak wine barrels
• Walk through ancient tufa tunnels
• Taste bruschetta with olive oil
• Sample six Montepulciano wines

Top questions

Where does the wine tasting tour take place?

The wine tasting tour takes place in a historic cellar located in the center of Montepulciano.

How many wines do you taste during the tour?

You taste six DOC and DOCG wines from Montepulciano during the tour.

Is food included on this Montepulciano wine tasting?

Yes, bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil is included along with the wine tasting.

Is the cellar accessible by car?

No, the cellar is inside Montepulciano's no-car zone; recommended parking lots are Parking S. Donato or Parking P8.

What kind of barrels are used in the cellar?

The cellar uses large Slavonian oak barrels as well as French tonneaux and barrique barrels for aging wine.

Are there any historical features in the cellar?

Yes, the cellar includes ancient Etruscan tunnels carved into sandy tufa where fossils have been found.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it's suitable for all physical fitness levels according to the information provided.

How many people do you need to book this experience?

A minimum of two people per booking is required for this tour.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided cellar tour through ancient Etruscan tunnels beneath Montepulciano’s center, a tasting of six local DOC and DOCG wines (like Supertuscan and Vino Nobile), plus fresh bruschetta topped with extra virgin olive oil—all within easy reach if you park at S. Donato or P8 before walking in.