Rome: Tuscany Wine Tour Montepulciano & Montalcino with Lunch

Two Medieval Wine Towns in One Day from Rome

You depart Rome early morning by air-conditioned bus and spend the day in two medieval Tuscan towns. In Montepulciano, you tour a 12th-century winery and taste Nobile wine with a sommelier, then eat a gourmet Tuscan lunch in the winery's ancient refectory. In Montalcino, you explore the Brunello museum and an Etruscan tomb. A bilingual guide leads you through both towns, and you return to Rome by evening without arranging transport or reservations yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tuscany tour with wine tasting and lunch

• Bus ride from Rome to Montepulciano
• Explore Montepulciano historic center
• Visit 12th-century winery for tasting
• Enjoy Tuscan lunch with wine
• Bus ride to Montalcino
• Visit Montalcino medieval village
• Free time in Montalcino
• Return bus ride to Rome

The experience

You want to taste real Tuscan wine, not the tourist version, and you want to see where it comes from, but you don't have a car and you're not spending a week in the countryside. That's the whole reason this day trip exists. The bus picks you up early from Rome Termini, and for the next ten hours you're moving through rolling hills toward Montepulciano, a town that's been making wine since the 12th century and somehow ended up in the Twilight movies (which your guide will mention, probably with a smile). The air-conditioned bus means you're not sweating through the drive, and the certified tour leader speaks English and Spanish, so you're not guessing at what you're seeing.

In Montepulciano, you walk through the medieval center (there's a slight incline, so it's not flat, but it's not a hike either), and then you step into a local winery that's been there since 1200. A sommelier walks you through the tasting: Nobile di Montepulciano first, then Rosso di Montalcino, and you learn why one tastes different from the other instead of just nodding and sipping. This is the only wine cellar in town with a kitchen attached, which means lunch happens right there in the ancient refectory where the friars used to eat. You get charcuterie, cheeses from the region, handmade pici pasta with ragù, all paired with the wines you just tasted. It's not fancy in the way that feels like work. It's just good food in a room that's been feeding people for centuries.

After lunch, the bus takes you to Montalcino, another medieval fortress town, smaller and quieter than Montepulciano. You visit the Temple of Brunello, an interactive museum inside a former convent, where you learn how Brunello di Montalcino (one of the world's most expensive red wines) gets made. You also see a 2,000-year-old Etruscan tomb, which puts the whole wine thing in perspective: people have been living and dying and making things here for longer than Rome's been Rome. Then you're back on the bus heading toward the city, watching the light change over the hills, and you realize you've actually tasted wine where it grows instead of ordering it blind in a restaurant.

What’s included

Round-trip transportation by air-conditioned bus from Rome Termini, bilingual English/Spanish-speaking certified tour leader, headsets for all participants, guided visit to a 12th-century winery in Montepulciano, wine tasting of Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montalcino with sommelier explanation, gourmet Tuscan lunch with local charcuterie, cheeses, handmade pici pasta with ragù and wine pairings served in the winery's ancient refectory, visit to the Temple of Brunello interactive museum in Montalcino, and access to a 2,000-year-old Etruscan tomb.

Options for this experience

2 options

ENG Tour OptionGuide in English · 07:30

SPA Tour optionGuide in Spanish · 07:30

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursdayDeparts at 07:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Veditalia

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste Tuscan wine where it's made and eat lunch in a centuries-old winery without arranging your own transport or navigating between towns: the fixed itinerary and bilingual guide handle all the logistics so you just show up and experience it.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the full day trip from Rome?

Approximately 10 hours, including bus travel, walking tours, winery visit, lunch, and museum time.

What wines do you taste on this tour?

Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montalcino, guided by a sommelier in the winery.

Is lunch included in the price?

Yes. Lunch is a gourmet Tuscan meal with local charcuterie, cheeses, handmade pici pasta with ragù, and wine pairings, served in the winery's refectory.

What's the walking difficulty like?

Montepulciano's historic center has a slight incline, but the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Montalcino walking is moderate.

What time does the bus leave Rome?

Early morning departure from Rome Termini. Exact pickup time is confirmed when you book.

Is there free time in either town?

Yes, you have free time to explore Montalcino after the museum visit before returning to the bus.