Tuscan Wine Tasting in Siena: Etruscan Crypt

The wines here don't leave the shop. Many are produced in such small numbers they're never exported.

Taste a curated selection of Tuscan and Italian wines paired with local pecorino cheese in an Etruscan crypt beneath Siena's oldest wine shop. The cellar, dug into tuff stone and discovered during renovation work, holds bottles from over a thousand labels, including Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Supertuscan, and famous names like Sassicaia and Ornellaia. A live guide in English or Italian leads the tasting, which runs about an hour.

The experience

The crypt itself is the setting: an Etruscan tomb carved into the bedrock, now the private collection room of a wine shop that has specialized in Brunello di Montalcino for generations. The bottles stacked here include releases that never reach export markets because production is so limited. You taste your way through a selection drawn from more than a thousand different labels, moving between the great Tuscan names (Chianti Classico, Supertuscan, Brunello di Montalcino), and top Italian wines from elsewhere. Each pour comes with slices of pecorino and bread sticks, the cheese chosen to complement what's in the glass.

The tasting is guided, so you're not navigating the list alone. Your guide speaks English or Italian and walks you through the wines, the shop's history, and the story of how the crypt was found. The whole experience runs about an hour, which gives you time to taste without rushing and to ask about the bottles that catch your interest. Public transportation stops nearby, so you can reach the shop without a car.

What’s included

• Tasting of the best Tuscan and national wines.
• tasting of the best Tuscan pecorino cheeses.
• live guide in English or Italian.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 11:30 and 15:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (30 to 70 years) · Senior (71 to 85 years) · Youth (18 to 29 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Italian

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Cantina del Brunello Tasting

Is this one for you?Join other wine lovers for a guided tasting in an Etruscan crypt. You'll taste alongside the group rather than arrange a private session, and the shop owner provides expert commentary on Brunello di Montalcino and other top Tuscan labels.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

8 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (18 to 29 years). Children under 18 can't be included in the booking.

What wines are included in the tasting?

The tasting covers a curated selection of Tuscan and Italian wines, with a focus on Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Supertuscan, and famous labels like Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Masseto. Many bottles in the shop are produced in such limited quantities they're not available for export anywhere else in the world.

Is the Etruscan crypt really underground?

Yes, the crypt is an actual Etruscan tomb dug into the tuff stone beneath the shop. It was discovered during renovation work and now serves as the wine shop's private collection room, where the tasting takes place.

What food is served with the wine?

The tasting includes a selection of the best Tuscan pecorino cheese paired with bread sticks, chosen to complement the wines you taste.

How long does the tasting last?

The tasting runs about an hour, giving you time to taste through the selection and learn about the wines without feeling rushed.