Tuscany: Brunello & Montepulciano Wine Safari Day Trip

Val d’Orcia’s wine towns, rustic lunches and winding roads

You’ll ride offroad through Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia with a local guide, tasting Brunello in Montalcino cellars and Vino Nobile in Montepulciano’s family-run winery. Enjoy lunch by ancient thermal springs in Bagno Vignoni and free time wandering Pienza’s artisan shops. It’s less about rushing between sights than soaking up flavors, stories, and landscapes you’ll remember long after you leave.

What’s included

• Your day includes pickup from Florence by 4x4 coach along historic dirt roads through Tuscany.
• guided visits to family-owned wineries in both Montalcino (with Brunello tasting) and Montepulciano (with Vino Nobile tasting).
• free time to explore Pienza.
• plus a traditional Tuscan lunch featuring local specialties at Bagno Vignoni before heading back in the evening.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

82 verified traveler reviews

Ratings come from travelers who booked this exact experience. We never edit or filter them.

Read all the reviews ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tuscany wine safari and village visits

• Depart Florence via offroad vehicle
• Visit family-run winery in Montalcino
• Explore winery cellars and taste Brunello
• Travel to Bagno Vignoni village
• Enjoy lunch by thermal springs
• Visit Pienza and explore artisan shops
• Taste Pecorino cheese in Pienza
• Travel to Montepulciano winery
• Wine tasting of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

The Experience

“You can’t rush a good Brunello,” our guide Marco grinned as he uncorked the first bottle in Montalcino. I remember the way the cork popped — not loud, just this soft little sigh — and the cellar was cool and smelled faintly of old barrels and earth. We’d bumped along those dirt roads from Florence in a 4x4 that looked like it belonged to a farmer, not tourists. The hills outside were all green waves with cypress trees poking up like exclamation marks. I didn’t expect to feel so far from the city so quickly.

The family running the winery poured us generous glasses, and Marco tried (and failed) to teach me how to swirl without splashing. The Brunello was deep and kind of stubborn at first sip — I kept thinking about that while we walked through Bagno Vignoni later, steam rising off the old square’s thermal pool. Lunch was simple but somehow perfect: bread that crackled when you tore it, pecorino cheese with honey, pasta with wild boar sauce. I’m still not sure if it was the food or just being there that made everything taste sharper.

Pienza felt like walking through someone’s idea of an ideal town — cobblestones underfoot, shopkeepers chatting in doorways, the air smelling faintly of sheep’s milk cheese (not everyone’s favorite but it grew on me). We had time to wander and I bought a wedge of pecorino wrapped in wax paper; my backpack still smells faintly of it. By afternoon the light got softer and we headed for Montepulciano, where another family winery waited at the end of a gravel track. Their Vino Nobile tasted almost dusty but in a good way, if that makes sense — like history you can drink.

I think what surprised me most was how unhurried it all felt. No big crowds anywhere, just locals coming by for their own bottles or waving from tractors. The Val d’Orcia isn’t quiet exactly — there’s always some bird calling or wind moving through vines — but it’s gentle. Even now I catch myself daydreaming about those rolling hills and that last glass shared as the sun dipped behind them.

Top questions

How long is the Tuscany wine safari day trip?

The tour lasts one full day, departing from Florence with stops in Montalcino, Bagno Vignoni, Pienza, and Montepulciano before returning.

Is lunch included on this wine tour?

Yes, a traditional Tuscan lunch is included during your stop at Bagno Vignoni.

Are both Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile tastings part of this tour?

Yes, you’ll taste Brunello di Montalcino at a family-run winery in Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano at another boutique winery.

Is transportation provided from Florence?

Yes, offroad transportation from Florence is included using a customized 4x4 vehicle.

Do you visit Pienza during this day trip?

Yes, there is free time to explore Pienza's artisan boutiques and try local Pecorino cheese.

Can vegetarians be accommodated on this tour?

No, vegetarian or alternative dietary requirements cannot be catered for on this tour.

Is this tour suitable for travelers with mobility issues?

No, due to uneven surfaces and steep areas, it is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with walking difficulties.

What makes this Tuscany wine safari different?

The use of rugged offroad vehicles along historic dirt roads lets you experience less-traveled parts of Val d’Orcia with intimate visits to family-run wineries.