, situated in Italy's most prestigious grape-growing area of the classic Brunello, is a perfect retreat for wine lovers and enthusiasts. The villa offers a complimentary, private wine tasting at the estate’s joint winery, about 90 minutes away. Tour the on-site wine cellar and enjoy a private tasting at the villa, depending on staff availability.
What to do in the southern region of Tuscany
While visiting the famous wine producing town of Montalcino and the artistic jewel of Pienza, you will be fascinated by their charm and
history. In 1555 Montalcino became the last bastion of the proud Sienese Republic before it succumbed to the Florentines and was
absorbed into the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. This accounts for its imposing fortress and the wealth of superb paintings and
sculptures that make its beautifully renovated museum such a remarkable attraction. Pienza was built between 1458 and 1462
at the behest of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who decided to turn his hometown into a jewel of Renaissance architecture when he
became Pope Pius II (hence the name "Pienza").
While other parts of Tuscany have developed industries that have done much for the economy but little for the landscape, the
"Crete Senesi" area and the neighboring "Val d'Orcia" have largely remained true to their early agricultural vocation. Today this means local products of outstanding quality, made with traditional methods and skills that are handed down from father to son. The best-known of these are doubtless Montalcino's distinguished Brunello red wine and the Vino Nobile of Montepulciano, both of which are the perfect complement to dishes based on the wild game of the area: pheasant, quail, hare, and wild boar. Likewise, the Pecorino cheeses made with ewe's milk from the Pienza pastures are now in great demand.