The fortress town of one of Italy's greatest red wines
Montalcino stands on a hill above the Val d'Orcia, crowned by a fourteenth century fortress where, in 1555, the last defenders of the Republic of Siena held out against the Medici. Today the fortress houses a wine bar, and you can walk on its ramparts for views over vineyards and olive groves.
The town owes its fame to Brunello di Montalcino, a red wine made only from Sangiovese grapes and aged for at least five years before release. It was created in the nineteenth century by the Biondi Santi family and is now produced by some two hundred estates, many of which welcome visitors for tastings among the hills.
Tip: in the town centre, the Temple of Brunello museum tells the wine's story; in October the Sagra del Tordo celebrates the town's medieval quarters with archery and costumes.
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