"Montalcino - Vineyards & Olive Groves" Top 5 Page for this destination Montalcino by JetlagCity

Montalcino Travel Guide: 100 reviews and 337 photos

the Tuscan countryside by Montalcino - Montalcino

The Good Life

My favorite day during our trip to Tuscany was the day we visited Montalcino and the surrounding countryside. It just happened to be my husband's birthday. We only spent a little time in the town itself and I'd like to go back again someday and linger along its steep streets. We had arranged for a guide ahead of time to take us on a tour of a Brunello di Montalcino winery and a monastery with an olive mill nearby.

What a lasting impression this day had on me! We had never even heard of Brunello wine before, nor had we cooked much with olive oil. I felt like this day gave me my first sense of what life is like in Tuscany, and how the people live.

Pros and Cons

Pros:beautiful rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves
Cons:not one thing

Last visit to Montalcino: Nov 1999
Intro Updated Jan 28, 2005
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Reviews (4)

Brunello aging in oak barrels - Montalcino

Brunello and Rosso Wines Favorites (4)

Even if you don't have time to visit a winery, at least buy a bottle of this excellent wine, or have some with dinner... more travel advice

Visit a Brunello Winery Favorites (4)

Montalcino is best known for its wine, Brunello. Brunello has been rated the # 1 red wine by wine magazines - not that I... more travel advice

Don Celso bottling olive oil for us - Montalcino

Fresh Olive Oil Favorites (4)

My fondest memory of this whole trip is, without a doubt, Don Celso, the monk in charge of the monastery's olive mill.... more travel advice

the abbey at Monte Oliveto Maggiore - Montalcino

The Abbey at Monte Oliveto Maggiore Favorites (4)

"Mount of the Olive Grove" stands in the beautiful countryside of hills and cypress trees between Montalcino, Pienza,... more travel advice

Comments (16)

Herkbert Feb 1, 2008 at 8:21 PM Report Abuse

Nice tips and pics, Jane. We will be in Montalcino for two days in May and I can't wait. I just know there is a glass of brunello waiting for me!
frulula Nov 28, 2006 at 1:01 AM Report Abuse

one of the most authentic places i visited in this region!lovely pics, greetings, gabriela
tiger9090a Jun 4, 2005 at 12:09 AM Report Abuse

Nice pictures and comprehensive tips Jane!
matcrazy1 Apr 25, 2005 at 3:27 PM Report Abuse

Lucky you to meet the monk in charge of the monastery's olive mill and see techniques used to produce olive oil.
piccolina Mar 31, 2005 at 10:23 PM Report Abuse

I went in Montalcino ans Siena county in 1997, that was til now my best holiday!Thanks for bring me back nice memories..Great tips..
craic Feb 15, 2005 at 2:35 AM Report Abuse

I noticed the olive oil I ate in Italy - dipping the bread into it - was way nicer than the stuff I get in Australia.
jayhawk2000 Jan 9, 2005 at 2:07 AM Report Abuse

We went absolutely ga-ga for the '97 Brunello on our visit!
mansionion Dec 15, 2004 at 4:07 PM Report Abuse

Really interesting small town it seems. Thx for sharing the fact abt the olive oil. -m-
martin_nl Dec 10, 2004 at 1:57 PM Report Abuse

Would love to sip on some of those Brinello wines.... ***runs to the shop***
sue_stone Dec 6, 2004 at 12:43 PM Report Abuse

Ahhh...yes...I am a BIG fan of a nice glass of Brunello!!