The medieval town of Montepulciano, located in southern Tuscany between Valdichiana and Val d’Orcia is absolutely one of the most charming places to host your wine tour in the entire world. A staple for any wine lover, and Montepulciano’s arguably most famous wine, the Nobile di Montepulciano contains the infamous Sangiovese grape and is a local phenomenon. With its dark brown color and smell of sweet violet, its presence in the area makes it a guaranteed feature on any of the many Montepulciano wine tours.
Located on one of the most historical hilltops in all of Tuscany, Montepulciano is translated in Italian to mean “the mount of politics.” Having been named centuries ago, it currently holds no meaning of significance in present day Tuscany, but does speak to its historical significance. Wine has been famous in this region since the 15th century when aristocrats brought the wines to their courts. To the satisfaction of many the aristocrats are long gone, but the presence of the wineries and wine in the Tuscan culture have remained steadfast as the fields produce many of the delicious wines spread throughout Italian culture and much of the world. Some of the best vineyards in Montepulciano are those of Caggiole, Gracciano, Sanguineto and Cervognano where the dirt in which they grow is a mix of clay and sand, adding to the quality and uniqueness of the wines they produce. The village of Montepulciano is completely surrounded by wineries and has a classic medieval feel as you will find much of in Tuscany.
Wine tours are not only a great way to sample one of the many wines and food options the region has to offer, but give tourists a great way to see the historical village of Montepulciano as well. Sure to be included in any of the Montepulciano wine tours, is the city center of Montepulciano which holds great historical significance and has long been the center of artistic and cultural life in Tuscany. Some of the sights you can expect to see are the Temple of San Biagio, the Civic Museum and the Crociani gallery which contains paintings from as late as the 14th century.
Wine of course comes from the grapes the given region has to offer, and the Montepulciano grapes (including Prugnolo Gentile, Sangiovese Grosso, Canaiolo, Malvasia del Chianti, Trebbiano Toscano, Pulcinculo and Mammolo) are local favorites and are in part what makes the Montepulciano produced wine some of the best in the world. Red in variety, the grapes are grown largely throughout central and southern Italy and like other grapes in the Tuscany region benefit greatly from the warm subtropical climate. If harvested too early, the red in nature grape can become green and essentially worthless in the wine making process. Often confused with the Sangiovese grape, the Montepulciano grapes also originate in Tuscany but cannot be exactly traced to a specific village. The wines produced from these grapes are aged a minimum of two years in oak or chestnut barrels before analysis and ultimately bottling.
Sure to be included in any wine tour in Montepulciano is a classic Italian lunch, specifically made to match with one of the many wines that will be provided. A typical lunch you can expect is an Italian favorite wild boar stew, prefaced with a Parmigiano salad with cherry tomatoes. Handmade “pici” pasta with bread crumbs are also a classic Italian appetizer that go well with many red wines. To wash it all down, expect to enjoy Tuscany’s most famous dessert wine, the amber colored Vin Santo. While the region of Tuscany has many incredible wine tours to offer, you simply can’t go wrong when choosing to go on any of the Musement.com Montepulciano wine tours.
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