Posted by: lizlitzow | April 16, 2010

Montalcino – a pretty hilltop town

the main street in Montalcino

A pretty town, perched high above the Orcia Valley, Montalcino is best known for its wine, the Brunello.  Produced only in vineyards surrounding the town, Brunello is said to be one of Italy’s best red wines and has gained considerable international fame.

There are plenty of enoteche (wine cellars) around the town where you can taste and buy Brunello as well as the other local wine, the Rosso di Montalcino.

lots to choose from

We arrived on a perfect spring day after driving through the gorgeous hills of Tuscany.  The area really is as pretty as the postcards.  Montalcino  is not very big but it is easy to spend several hours wandering through the old streets.  It is fairly steep in parts so be prepared for a climb.

The main streets are filled with wine shops and ceramic shops.  We found a delightful shop where the owner was busy hand painting plates.  He happily posed for us and we each left with one of plates featuring scenes from the area.

Signore Andreucci with his paints

hand painted plates

the sign at the door

Osticcio in Via Matteotti

We had lunch at a fabulous restaurant called Enoteca Osteria Osticcio in Via Matteotti, 23.  The view over the surrounding countryside is incredible and the food is excellent.  There is also a large selection of wine to choose from.

our first course of anchovies with pesto

delicious proscuitto and salami

crusty bread with olive oil

fruit with chocolate

the cheerful owner of Osticcio

Brunello 2004 Costanti - the very nice wine we had with lunch

the view from the restaurant

another view

Enoteca Osteria Osticcio – email –  osticcio@osticcio.com    www.osticcio.com

Click here for more on Montalcino and here annd here for the wonderful archery competition held as part of the Festival of the Thrush.


Responses

  1. Ciao Debra, I took a Brunello around to the O’Shea’s last night, Mary was on my tour that I took into Montalcino and I will show you my biscuit jar that came from here, it looks like the plates in your photo. I was reliving our visit from your photos. If it is not too late go to Banfi winery down the road, excellent restaurant, glass museum and gifts. Set in wonderful stone buildings – now American owned so no expense spared. Roz

    • Ciao Roz, We may get back down that way. It is so lovely to drive through those hills in spring. Soon the poppies will be everywhere. We will certainly look for Banfi. Deb

  2. Sorry Liz, I just realised you posted this, not Debra and I replied to her, Roz

    No problems – it is a joint effort in any case. All the photos are Deb’s as she is a photographer suprema. Ciao Liz

  3. […] and is one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. The duomo there is my favourite. Click on Montalcino, Montepulciano, Greve in Chianti and Radda in Chianti for suggestions […]

  4. […] and we do it often. We usually go via Asciano because of the spectacular scenery and stop in Siena, Montalcino or Montepulciano as well.  a view from […]

  5. […] have been to Montalcino before. Click here to see the previous post. LD_AddCustomAttr("AdOpt", "1"); LD_AddCustomAttr("Origin", "other"); […]

  6. I used to love this area

  7. […] We always drive through the gorgeous hills of Chianti and Val d’Orcia, visiting Siena, Montalcino and Pienza. […]


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