A Long Lunch in Montepulciano 🍷🇮🇹

There are some places in Tuscany I never seem to get tired of, and Montepulciano is one of them.

Perched high above the surrounding countryside, it’s the kind of hill town that makes you slow down without really trying. Wander the stone streets, stop to take in the views, duck into a wine cellar—and eventually find a table for lunch.

For me, that’s when Montepulciano is at its best.

A glass of Vino Nobile, something local on the table, and absolutely nowhere you need to be for the next couple of hours.

Sometimes the best part of Tuscany isn’t what you planned to see.

It’s the afternoon you didn’t rush.

Vino Nobile & Wild Boar

If there are two flavors that remind me of Montepulciano, they might just be Vino Nobile and wild boar.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG is one of Tuscany’s great wines, made primarily from Sangiovese grapes—known locally as Prugnolo Gentile. And despite the name, it shouldn’t be confused with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, which is made from the Montepulciano grape.

But you don’t need to know much about wine to enjoy it here.

Find a small restaurant tucked along one of Montepulciano’s streets, order a glass of Vino Nobile and, if you see cinghiale on the menu, give it a try.

Wild boar is a Tuscan staple, often slow-cooked into a rich ragù and served with wide ribbons of pappardelle. It’s hearty, rustic and exactly the kind of food that seems to taste better when you’re sitting outside with a glass of local red wine.

This is one of my favorite things about traveling through Tuscany. Sometimes experiencing a place can be as simple as eating what they eat and drinking what they make—right where they’ve been doing it for generations.

Beneath the Streets of Montepulciano

One of the surprises of Montepulciano is that some of its most interesting places aren’t on the streets at all—they’re underneath them.

Historic wine cellars run beneath centuries-old palazzi in the heart of town, and one of my favorites to visit is the Cantine De’ Ricci. Step through the entrance and descend underground, and you’re suddenly surrounded by brick vaults, stone passageways and enormous aging barrels filled with Vino Nobile.

It’s one of those experiences that gives you a completely different perspective on Montepulciano—and it’s exactly the kind of place I like working into a Tuscany trip.

In fact, I’ve included a De’ Ricci wine experience in one of my new Curated Tuscany Journeys.

Which brings me to something I’ve been working on behind the scenes…

A Peek Behind the Curtain

I’ve spent a lot of time over the years talking about where to go in Italy. Lately, I’ve been working on something a little different—showing you how I would actually put the entire trip together.

My new Curated Italy Journeys are designed as inspiration, not fixed packages. They show you where I’d stay, how I’d move from place to place, experiences I’d include, and—just as importantly—where I’d leave time to simply enjoy being in Italy.

I’ve started with Tuscany, including two very different ways to experience a region I keep returning to again and again.

Think of these as a starting point—an inside look at how I plan Italy, and inspiration for a journey we can make entirely your own.

Explore the Curated Tuscany Journeys →

Buon Viaggio, 🇮🇹

Dan
Nomad With Dan

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