Hey There! Ohh! Montepulciano, Italy and wine tasting – does life get any better than that? I think not!
I love wine, all kinds of wine, but some of my favorite wines come from Montepulciano, Italy. My husband had asked, “Where do you want to go for your birthday weekend?” To which I replied, “To drink some wine, of course!” So, off we went to Montepulciano, Italy.
The Town of Montepulciano
This little town in Tuscany is the cutest little thing I have ever seen. Seriously, it’s like you stepped back in time. Best part is that there was wine everywhere!
We wandered the quaint streets of the old town, stopping for glasses of wine as we went. You will find wineries, tasting studios, and wine bars in every nook and cranny of this amazing destination.
We had a wine tasting scheduled at one of the most famous wineries in Montepulciano – The Gattavecchi Winery.
The Wine Cellar
The Gattavecchi family themselves were waiting to show us around the cellars. The winery dates back three generations, and in 1944 it was bombed (and almost lost due to the war); however, the family rebuilt the winery, and today it is a very prestigious name in wine-making circles all over Italy. The cellars are the original cellars started by great-grandfather Gattavecchi. We took a few minutes to walk down into the cellars and bask in the glory of the giant barrels of aging wine.
You know I wanted to put a straw in one of them, but I think that would have been frowned upon. The Gattavecchi wine is aged at least two years before it is released, and they have a multitude of wines you can choose from. They have won awards around the world, for amazing wine ,so that is good enough for me to want to have some!
So, how do you know what wines to buy? You taste them, of course!
Wine Tasting in Montepulciano
After touring the cellars, we sat down to a nice antipasto plate and waited for the main course – the wine. We had been promised a flight of three amazing red wines along with a food paring. I was so excited! I mean, come on! What is cooler than tasting your favorite wines from the actual winery in Italy?!
Our first wine tasting came – Rosso di Montepulciano DOC. This is produced with 90% of the Sangiovese grape, which is local to the area. This wine has a berry flavor and is deep red in color. It’s good if you are having a bold meal with a lot of flavors. Due to its strong flavor, it wont get lost when paired with foods. There is nothing worse than losing your wine in your food, am I right?
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG came next on the wine-tasting list, and this wine is also 90% Sangiovese grapes; however, instead of berry flavors, you will taste more of a plum flavor. It is a dry wine and has a very strong flavor. This is great to pair with steak or cheese plates.
Wine Tip: If you fall in love with this wine, make sure you open this bottle and let it sit for about two hours before drinking it. I know, I know – how do you look at an open bottle of wine for two hours and not drink it? Ummmm, I’m not sure about this answer. I will need to further research this question for you. I’m sure some people do it. I just don’t know any of them personally.
Our third tasting was Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva. This wine is 100% Sangiovese grapes, rich, and almost has a spicy-like flavor. It is also a dry wine but with a lot of flavor. You feel like a party is happening in your mouth! This is also great to pair with meats and strong cheeses.
Again, you need to let this one breathe for a few hours. If you just can’t wait, because you are a wino like me, then at least decant it!
Adventures with Amber
Most importantly, Amber had found something to keep busy with while I was guzzling wine as quickly as I could! Nothing like a string of corks to entertain a one year old!
The Athlete’s Wife in Montepulciano
The staff had recognized my husband, “the famous athlete“, and our conversation had now shifted to basketball and lots of oooh’s and ahhhh’s. Um, hello! WHO CARES! It’s my birthday! Geez, people!
As you can imagine, I was actually really ready to go at that point. My wine was gone, and the conversation was no longer between my husband and I – it was between my husband and everyone else in the cantina (mostly about how freakin’ amazing he is.) He gave me the “don’t be a hater” smile, and I tried not to slap him. On and on it went. Soon, my head was laying on the table with bread stuck to my forehead; it wasn’t pretty.
Suddenly, more wine appeared at the table! Wait, WHAT?! You want to talk basketball and bring me more wine?! I’m all in! Talk away, talk as long as you want, as long as the wine keeps-a-comin! So, the questions about my amazing husband kept firing away, autographs were signed, and photos were taken. I even broke out a pen so he could sign a few more autographs. I didn’t care because my wine tasting turned into wine drinking! All was good in the world again.
We actually tasted every wine produced under the Gattavecchi name that afternoon. Can I say HEAVEN again, or is it too much? I even stole my husband’s wine because he was too busy being amazing to drink it. I have to say, things became a bit blurry. When we got to the white wine, well, it could have been Boone’s Farm for all I cared. Happy freakin’ birthday to me!
Could my day get any better than this? No, I think not! Oh, wait – yes it can! We could buy some wine to take home! Mr. Amazing, my husband, could break out his credit card cause it’s my birthday, it’s my birthday! We bought my favorites which were the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG and Vernaccia Di San Gimignano DOCG along with Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG.
At the end of the day, hugs were given and cheeks were kissed all around. One or two more photos were taken for the Gattavecchi Facebook page, a final autograph was signed, and off we went, waving as we left my wine heaven birthday party!
We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
The 411 on Tasting in Montepulciano
If you want to do a wine tasting at the Gattavecchi Cellar, you can contact them via email at degustazioni@gattavecchi.it. They have three different options for wine flights and wine paring. You can also customize your wine tasting and order products on their website.
Where to Stay in Montepuliciano
We stayed at La Terrazza di Montepulciano, booked through Booking.com. Fantastic stay! The hotel has parking which is a must while there. Everything is within walking distance from the hotel, too. Roberto is the owner and his family lives on site. They serve an amazing homemade breakfast with juice and coffee.
Have you been to Montepulciano? What is your favorite wine from the area? Drop a comment below! I would love to hear from you! If you enjoyed our article, please sign up to subscribe to our blog and you will receive an email every time I publish a new story.
Thank you for reading!
– Stacey
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