Best Value in Montepulciano?
Our winery tour and tasting at Avignonesi was the best value of our vineyard tours and a must stop on any Montepulciano or Montalcino wine tour. You will receive an in depth overall description of the vineyard and the fruit produced, but the cellar tour will blow you away. I am normally more fascinated how the land and climate produces the grape and its characteristics, but my first thought of Avignonesi is of the cellar!Dark, black mold covered ceiling and walls will be the first thing you notice upon entering the cellar. No need to be alarmed, the mold is actually penicillin and improves the air quality on the cellar. The underground tunneling system is lined with oak barrels.
You can also find the owner’s private collection carved off the main tunnel. It is almost completely absent from light and gave me chills peering into the darkness imagining the treasures stored ten feet away.
I could have spent hours in the cellar and tried to slow the pace considerably to prolong the experience. You will also get to walk through the Vin Santo barrels which are stored above ground where they utilize seasonal temperature fluctuations during the aging process. The small caratelli barrels used for aging are stored off the floor and exposed to natural light through the facility’s windows.
Our tasting included a Bianco Avignonesi, Chardonnay Cortona, Rosso Di Montepulciano, Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano and Merlot Cortona known as “Desiderio”. This is a very good flight, but the Nobile and the Desiderio were the standouts. For an additional cost, you can indulge in a glass of Vin Santo, white or red. Both are fabulous and were enjoyed very slowly.
This tour and tasting is a mere 15 Euro per person, unless you add the Vin Santo, and you will not be disappointed. Arguably the best 15 euro spent in Montepulciano.
