Montepulciano is a place where shopping merges into leisure. The winding road from Pienza up to Montepulciano is lined with vendita diretta signs, tempting you to buy pecorino cheese and wine from the producers themselves. There’s no escaping wine, the most popular purchase in town, especially when it’s generally linked to a relaxed tasting in rock-hewn vaulted cellars or in a modish wine bar that doubles as a wine shop. Most of the bigger winemakers can sort shipping for you.
This is a stylish wine shop-cum-wine bar where tastings can be accompanied by light snacks, such as crostini, cheeses and cured meats. There’s also a vaulted cellar of a restaurant serving simple, rustic meals matched by local wines.
Address: Via di Gracciano nel Corso 95/Via delle Cantine 13, 53045 Montepulciano
Tel: +39 0578 757016
This well-restored medieval building is stacked with wines, mostly from Tuscany. Carved out of tufa-stone, the adjoining wine bar doubles as a laidback but stylish bruschetteria, where you can pair particular wines with lights snacks. In summer, the tables spill out onto the street, with a moody view of Montepulciano.
Address: Via di Voltaia nel Corso 80, 53045 Montepulciano
Tel: +39 0578 758760
Web: www.enotecaladolcevita.it
The twisting road from Pienza upto lofty Montepulciano is visible for miles around, with houses clustered on the hillside. Much like Florence and Siena, Montepulciano operates a ZTL, meaning a Limited Traffic Zoning system. Traffic is essentially banned inside the city walls, but you can park outside San Biagio, from where it’s a short but steep walk into town. Alternatively, park in one of the car parks at Montepulciano’s eastern end and then walk through Porta al Prato to Piazza Savonarola. The most convenient car park is on the adjoining square, on Piazza Don Minzoni (free in winter only), from where minibuses (€1) weave up the hill to Piazza Grande. If walking, from Piazza Savonarola take the princely Via di Gracciano nel Corso up to the main square. When leaving Montepulciano for Pienza, do not resist the Madonna di San Biagio, perched on a platform below the city walls.
