Best wineries: Podere Le Ripi, Montalcino, Italy

Italy is one of the most famous wine producing countries in the world, and for good reason. The country is rich with unique and beautiful wine regions, from the terraced vineyards and salty whites of the Cinque Terre to the volcanic soil and earthy reds of Sicily – it’s almost impossible to pick a favorite, but starting in one of the most acclaimed wine regions in the country, Tuscany, is a good way to start. Famous not just for its wine, visitors come to eat and to enjoy the spectacular scenery of rolling hills laced with vines that seem to extend forever under the buttery orange late summer sun. And when in Tuscany, it’s hard not to think of one of its star wines – brunello di Montacino.

Montalcino is a lovely town to visit on its own, but just outside the town, on a long dirt road (just long enough to have you thinking that perhaps you took a wrong turn), you’ll find one of our favorite wineries in the country – the biodynamic Podere Le Ripi, the brainchild of espresso millionaire Francesco Illy. Illy is incredibly passionate about this vineyard. It’s a biodynamic production, meaning that the wines are planted, pruned and harvested according to lunar cycles, and that they have eliminated the use of chemicals in the wine production, instead using natural materials and composts. The wines they make are not a large production but it is constantly prized and voted as some of the best in the area. From an experimental orange wine to the star, bonsai, and the spectacular DOCG brunello di montalcino, a tasting must be booked in advance and is the perfect way to spend an afternoon, either paired with lunch or light snacks with a breathtaking view.

The cantina itself is an architectural gem, a one-of-a-kind oculus designed to work with the landscape and the climate, but also worth a visit just to see the design alone. For our clients in the area, this is a great way to pass an afternoon exploring a vineyard that shies away from big-group wine tours and mass-tourism. It’s a small, intimate operation that is very much “off the beaten track”, but completely worth the trip. Contact us for more information on how we can organize a tour and tasting on your next tuscan holiday!