Tasting Tour in One of The Most Beautiful Cellars in the World

Montepulciano’s best wine experience may begin below street level. At De’ Ricci, you leave the town’s stone lanes and head into a cellar cut from sandy tufa rock, where large Slavonian oak and French wood barrels hold wines as they age. It is a striking setting, and far more memorable than tasting wine in an ordinary shop.

I like the way this tour joins local history with wine in the place where the wine is made. I also like the small-group format, which makes it easier to ask questions and gives guides such as Ron and Emile room to explain the cellar, the De’ Ricci family, and Montepulciano’s wine traditions without rushing.

The main drawback is physical: you go down several stairs and remain on your feet for most of the hour. The cellar is in Montepulciano’s pedestrian center, so you must park outside the old town and walk to Via Ricci, 13.

Key points to know before booking

• The cellar is the star: Sandy tufa rock, old underground rooms, and rows of oversized wooden barrels give the visit a strong sense of place.
• You taste local DOC and DOCG wines: The selection can include Supertuscan, Vino Nobile, and Nobile Riserva.
• The six-wine option gives better context: Three wines offer a quick introduction, while six let you compare styles and quality levels.
• Bruschetta comes with the tasting: Extra-virgin olive oil and Tuscan snacks make the wine portion feel like a light food stop, not just a series of sips.
• Groups are capped at 15 people: That is small enough for a more personal presentation, while still allowing a mixed group.
• The meeting point is central but car-free: Use Parking S. Donato or P8, then walk into Montepulciano.

Entering the tufa-rock cellar beneath Via Ricci

The tour begins directly at the cellar on Via Ricci, 13, in the center of Montepulciano. There is no hotel pickup and no transport included, so plan your route before the start time. Montepulciano’s historic center is a no-car zone, and the walk from the suggested parking areas is part of the practical planning.

Once inside, the tour moves underground. The cellar has been dug into soft, sandy tufa rock, a material that gives the rooms their unusual shape and muted atmosphere. You are not simply looking at racks of bottles. You are walking through working wine spaces filled with large barrels and the scent of aging wine.

The scale of the barrels is part of the appeal. Slavonian oak and French wood vessels line the cellar, holding Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and other local wines. Their size helps you understand that winemaking here is not just a polished tasting-room ritual. It is tied to old storage spaces, local materials, and long periods of aging.

The cellar also carries a family story. Much of the tour focuses on the De’ Ricci family, the origins of the cellar, and the way the winery operates today. That personal thread gives the visit more shape than a basic explanation of grape varieties and fermentation.

One detail to keep in mind is that some of the large historic vessels are no longer used. That does not make the cellar less interesting, but you should not expect every barrel or container you see to be part of current production.

A one-hour introduction to Montepulciano wine

The tour lasts about one hour, which is a good length for a stop during a day in town. You get enough time to see the cellar and taste several wines, but the visit does not take over your entire Montepulciano schedule.

The guide explains local wine-growing traditions and the role of Vino Nobile in the area. You may hear about the difference between a standard Nobile, a Nobile Riserva, and a Supertuscan. The value here is not only learning labels. You begin to understand why wines from the same area can have different classifications, styles, and prices.

The guides are a major part of the tone. Ron is described as witty and engaging, while Emile has led visits that combine the cellar’s story with a relaxed tasting. Guide assignments can vary, but the supplied guide names give you a sense of the style to expect: informative without being stiff, with room for humor and questions.

This is not presented as a technical winemaking course. If you already know a great deal about fermentation, barrel programs, or Tuscan appellations, the information may feel introductory. For most people, that is an advantage. You can follow the story without needing a vocabulary lesson before the first glass.

Tasting three to six wines with Tuscan snacks

After the cellar walk, you sit down for the tasting. The advertised range is three to six local wines, and the fuller option usually includes six DOC and DOCG wines. The sample lineup can include a Supertuscan, Vino Nobile, and Nobile Riserva.

I would choose the six-wine option if it is available to you. Three pours make a pleasant introduction, but six give you a clearer comparison between the winery’s styles. You can notice how a regular Nobile differs from a Riserva, and how a Supertuscan fits beside wines that follow the local DOC or DOCG rules.

The tasting is paired with bruschetta topped with extra-virgin olive oil. The food is simple, but that is exactly right for this setting. It gives you something salty and crisp between pours, while keeping the focus on the wine. Some visits may include a broader charcuterie-style pairing, but the stated food inclusion is bruschetta, so do not book this expecting a full meal.

Still, it is wise not to arrive overly full. The food has been described as more generous than expected, and the tasting can feel substantial when paired with several wines. At the same time, this is not lunch or dinner. If you need a full meal afterward, keep your plans open in Montepulciano.

Why the small group makes a difference

The maximum group size is 15 people, and the tour is designed to feel intimate. That matters in an underground cellar, where a large crowd could make the rooms feel cramped and make it hard to hear the guide.

A small group also helps during the tasting. You can ask about a particular bottle, the cellar, or the local wine classifications without having to interrupt a long presentation. The guide has more chance to respond to individual interests, which is especially useful if one person in your group is new to wine and another already knows Tuscan reds.

The format remains social rather than private. You will share the visit with other people, and the exact size may vary. Still, a cap of 15 is a sensible middle ground: more personal than a large bus tour, but usually less expensive than arranging a private visit.

The friendly tone matters here. The best parts of the tour are not only the barrels and the wine list, but the guide’s ability to make the history easy to follow. Ron, Emile, and other staff members are described as warm, funny, and committed to explaining the winery’s story. That human element keeps the visit from becoming a dry lecture.

The practical side: stairs, parking, and timing

You should be comfortable with stairs before booking. The cellar is underground, and several steps lead down into it. The stairs are not described as extreme, but you will also spend much of the tour standing.

Wear sensible shoes. Montepulciano itself has steep lanes and stone paving, and the cellar adds more uneven movement. This is not the right outing if you need a completely step-free route or a seat throughout the visit.

Because the cellar is in the old center, driving directly to the door is not an option. The suggested parking areas are Parking S. Donato and Parking P8. From there, allow time to walk through town and find Via Ricci, 13. A confirmation is provided when you book, so check the meeting details before setting out.

The activity ends back at the cellar. There is no transportation to another winery or back to your hotel. That is a limitation, but it also makes the tour easy to fit into a day of exploring Montepulciano on foot.

The experience is offered in English. It requires at least two people per booking, and most people can take part as long as they can manage the stairs and standing time. Children have been accommodated, but this is still an adult-focused wine tasting. Young visitors may find the cellar interesting, yet the main payoff comes from the wine portion.

Is $39.92 a fair price?

At $39.92 per person, this is a good-value activity if you want both a cellar visit and a proper tasting. The price includes the guided cellar tour, bruschetta with extra-virgin olive oil, and wine tasting. It does not include transport, so you will need to handle parking and the walk into town yourself.

The value comes from the setting. You are not paying only for several glasses of wine. You are also paying for access to an unusual underground cellar, an explanation of Montepulciano’s wine traditions, and a guide who can connect the building, the winery, and the wines.

The six-wine option makes the price easier to justify, especially if you enjoy comparing bottles rather than simply having one sample. It also gives you a better feel for the range from Supertuscan to Nobile Riserva. If you are only mildly interested in wine, three wines may be enough and the shorter tasting may suit you better.

Bottle purchases are possible, but there is no need to treat the tour as a shopping stop. The atmosphere is relaxed rather than pushy. If you find a wine you like, you can buy some to take home or arrange shipment, but the visit works perfectly well without a purchase.

Who will enjoy this Montepulciano cellar tour?

I would recommend this tour to anyone spending time in Montepulciano who wants a strong local activity without committing to a full-day wine excursion. It fits neatly into a walking day and gives you a reason to explore the town’s wine culture from below its streets.

It suits wine beginners particularly well. You will learn enough to make the tasting more meaningful, but you do not need previous knowledge. The guides explain the wine and family story in a way that is easy to follow.

It also works for experienced wine drinkers who value setting and history. You may already know the basics of Tuscan wine, but the tufa cellar and the comparison between Nobile, Riserva, and Supertuscan bottles still give the visit a clear purpose.

I would be more cautious if stairs are a problem, if you want a full meal, or if you expect to visit vineyards and see grape harvesting or every stage of production. This is a central-town cellar tour, not a countryside estate visit. Its strength is the underground setting, the local story, and the tasting.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made later are not accepted for a refund, so leave yourself some planning room.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want an easy, central introduction to Montepulciano wine with a memorable cellar attached. The combination of tufa-rock rooms, large aging barrels, local history, and up to six wines makes this more distinctive than a standard tasting at a bar.

Choose the six-wine option when available, arrive early enough to walk from the parking area, and wear shoes suited to stairs and stone streets. Skip it only if you need step-free access, dislike standing, or are looking for a full vineyard tour outside town.

FAQ

Where does the wine cellar tour begin?

It begins at Via Ricci, 13, 53045 Montepulciano SI, Italy, in the center of Montepulciano.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately one hour.

How many wines will I taste?

The tasting includes three to six local wines. The six-wine option usually includes DOC and DOCG wines such as a Supertuscan, Vino Nobile, and Nobile Riserva.

Is food included?

Yes. Bruschetta with extra-virgin olive oil is included with the wine tasting.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from the attraction is not included. The tour begins and ends at the cellar.

Where should I park?

Because the cellar is in Montepulciano’s no-car zone, the suggested parking areas are Parking S. Donato and Parking P8.

Are there stairs in the cellar?

Yes. You should expect several stairs leading down into the underground cellar and standing for most of the tour.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.