• Instagram

We left Forestis (you can read about our stay here) early in the morning as we had a big day of driving ahead of us. We were expected in Montalcino by 4 pm and had to allow for time at The Mall, a required pit stop for anyone even remotely in the vicinity. If you are looking for current (as well as past) season Italian designer goods at a discount you must add it to your itinerary. We only had about 90 minutes to make the rounds so I had to be strategic in my plan of attack, for the record it was Etro, Chloe, and Gucci that took the bulk of my time.

Montalcino is a yearly destination for us as we have a real passion for Brunello, and each time we come we seem to discover even more enchanting aspects of this wonderful Tuscan hilltop town. You can read about last years visit here and while some of what we did this time was the same, there are a few new insights. Although our stay in Montalcino was spent at a private estate there are many fabulous options available to stay at close by such as Castello Banfi or Castiglione del Bosco .

The first major landmark you see as you approach Montalcino is a medieval Fortezza which is also home to the Enoteca la Fortezza a fabulous place to become acquainted with the wines of the area and possibly have some tastes and purchase wine to ship home. While there are many other opportunities in town to shop for wine this is a good place to start your journey.

Part of the fun is wandering through town and stumbling into someplace that looks (and smells) delicious, but if you would like to plan ahead then I would recommend booking Franci which is conveniently located across from the Fortezza. Simple food done well paired with a stupendous list of local wines along with friendly and accommodating service is always a recipe for success, and this is the case at Franci. We reserved a table at 7:30 and were the only diners there, but by 8:15 the restaurant was full.

Il Grifo is a spot we have passed by over the years, family run and open since 2004 we decided it was time to give them a try, and we were not disappointed. There was nothing particularly ground-breaking about the cooking, but the ingredients were excellent and the space was pleasing.

Of course, instead of dining-in you can construct a spectacular picnic by collecting delicacies from small shops around town.

Whatever your game. plan, be sure to save room for spectacular gelato at Gelateria Artigianale Why Not, a tiny little place that is consistently busy. For me, my choice is always extra dark chocolate, and Why Not does not disappoint.

Mid-afternoon might be just the time for an espresso and a slice of Panforte, so pop into Ristorante Trattoria Langolo for a fix, though there are numerous other tempting options around town as well.

If you happen to be in the market for linens whether for yourself (I bought goodies at each shop) or for terrific gifts you need to pay a visit to both Montalcino 564 and Sartoria Principe which are both overflowing with tempting items.

There are many other places to discover including several antique shops, but just walking around and taking in the sights is delightful.

Last but not at all least, if you have rented a villa or airbnb and are looking for a wonderful chef to whip up an authentic and delicious Italian feast look no further than Chef Hiro and his wife, you will have an unforgettable evening. He is happy to suggest a menu of Italian (or Japanese) specialities, but in our case I knew just what I wanted, panzanella, homemade hand rolled Pinci pasta (gluten free in my case), panfried meatballs and a flourless chocolate cake all washed down with several bottles of Cerbaiona- heavenly!!

Montalcino definitely holds a special place in my heart, the landscape is stunning, the wine delectable and the cuisine fantastic; if you are lucky enough to be heading to Tuscany consider adding it to your itinerary, you will surely enjoy it.