Festival weekend planner
Anteprima del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano — a 3-day weekend in Tuscany
Mid-February, three days. Montepulciano, Italy. 40 min from the airport.
The weekend, day by day
- Day 1
Arrive in Montepulciano
Land at Florence Peretola Airport (FLR), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.
- Day 2
Anteprima del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Pace yourself across the tastings and break for a long lunch mid-afternoon.
- Day 3
Wine country day in Tuscany
Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch before heading home.
Where to stay
- Hotels in Montepulciano
Live availability around the festival dates. Festival hotels book out 6+ months ahead, so check early.
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One winery worth a detour
Gravner
WTG pickThe birthplace of the modern orange wine movement — Gravner's qvevri cellar in a Slovenian border village is wine's most important pilgrimage.
- Address
- Località Lenzuolo Bianco 9, 34170 Oslavia, Gorizia, Italy
- Appointment
- required
- Tasting price
- Free tasting with cellar tour
- Website
- Visit
Where to eat
Trattoria Mario
€No-frills communal-table trattoria in Florence's San Lorenzo market, open since 1953
Must try: Bistecca alla fiorentina
More dining picks in Tuscany →Practical
- Nearest airport
- Florence Peretola Airport (FLR)
- Festival site
- Visit official site
Insider tip
Book a private tasting with Avignonesi or Poliziano the day before—they'll show you barrel samples and explain terroir nuances you won't discover in the crowded Fortezza. The Montepulciano hilltop setting also means excellent Vino di Montepulciano (the lighter DOCG version) producers often get overlooked; prioritize those.
Want a longer trip than the festival weekend?
The milestone-trip planner builds a 3–10 day Tuscany itinerary with accommodation, tours, and pacing options.
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