Wine-lovers who are looking for a perfect holiday destination will find few locations as perfect as Tuscany. There is absolutely no shortage of incredible wineries to choose from and endless places to sample, taste, learn about, and buy wine in Tuscany. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Montalcino, in particular, you will find that there is an especially intriguing and unique winery in the area: Podere Le Ripi.
With a distinct and very unique layout employing innovative planting methods, beautiful architectural elements, and attractive landscaping, it is visually striking and a particularly picturesque winery, which is no small claim amongst the abundant stunning wineries of Tuscany. It is also an incredible experiment in biodynamic viticulture that has yielded some absolutely delicious results.
Established in 1998 by Francesco Illy, of the famous Illy coffee empire family, this winery is made up of 75 acres of biodynamic vineyards that are set across two opposite mountainsides and nestled between a forest, olive groves, a vegetable garden, and fruit trees. Located in the stunning Tuscan landscape of Montalcino, the views from the winery are breath-taking, taking in great swathes of the surrounding landscape. Beginning back in 1998 with the site in Castelnuovo dell’Abate on the eastern side of Montalcino, the winery was since expanded in 2017 to an additional site at Il Galamppio for vineyards on the western side. Both sides boast uncontaminated oceanic soil, but with each belonging to different geological areas, as well as pure air, all of which gives the vineyards optimal conditions to grow the ideal raw ingredients necessary to produce delicious wines.
With a distinct and very unique layout employing innovative planting methods, beautiful architectural elements, and attractive landscaping, it is visually striking and a particularly picturesque winery, which is no small claim amongst the abundant stunning wineries of Tuscany. It is also an incredible experiment in biodynamic viticulture that has yielded some absolutely delicious results.
Established in 1998 by Francesco Illy, of the famous Illy coffee empire family, this winery is made up of 75 acres of biodynamic vineyards that are set across two opposite mountainsides and nestled between a forest, olive groves, a vegetable garden, and fruit trees. Located in the stunning Tuscan landscape of Montalcino, the views from the winery are breath-taking, taking in great swathes of the surrounding landscape. Beginning back in 1998 with the site in Castelnuovo dell’Abate on the eastern side of Montalcino, the winery was since expanded in 2017 to an additional site at Il Galamppio for vineyards on the western side. Both sides boast uncontaminated oceanic soil, but with each belonging to different geological areas, as well as pure air, all of which gives the vineyards optimal conditions to grow the ideal raw ingredients necessary to produce delicious wines.
Much to Francesco’s dismay, when he established his winery back in 1998, he was told by a winemaker in Bordeaux that it wouldn’t be possible to produce great wines until his vines were at least 35-years-old. Francesco couldn’t wait and decided to try something new and innovative instead, planting his vines in a very high-density system that forced the plants to either go deeper with their roots and survive or to die. Though most proclaimed him crazy and said his plants would all die, survive they did and the vines yielded an unprecedented amount of fruit with a successful first harvest coming in 2003, very shortly after the winery was first established and much sooner than most wineries can manage. Their vineyard remains the world’s densest to this day with vines planted just 40cm apart, resulting in a density of 62,500 plants per hectare.
Today, all of Podere Le Ripi’s wines are well-reviewed and have become incredibly popular. As such, many want to tour the winery and taste her wines. Luckily, tours and tastings are offered all throughout the week from Monday to Friday and can be readily booked in advance of your visit. There are a few different options to choose from. The first is the, “Wine Tour and Tasting Welcome to Montalcino,” which costs €20 per person, takes place between 9am and 6pm each day, and lasts an hour to an hour and a half. Taking visitors on a private tour of the winery and then guiding you through a tasting of 3 of their wines (served with water, cheese, and their own olive oil when it is available), this option is a perfect introduction to the world of Montalcino wines and the wines of Podere Le Ripi, in particular.
Then there is the, “Wine Tour and Tasting Terroir Experience.” This option costs €40 per person and it available at the same times and lasts as long as the previous tour but in addition to the tour of the facilities, it also takes you through a guided tasting of five of their wines. This tasting is more in-depth and focuses on the differences between the various wines and the variances caused by the different soils in which they are grown. Among the wines guaranteed to be included are their super Tuscan, three of the Brunello di Montalcino wines and a Brunello Riserva. Water, cheese, and their own olive oil (again, only when and if available) are also served alongside the wines.
Today, all of Podere Le Ripi’s wines are well-reviewed and have become incredibly popular. As such, many want to tour the winery and taste her wines. Luckily, tours and tastings are offered all throughout the week from Monday to Friday and can be readily booked in advance of your visit. There are a few different options to choose from. The first is the, “Wine Tour and Tasting Welcome to Montalcino,” which costs €20 per person, takes place between 9am and 6pm each day, and lasts an hour to an hour and a half. Taking visitors on a private tour of the winery and then guiding you through a tasting of 3 of their wines (served with water, cheese, and their own olive oil when it is available), this option is a perfect introduction to the world of Montalcino wines and the wines of Podere Le Ripi, in particular.
Then there is the, “Wine Tour and Tasting Terroir Experience.” This option costs €40 per person and it available at the same times and lasts as long as the previous tour but in addition to the tour of the facilities, it also takes you through a guided tasting of five of their wines. This tasting is more in-depth and focuses on the differences between the various wines and the variances caused by the different soils in which they are grown. Among the wines guaranteed to be included are their super Tuscan, three of the Brunello di Montalcino wines and a Brunello Riserva. Water, cheese, and their own olive oil (again, only when and if available) are also served alongside the wines.
Finally, there is the, “Wine Tour and Tasting Bonsai Vertical Tasting,” which costs €70 per person and is really only for serious wine-lovers who want to know much more about this incredibly unique winery and the innovative techniques that were employed in quickly ensuring such quality harvests from her young vines. Available at the same times, it is a longer experience, lasting two to two and a half hours, and guides visitors on a tour of the grounds with in-depth explanations of the planting processes and the concept and philosophy behind their Bonsai vineyard and biodynamic farming choices. In addition, those who take this option will get to taste a total of 6 wines, including their Brunellos, super Tuscans, and the very precious IGT Bonsai, which is only produced in quantities of 700 bottles per year and is the finest Sangiovese in the estate.
If you are travelling with kids, then, “The Tuscan Garden Experience,” might be preferable, taking you all around the farm and vineyards and allowing guests to dress up in cute farmer gear to keep clean, to pick and sample the delicious fruit and veg on site (including tomatoes, strawberries, zucchini, and more), and meet the adorable animals that live on the estate (such as the chickens, goats, donkeys, cows, and more).
So, if you are looking for an innovative and special place to learn more about wine, sample delicious examples, and still have something for the kids to enjoy, then head to Podere Le Ripi. Just browse our incredible vacation rentals in Montalcino and come delve into the impossibly rich culinary tradition of this beautiful part of Tuscany!
Podere Le Ripi
Località Le Ripi, 53024 Montalcino SI, Italy
+39 0577 835641
info@podereleripi.it
If you are travelling with kids, then, “The Tuscan Garden Experience,” might be preferable, taking you all around the farm and vineyards and allowing guests to dress up in cute farmer gear to keep clean, to pick and sample the delicious fruit and veg on site (including tomatoes, strawberries, zucchini, and more), and meet the adorable animals that live on the estate (such as the chickens, goats, donkeys, cows, and more).
So, if you are looking for an innovative and special place to learn more about wine, sample delicious examples, and still have something for the kids to enjoy, then head to Podere Le Ripi. Just browse our incredible vacation rentals in Montalcino and come delve into the impossibly rich culinary tradition of this beautiful part of Tuscany!
Podere Le Ripi
Località Le Ripi, 53024 Montalcino SI, Italy
+39 0577 835641
info@podereleripi.it
