10 am is a bit early. But then, if you're looking for free wine tastings in Tuscany, you'll have to take what you get. The inauguration of the exhibition about the history of vines and wine in Tuscany, will be accompanied - I'd say rightly so - by a wine tasting organized by the Consorzio Brunello di Montalcino. So start your day in town with a hearty breakfast, and before getting down to business listen to some scientific research and queer facts about the history of wine in Italy.
Once you're done with tasting also take in the permanent exhibit of Montalcino's small but lovely museum. Which is a good reason not to exaggerate during the morning's wine tasting. It would be a pity to only remember a blurred vision of Domenico di Agostino's marvelous wood sculpture of the Madonna.
WINE - BETWEEN MYTH AND HISTORY
Montalcino museum. Opening with tasting, Saturday 24th November 10 am.
Admission 4.50€. 6€ for multiple entree ticket museum and fortress (with good weather well worth for the amazing view).
Opening times: 10 am - 1 pm; 2 pm - 5.40pm, closed on Mondays.
The exhibition is on show till the 5th of May 2013.
Still not enough? The exhibition is on show in a series of selected museums and wine shops in the province of Siena. The beautiful Enoteca Italiana in Siena's Medici fortress will be part of the museum trail. For the clever or stingy ones: in Siena the show opens not on Saturday, but on Sunday 25th of November. Inauguration from 12 to 7 pm. Free admission to the fortress, and again an opening accompanied by a free tasting of Tuscany's fabulous wines. Enough said.