Mapping MONTALCINO

It may seem like a sacrilege, but for once skip the best Brunello wineries and head for a beer instead. But not just any beer. Only a proper Italian artisan beer should convince you to leave Tuscany's wine mecca behind for a night in Buonconvento. Montalcino's much less famous but very enchanting neighbor may not be known for world class wines - understandably so, being located at the bottom of the valley - but it definitely has a future when it comes to craft beer.  So for once don't drive uphill for Brunello tasting, but hop on a shuttle bus and meet Italy's and Belgium's microbreweries down in the valley at the VILLAGGIO DELLA BIRRA festival. The shuttle bus runs from San Quirico d'Orcia and Siena too. A great option for people who are planning to taste each single artisan beer. Or as an alternative bring your tent. The craft beer festival takes place in a beautiful villa near Buonconvento where  camping is an option too! Too much wine? Have a beer i...

Italy is Europe's biggest producer of organic food. And the market is expanding. In Montalcino the trend is clearly visible with the growing number of wineries, which have moved on to organic or even biodynamic agriculture.  But the organic produce of the Val d'Orcia doesn't stop with wine. Vegetables,  Pecorino cheese  and even honey are organically certified. A good place to taste the locally grown produce is Montalcino's organic market which takes place once a month (usually on a Sunday, see dates for 2013 below).  The 2013 dates of the organic market in Montalcino