Montalcino is without question one of the top stops for anyone touring Tuscan wine country. Their Brunello is considered one of the world's best wines, and visitors can buy this wine here for a fraction of what they pay back home.

It is a Tuscan hilltown of exceptional beauty that produces what is considered by many wine connoisseurs to be among Italy's absolute best red wines: Brunello di Montalcino.

* Thousands of tourists book day tours from Florence to this town for visits to cellars and vineyards, but it should be noted that Montepulciano is much closer to Soriano than it is to Florence, so if your itinerary includes a stopover in Florence, you should consider visiting this area from Soriano instead.

Some of our favorite stops here include Fattoria dei Barbi and Antico Poggio. It is worth noting that just outside of Montalcino you will find the Banfi winery, which is one of the best known wineries internationally (We see their wine regularly even in supermarkets in the states). While beautiful, it is likely the most touristy thing in the area.