Here are Montalcino typical dishes, how to cook them and where to enjoy them in combination with quality wines from the area.
Montalcino typical dishes: what they are and where to taste them
The territory of Montalcino, the enchanting Tuscan village nestled in the hills of the Val d'Orcia, tells a story as old as its rich soil on which the finest vines grow, a narrative that is also reflected in the area's culinary and wine traditions.
The typical dishes of Montalcino are made of authentic flavours, reflecting a simple and traditional way of life, deeply rooted in the territory and its excellence. Each recipe is a culinary voyage of discovery of the region's typical products, and each village or small town often boasts its own personal reinterpretation of the recipes, making culinary experiences in Montalcino unique and varied.
What to eat in Val d'Orcia?
The Val d'Orcia, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is dotted with small villages nestled in a lush landscape. Each of them is the bearer of a local food and wine tradition that has always attracted tourists from all corners of the world. Whether you are talking about appetisers, first courses, main courses or desserts, the choice of what to eat in Val d'Orcia is wide.
Cold cuts and cheeses linked to the territory
Among the starters, an honourable mention must be reserved for Cinta Senese ham, with its unique and unmistakable flavour, similar to that of game, and its characteristic spicy scent, perfect in combination with Brunello di Montalcino.
Pecorino di Pienza is also one of the delicacies of the Val d'Orcia and one of the typical dishes of Montalcino: fresh or matured for ninety days in oak barrels, its strong taste is influenced by the aromatic herbs on which the sheep, reared in a semi-wild state, feed.
Traditional first courses
The typical first courses of Montalcino and Tuscany in general are renowned for their intense and concentrated taste, rich in the flavours and aromas of the territory, with seasonings based on game meat.
Among the most traditional first courses are the pici, a long, thick fresh pasta typical of the Val d'Orcia tradition, which go perfectly with various sauces (game, garlic and sauces) as they capture the essence of each preparation thanks to their porous surface that retains sauces and flavours.
Pici or Pinci
In the land of Brunello, pici are called “pinci”: i pinci alle briciole are one of Montalcino's most classic dishes to be enjoyed in local restaurants and taverns, and are proof that the creative spirit of the Tuscans succeeds in making even an apparently simple and 'poor' dish rich and tasty. In fact, to the traditional seasoning of garlic, oil and chilli pepper, crumbs of toasted or stale Tuscan bread are added, adding a pinch of delicacy and surprise to the dish.
Tortelli alla Mugellana
Much more elaborate are the tortelli alla Mugellana, one of the region's most popular Montalcino recipes, especially when accompanied by a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino. These particular tortelli, made with fresh pasta, are filled with potatoes flavoured with cheese, parsley and garlic, and go perfectly with rich meat sauces, such as wild boar ragout.
Main courses
Another great classic of Tuscan cuisine to enjoy in Montalcino is the peposo, a very tender stew immersed in a thick, spicy sauce with an ancient flavour, like that of tradition, that cooks slowly for almost three hours in a copper pan. Peposo is usually served with Tuscan bread and Brunello di Montalcino.
Also the stufato alla Sangiovannese is another typical Montalcino dish linked to the 'poor' and working-class tradition: this stew is prepared with different spices such as ginger, cloves and cinnamon, and every Montalcino family hands down from father to son its own perfect spice mix.
Traditional Sweets
Panforte, amaretti e ricciarelli are the most popular sweets in the region and are linked to local history and traditions. In fact, to trace the oldest recipe for panforte, once the exclusive prerogative of nobles and aristocrats, one has to go back in time to the year 1000.
The 'white' version currently enjoyed throughout the province of Siena dates back to Queen Margaret's visit to Siena in 1879, when the Sienese made a more delicate panforte covered in vanilla sugar.
Where to eat in Montalcino
This journey to discover the typical dishes and recipes of Montalcino cannot but end with a question: where to eat near Montalcino?
La Taverna
One of the most characteristic places to eat near Montalcino is the La Taverna Restaurant, located among the hills surrounding the charming Castello Banfi Wine Resort. The restaurant was designed in the ancient cellars of the medieval castle and furnished in traditional Tuscan style, with wooden tables, fine bottles on display and brick vaults, for a rustic and comfortable ambience.
The atmosphere one breathes is that of a cosy tavern of bygone days where one can enjoy in the company of friends and family the typical dishes of Montalcino accompanied by excellent Banfi wine.
The kitchen offers guests the traditional Montalcino and Tuscany dishes, including braised pork cheek at the Moscadello With pumpkin, polenta and jus of prunes or ravioli with porcini mushrooms from the Amiata area, with chickpea cream and Cinta Senese powder, using only fresh, genuine, km0 ingredients that enhance the authenticity of the flavours of the area and provide a food and wine experience to be tried at least once.
La Sala dei Grappoli
Having dinner at La Sala dei Grappoli Restaurant, still by Castello Banfi Wine Resort, is instead like embarking on a journey through the flavors of Tuscany, revisited by the chef Domenico Francone and his team. Local raw materials are artfully used to create seasonal menus that give guests an unforgettable experience, thanks in part to the finest selection of Banfi wines.
The restaurant has a refined and unique indoor dining room, with exposed wooden beams and walls frescoed with voluptuous green and gold grapes, and an outdoor terrace, in the shadow of the castle and overlooking the breathtaking landscape of the Tuscan hills.
