Eastern Tuscany's larder is extraordinary — wine, olive oil, cheese, truffles and craft beer made by people who've been doing it for generations. Most of them are our neighbours.
Within 30 minutes of Il Vigno you'll find some of the finest small-scale food and drink producers in Italy. Most are unknown outside their own valley. All are worth visiting — and most welcome guests who take the trouble to show up.
The Valtiberina produces Sangiovese-based wines under the Colli Altotiberini DOC. Several small estates near Sansepolcro offer cellar door tastings, including outstanding biodynamic producers. Ask us for introductions.
The hills around Caprese Michelangelo produce intensely green, peppery extra-virgin olive oil. The harvest runs October–November — some farms welcome visitors to watch the pressing and buy direct from the mill.
Local pecorino, fresh ricotta and aged Caciotta from small family dairies throughout the Casentino and Valtiberina. The weekly markets in Sansepolcro and Anghiari are the easiest places to taste and buy.
The forests above Caprese are prime truffle territory — white truffles in autumn, black year-round. Several local guides offer morning hunts with trained dogs, ending with a fresh truffle breakfast. Ask us to arrange one. Porcini season runs July to October after rain.
A small but serious craft beer scene has grown in the Valtiberina over the past decade. Several microbreweries near Sansepolcro welcome visitors — call ahead and you'll likely get a full tour and tasting alongside the beer.
The chestnut forests produce the Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo — a celebrated DOP variety harvested in October. Chestnut honey is the local specialty. The autumn harvest festival in Caprese celebrates both. Farm shops sell both year-round.
The essentials: extra-virgin olive oil (buy direct from a mill), aged pecorino (vacuum-sealed travels well), Colli Altotiberini wine, dried porcini in season, and chestnut flour. We advise on the best current sources when you arrive.
Markets: Sansepolcro holds a large weekly market on Tuesdays and Saturdays — one of the best in the region. Anghiari has its market on Wednesdays. Both are within 25 minutes of Il Vigno and worth an early morning visit.
Cellar doors: Most small producers here don't advertise. The best visits come through introductions. We know many of our neighbouring producers personally and are happy to help arrange visits.
Truffle hunts: We can arrange a morning truffle hunt with a local guide — dogs, forest, digging, and a fresh truffle breakfast at the end. One of the most memorable experiences near Il Vigno. Ask when you book your stay.
Harvest season (Oct–Nov): The best time to visit producers. Oil mills are pressing, chestnuts are falling, porcini are in the markets and the landscape is extraordinary. If you can come in autumn, do.
We give all guests current recommendations for the best local producers and markets. We're happy to make introductions and arrange visits. Ask us before you arrive, or read about the food we serve at Il Vigno.
These are producers we know personally — neighbours, friends and people who share our values around land, quality and honest craft. All visits and tastings are by appointment unless stated otherwise. Always contact ahead to confirm availability.
Olive OilA two-hour olive oil tasting experience on a working farm — one of the most grounded and generous introductions to Tuscan agricultural life you'll find. Leda leads every visit personally, from a walk through the olive grove to a guided tasting of their extra-virgin oil alongside homemade bread, local cheeses and cured meats.
The experience includes: Introduction to the farm and daily agricultural life · Walk through the olive grove (weather permitting) · Explanation of the olive oil production process · Guided tasting of extra-virgin olive oil · Selection of homemade baked products including fresh bread · Local cheeses and/or cured meats from nearby farms
All experiences by appointment only.
Pricing
€25 per person (up to 10 people)
€22 per person (more than 10 people)
Contact
Leda
☎ +39 338 738 6008 ilfaggeto.com →Azienda Agraria Biagioli Paola · Valdimonte di San Giustino, Umbria
An exceptional small estate sitting on the border between Umbria and Tuscany, at 550–600 metres altitude on the hillside above the ancient villa of Pliny the Younger. La Palerna produces outstanding Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sangiovese and Sauvignon from 8 hectares of hand-harvested vines — fermented spontaneously in their modern eco-sustainable winery. The Pinot Nero in particular is worth the trip. Cellar door visits and tastings by appointment — contact Rossana directly for availability and pricing.
All visits by appointment. Pricing on request.
Pricing
€35 per person — 3 wines
€45 per person — 4 wines
Both include local salumi, cheeses and bread.
Contact
Rossana
☎ +39 366 263 4334 lapalerna.it →Podere Roncione · Anghiari · 22km from Il Vigno
A family winery with deep roots in the hills above Anghiari — the Del Gaia family has farmed Podere Roncione since the 1970s, when Milton Del Gaia first planted vines on land he recognised as exceptional. Today Davide runs everything himself, from vineyard to cellar, producing three labels: Podere Volterrena (Sangiovese), Milton (Merlot) and a white blend. Tastings take place in the vineyard, led by Davide himself — a rich, personal experience in a landscape that has changed very little in centuries.
Visits by appointment.
Via Manzi 191/E · Caprese Michelangelo · Certified Organic since 2021
A small, serious estate established in 2016 on land that belonged to the Aliotti family's grandparents — high on the Apennine ridge at 550 metres above Caprese Michelangelo. They grow Pinot Nero across 2.5 hectares of vines and Morcone olives across 6 hectares, producing both wine and olive oil. An unusual and exciting combination for this part of Tuscany. Visits and tastings available by arrangement — contact them directly by email.
Visits and tastings by appointment. Contact by email.
Available every Wednesday · Valtiberina
An exclusive truffle hunting experience led by Ginevra, with a purebred Lagotto Romagnolo — the classic Italian truffle dog. The session covers the natural environment that truffles need to grow, the different edible varieties and their seasonal timelines, and the genuine thrill of a real hunt in the field. You'll have the opportunity to buy any truffles found during the session, or order the quantity you need.
What to expect: Working with a trained Lagotto Romagnolo · Identification of truffle habitats · Education on Bianchetto and Scorzone varieties · Opportunity to purchase truffles found on the day
Available every Wednesday. Booking required.
Loc. Trecciano 338 · Caprese Michelangelo · First agricultural brewery in the Valtiberina
Founded in 2015 by Elena Brogialdi on her family's farm just outside Caprese Michelangelo, La Luppolaia is the first agricultural brewery in the Valtiberina — and one of the most interesting small producers in the area. They brew using spring water from Monte Faggeta and their own home-grown barley, with a range that spans Belgian, British and American styles alongside recipes built around local ingredients.
Beers include: IPA · Belgian Blond Ale · Belgian Dubbel · Stout · Blanche · Chestnut Honey Beer (award-winning) · Belgian Blond Gluten Free · Belgian Tripel
Guided brewery tours and tastings are available — reviewers consistently praise the warmth of the welcome and the quality of the beer. The chestnut honey beer is a local highlight not to be missed.
Contact ahead to arrange a visit — the brewery isn't always signposted so directions are essential.
A note on visiting: All of the producers listed here are small, family-run operations. Visits are personal, not packaged. Please always contact ahead to confirm availability — especially outside the main season (May–October). We're happy to help with introductions or directions. Just ask at the bar when you arrive.
Il Vigno is an adults-only agriturismo in the heart of eastern Tuscany's finest food and wine country. Book direct and save 10% with code DIRECT10.
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