The Montalcino House
We didn't plan to look at houses, much less find one to buy.
After several days of sightseeing in Rome and Florence with friends, we were ready to spend a quiet week in Montalcino, the heart of the Brunello wine region, relaxing and taking day trips to area wineries.
We stayed at an Airbnb in the heart of town with gorgeous views of the valley below. Our host, Valentina, was fantastic. Originally from nearby Siena, she was a long-time Montalcino resident and knew the town well. We chatted with her about tourism, vacation rentals, and eventually, the conversation led to real estate. Valentina knew of a few off-market properties, we were interested in learning more, and before we knew it, we were out-and-about looking at houses.
The first one was adorable, but the layout and location were not the right fit. The second one, though…
Right in the historical center, just one block from the main street, was a stand-alone, nectar-colored stucco house with a terracotta tile roof, a brick arch doorway, and a small statue of the Virgin Mary recessed into the façade1. The interior needed updating, but the space was right, and it had a wide terrace overlooking a small backyard with two olive trees. Beyond those wildly overgrown plants was a spectacular view of the Val d'Orcia. We were smitten.
The property is owned by local Brunello producers and has been in their family for generations. We told the owner’s daughter, who showed us the home, that we were interested but had to run some numbers. She replied that the family wanted to sell, but they, too, needed to decide on a price. We were leaving the next day but agreed to stay in touch.
In our next Montalcino journal entry, we’ll describe the ups and downs of settling on a purchase price and getting the property under contract, including some purchase agreement language that made us chuckle. We hope you will follow along!
About Montalcino
Montalcino is a medieval town of approximately 6,000 residents, located about 25 miles south of Siena, 85 miles south of Florence, and 145 miles north of Rome. Perched on a hill in the heart of the world-class Brunello di Montalcino wine-producing region, Montalcino has scenic views of the olive groves and vineyards of the surrounding countryside. Visitors come from all over the world to enjoy the town’s cultural events and to experience its wine tourism. It’s long been a favorite spot of to visit.
I’m not sure what we’d need Our Lady to protect us from in such an idyllic place, but a strong female presence out front can never hurt, can it?