Montalcino

“This new place is my favorite spot in Montalcino,” says Voigtmann. And that’s high praise from a man who knows the best wine spots. A charming wine bar that takes its food as seriously as its wine, La Sosta is one of those places the locals are loath to share.

This is the place for people who are very serious about their Brunello and their food. Very serious. “It’s not controversial to say that Giacomo Neri is Montalcino’s most famous and influential producer of Brunello,” says Voigtmann. “The tasting room is always open for a visit, but a private lunch in the secret dining room is an unforgettable experience.”

“The drive alone is worth the visit to this stunningly positioned organic Brunello producer—and then there’s the wine,” says Voigtmann. This is a biodynamic vineyard in Montalcino that boasts some of the best Rosso di Montalcino in all of Montalcino. Amore & Magia (“love and magic”) is as lovely as the name suggests, and Sebastian is always happy to help you ship a few cases home. If you can, tour the cantina—you can’t believe anyone could do this with bricks.

Voigtmann has made a profession out of having good taste—in food, wine, hotels, everything.

Situated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Val D’Orcia, this centuries-old estate south of Siena is truly incredible: Beyond the fact that you walk amidst remnants of walls from the 1100s, it’s surrounded by Brunello di Montalcino vineyards, there’s a world-class golf course, on-site truffle hunting, and the food is unbelievable. There’s a fancy restaurant, but there’s also a casual pizzeria—and kitchens in the villas where you can feast on bread and incomparably sweet tomatoes. While it's plenty romantic, they have a lot of activities (including cooking classes) for kids.