Cortona’s wine story has a twist: in a region defined by Sangiovese, this corner bet on Syrah — and won. The Cortona DOC, created in 1999, made Syrah its flagship, and the warm, well-drained slopes above the Val di Chiana now produce some of the most respected Syrah in Italy. This guide explains why, names the producers worth knowing, and tells you where to actually drink it.
It’s part of our complete Cortona travel guide — pair it with a day in town and you have a perfect two-night stay.
Why Syrah, and why here
Most of Tuscany is Sangiovese country. Cortona is the exception. When growers and a new appellation set out to define the area in the 1990s, they leaned into something the local terroir does unusually well: Syrah, the grape of France’s northern Rhône.
The reasons are in the ground and the air. The hills below Cortona, sloping down toward the Val di Chiana, are warm, sunny and well-drained — conditions Syrah loves. The result is a red that’s ripe and full-bodied but distinctly peppery, with the savoury, spicy edge that marks good Syrah, and enough structure to age.
The DOC also permits other grapes — Sangiovese among the reds, and whites including Chardonnay — but it’s Syrah that put Cortona on wine lists outside Italy.
The producers to know
Cortona’s reputation rests on a small group of serious estates. These are the names to look for on a label or to seek out for a visit (always by appointment):
| Producer | Known for | Style note |
|---|---|---|
| Tenimenti Luigi d’Alessandro | One of the estates that defined Cortona Syrah | Polished, age-worthy reds; the “Il Bosco” Syrah is the benchmark |
| Stefano Amerighi | Low-intervention, biodynamic Syrah | Pure, perfumed, much-admired by natural-wine drinkers |
| Baracchi | Wine plus the Il Falconiere relais & restaurant | A one-stop estate for tasting, dining and staying |
This is not an exhaustive list — there are smaller family growers throughout the appellation — but it’s a reliable starting point for understanding the style.
Where to taste
You have two distinct experiences, and the best trips do both.
In town: the enotecas
Inside the walls, a handful of enotecas (wine bars) let you taste Cortona DOC by the glass, usually alongside a board of local pecorino and salumi. This is the low-commitment way in: try a few Syrahs side by side, find the style you like, and buy a bottle to take home — no appointment, no driving. It’s also the ideal early-evening ritual before dinner.
In the countryside: the cellars
To see where the wine is made, head down into the hills to the estates themselves. Cellar visits typically include a walk through the vines and a seated tasting, and they usually need to be booked ahead — most Cortona producers are small, working estates, not drop-in tasting rooms. A car (or a booked tour with transport) is essential, since the wineries are scattered across the countryside below town.
Make it a wine weekend
Cortona works beautifully as a wine base. Spend a day in the town itself, taste in the enotecas in the evening, and give a second day to cellar visits or a guided tour. If you’d rather stay among the vines, a countryside villa or agriturismo puts you in the middle of the appellation.
And if you want to push further into Tuscan wine country, two of Italy’s greatest reds — Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino — are within day-trip range. We cover both in our day trips from Cortona guide.
Frequently asked questions
What wine is Cortona known for?
Cortona is unusual in Tuscany for building its appellation around Syrah rather than Sangiovese. The Cortona DOC, created in 1999, made Syrah its flagship red, and the warm, well-drained hills above the Val di Chiana produce ripe, peppery, structured examples that have earned the area a national reputation.
Where can you taste wine in Cortona?
You have two options: enotecas (wine bars) inside the historic walls where you can taste by the glass over a plate of pecorino and salumi, or visits to the wineries themselves in the countryside below town. Cellar visits usually need booking ahead; the in-town wine bars are walk-in.
Which Cortona wineries can you visit?
Several estates around Cortona welcome visitors by appointment, including names closely associated with Cortona Syrah such as Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro, Stefano Amerighi and Baracchi. Always book ahead, as most are small, working estates rather than walk-in tasting rooms.
Is Cortona wine expensive?
It spans the range. A glass in a town enoteca is inexpensive; flagship single-vineyard Syrah from the top estates commands premium prices but is still good value next to comparable Tuscan reds. Tasting in town first is the cheapest way to find what you like before buying.