Castiglione d’Orcia is a medieval commune in the Tuscan province of Siena, Italy entitled to the Orcia DOC. Administratively Castiglione d’Orcia now incorporates the communes of Campiglia d’Orcia and Vivo d’Orcia. Castiglione d’Orcia lies between the townships of Montalcino (of Brunello di Montalcino fame) and Montepulciano (of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano fame). It was first inhabited by the Etruscans. Later, the Romans consecrated it to Jupiter (Jove, or the “Giove” of Sangiovese). The Tentennano fortress (‘Rocca di Tentennano’) hosted Catherine of Siena, an illiterate who was supposedly blessed the with the gift of writing. Over the course of centuries, the area lost its importance, becoming depopulated and abandoned. To reverse this the “Rocca d’Orcia da vivere” (“Living Rocca d’Orcia”) project aimed to revive areas that have been connected to valuable, traditional activities for centuries. In 2012, after four years of meticulous restorations and conservation programs, three multifunctional spaces were opened to the public and to tourists, an efficient way to taste the territory in a glass.

Where to eat, shop

Osteria Perilla: Restaurant owned by Podere Forte.

Emporio Rama: A gastronomic food store offering produce from Podere Forte.

Spazio Se: An exhibition space created by Podere Forte dedicated to shows, conventions, and lectures given by internationally renowned artists and authors of a wide variety of fields.

Banks with ATMS: Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Via del Fosso, 5.

Wineries

Certified Biodynamic: Podere Forte.