NostraVita di Annibale Parisi — Attraction in Montalcino

I never imagined I would write a review like this. In fact, I’ve often rolled my eyes at negative tourist reviews, dismissing them as complaints that give travelers a bad name. But this experience has stayed with me, and I feel compelled to share it.

My wife and I are traveling through Italy on our honeymoon, a journey that carries profound meaning for us. In the months leading up to this trip, we laid her mother to rest, got married, and said goodbye to her family home. That farewell marked the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another. This trip has been about more than sightseeing; it has been about love, healing, and starting anew.

When we discovered this winery and read about its philosophy..centered on family, art, passion, heritage, and creating not just tastings but meaningful life experiences we felt an instant connection. We reached out, sharing our story, because we believed this was a place that valued people over transactions.

Sadly, the reality was the opposite. We were basically told we could not visit unless we committed to purchasing the usual/expected 1–2 cases of wine. I explained that we had just sold our home and were starting fresh, so shipping cases back to the U.S. wasn’t feasible. I offered instead to buy a few bottles to enjoy during our trip and to support their craft. But that was not enough. Despite their claim that “they do not like talking about numbers,” numbers seemed to be what mattered most.

For a winery that speaks so passionately about family, vision, and connection, the rejection felt deeply disheartening. After conversing over email and being asked to open up about our story and ideals which included my wife’s recent loss and the meaning behind this trip, we were essentially told, “sorry, not without a case purchase.” To us, that felt not only transactional but also contradictory to the philosophy they present so beautifully on the surface.

I want to be clear - I fully understand the realities of running a family business, and that wine sales keep a dream alive. But there are times when human connection should be considered as well…more than the price of a case. This was one of those times. Again, I had no problem paying for my visit.

We had hoped for warmth, welcome, and the kind of hospitality that would have left our souls feeling a little less heavy. Instead, we left feeling shut out, unwelcome, and hurt. For us, it was a stark reminder that words and philosophies are only meaningful when carried...

No words can describe this winery and the family that built it. This was the most special winery we have ever been to. Having the winemaker himself show us step by step how he makes his wine and have a chance to taste it with him is quite an experience in itself but beyond that; the incredible art throughout the house and winery made by his daughter and friends, a homemade museum of literary and natural history, and the stories of his family and how this winery came to be are what make this experience unforgettable. We...

To the Nostravita family, Thank you for sharing your work, your passions, your art.. your life with us. ♥️ A place to feel at home when you’re away from home. My husband and I visited last year through a friend’s recommendation and it was a place we knew we had to bring our other friends to experience. Always such a magical time here. You can taste the love in their wine and feel the passion of the lands. As Annibale says, “life is too short to...