Podere Il Cocco in Montalcino is a must stop when visiting Tuscany. I have been there twice, once in 2010 and again during our stay at Cretaiole. The winemaker, Giacomo, has been working to enhance the guest experience and added an agriturismo since my last visit. We always planned on making a stop to taste his wine, and were pleasantly surprised when we learned we could each lunch on site as well.
Greeted by three friendly dogs and two friendly women, we were escorted into a charming, old farm room where we privately dined on delicious concoctions from the garden. We washed each dish down with a few glasses of Giacomo's Rose and with full stomachs walked the few feet to start our wine tour and tasting. We spent the next hour with Giacomo (DJ turned wine maker) learning all about his land, winemaking process, Italian rules and regulations surrounding wine making and he even allowed us to label a few bottles. Giacomo's wine is impressive, we all purchased a few cases, however maybe even more impressive is his passion and dedication to his business. I would guess he is in his mid thirties and could easily be spinning the night away at local disco techs, hypnotizing the masses and bringing in a decent pay check. However, he single handedly runs his small winery with annual help during harvest season and occasional help from his father. It is a true labor of love and as cheesy as it sounds, you can taste it in his wine. I am a total sucker for passion, hard work and good people. If you are too, go visit Giacomo and his two dogs Baloo and Cookie. You won't be disappointed.
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