Should I Buy This Farm in Tuscany?

Wine, Olives, and 12 Acres Near Montalcino

This week we're doing something different. A friend of mine, Sandro Marucci (read my interview with him here) from Eco Casa Immobiliare in Abbadia San Salvatore, is representing a property that caught my attention—interesting enough that I wanted to write about it. It's a working farm in Tuscany, in Montenero d'Orcia, a quiet village perched between the Val d'Orcia and the Maremma—off the tourist trail but close to everything that makes this region famous.

The listing price is €750,000.

The Property

Here's what you get: two renovated apartments totaling 238 square meters, with five bedrooms and two bathrooms between them. One apartment has three bedrooms, the other has two bedrooms plus a study. Both have porches with views of the surrounding countryside.

Below the living quarters are production rooms for wine and oil, set up for both making and selling. The property sits on 12 acres of land including woods and—here's the interesting part—500 olive trees.

Energy class G, which is common for older rural properties in this area. Many buyers in this market budget for efficiency upgrades as part of their plans.

The Location

Montenero d'Orcia is a frazione of Castel del Piano, in the province of Grosseto. Population around 250 people. It sits on a rocky spur of volcanic origin at the intersection of three distinct landscapes: the Val d'Orcia to the north, the Maremma to the west, and Monte Amiata to the east.

The village is about 14 kilometers from Castel del Piano and 44 kilometers from Grosseto. More importantly for wine lovers, it's only about 14 kilometers—a 25-minute drive—from Montalcino. The River Ombrone is all that separates this property from some of the world's most famous Brunello vineyards, including Castello Banfi.

Transportation:

• Nearest airports: Perugia (85 km), Florence (100 km), Rome Fiumicino (145 km)

• No train station. The closest useful one is Grosseto, about an hour away

• Buses exist but are limited

• You need a car. No way around it.

  
  

The Wine and Oil Angle

This is what makes the property special.

Montenero d'Orcia sits within the Montecucco DOC, a wine region that's been quietly gaining respect. The DOC was only established in 1998, with a DOCG for Sangiovese added in 2011. It's sandwiched between Brunello di Montalcino and Morellino di Scansano—good company.

The wines here share a lot with Montalcino: volcanic and sandstone soils, Mediterranean climate moderated by Monte Amiata's cooling influence, and Sangiovese as the primary grape. Critics note Montecucco Sangiovese tends to be darker and slightly more tannic than its famous neighbor. About 68% of production in the zone is organic.

The olive oil situation is equally compelling. This area produces Olivastra Seggianese DOP, an indigenous cultivar that grows only at the foot of Monte Amiata. Five hundred olive trees is a serious grove—enough to produce oil commercially, not just for personal use.

The Museum of Vine and Wine is actually located in Montenero d'Orcia itself, which tells you something about the village's identity.

The Village

Montenero d'Orcia has Etruscan origins, but it became strategically important in the medieval period. The Aldobrandeschi family built fortifications here, and later it became a battleground between Siena and Florence. You can still see the 10th-century walls, a 13th-century Sienese fortress (the Cassero Senese, rebuilt in the 15th century), and the 12th-century Pieve di Santa Lucia, which contains a wooden crucifix attributed to Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

It's intimate. A cluster of stone houses on a rock, looking out over three valleys. The kind of place where neighbors become friends, where community still means something, and where the nearest shops are a short drive away in Castel del Piano.

Who This Property Is For

The listing puts it well: "ideal for those dreaming of a residence in Tuscany, for agricultural entrepreneurs, lovers of oil and wine, or for those who wish to change their life and combine residence with a hospitality or production activity linked to the territory."

This property makes sense if you want to:

1. Run an agriturismo. Two apartments means you can live in one and rent the other. The production facilities give guests something to experience beyond just sleeping in the countryside. Location near Montalcino helps with marketing.

2. Produce wine and oil commercially. The infrastructure exists. The terroir is legitimate. Montecucco is an up-and-coming denomination with room to grow. Five hundred olive trees can produce real quantity.

3. Live in authentic rural Tuscany. The genuine article, with the peace and tranquility that comes with it.

This property is best suited for those who value peace and privacy over walkable amenities, and who are comfortable with agricultural life or willing to arrange management for the olive grove.

The Price

For €750,000, you're getting two livable apartments, production facilities, and 12 acres of productive agricultural land near one of Italy's most prestigious wine regions. Properties with serious olive groves in this area don't come up often.

For comparison, you'd pay significantly more for something similar closer to Montalcino proper, and you'd be buying into a saturated market. Here you're in Montecucco—less famous, but that also means less competition and lower land prices.

The Verdict

This property makes sense for: Serious agricultural entrepreneurs. Someone with capital and interest in wine/oil production. A buyer who wants to run an agriturismo with authentic local products. Anyone who appreciates the charm of a close-knit community.

Consider your lifestyle: This property rewards those who enjoy solitude, have flexibility with agricultural commitments, and appreciate the rhythms of rural life.

Best suited for: Those seeking authentic rural Tuscany rather than a more urban or tourist-oriented experience.

The listing talks about "slowing down" and "letting yourself be guided by the authentic rhythms of the land." That's exactly what you'd find here. Montenero d'Orcia offers a genuine change of pace for those ready to embrace it.

More next time.

For more information on this property: https://www.ecocasaimmobiliare.it/web/immobile_dettaglio.asp?cod_annuncio=2532676&language=eng&force=1

Video tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xPRFKH4G4k