Cantina Foresi · Piazza del Duomo, Orvieto
An hour with the family behind Cantina Foresi, on the square in front of Orvieto cathedral: a look at their old cellar carved into the tuff, then three wines with cured meats, cheese and tozzetti. It is the easy add-on for anyone pairing Civita with Orvieto.
Orvieto stands on the same volcanic tuff as Civita, and under its houses run hundreds of man-made caves, many used as cellars. Cantina Foresi is a family wine shop on Piazza del Duomo, facing the cathedral. The host, Alessandro in most reviews, takes you down into the family's cellar, explains how wine was made and aged there, and brings you back up to taste.
The tasting is three wines: a dry white, a dry red and a sweet Vin Santo. The first two come with local cured meats and cheese, and the Vin Santo with tozzetti, the hard almond biscuits. Under-18s (from age 6) get a soft drink instead. About $34 per person for an hour with a table on the cathedral square is fair, and guests call it good value.
It is short and small. Guests describe the cellar visit as brief, and one expected vineyards and found a basement shop instead. The last cave is reached by steep steps with a railing that does not start at the top, so it is not suitable for wheelchair users or anyone with limited mobility.
Find Cantina Foresi on the cathedral square. From the station, the funicular and a short bus or walk take you up.
Down the steps into the tuff, with the story of the family and the old way of making wine.
Back upstairs for the two dry wines with cured meats and cheese.
The sweet wine with tozzetti to dip, at a table looking at the cathedral.
★★★★★I really enjoyed visiting Alessandro's cellar and tasting his wines. Alessandro was friendly and knowledgeable. The visit to the cellar was fairly brief - I had never seen an underground cellar like this so it was interesting to contrast with modern methods. Alessandro's wines - a red, a white and a dessert wine were very good, as was the food which accompanied them. Served in the piazza right opposite Orvieto's famous duomo - what's not to like? Good value. Grazie, Alessandro!
★★★★★We really enjoyed our one-hour session with Alessandro listening to his family story and their dedication to wine making. The wines were beautifully paired with homemade snacks prepared by his mother showcasing local ingredients. Perfect length of time and a truly authentic experience. Giovanna & Liz
★★★★★Interesting and well-organized visit. I expected to take a walk in their vineyard, but in reality, right in the center of Orvieto, you go down into the basement of this small shop and take a leap into the past. The owner is super friendly and welcoming. Excellent tasting, practically in Piazza Duomo. Highly recommended.
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At Cantina Foresi, Piazza del Duomo 2, Orvieto, on the square facing the cathedral.
Three: a dry white, a dry red and a sweet Vin Santo, with cured meats, cheese and tozzetti.
Yes. Guests aged 6 to 17 get a soft drink instead of wine.
No. The cellar is reached by steep steps, and the listing rules out wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments.
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An hour in a tufa cellar under Orvieto's cathedral square, with three wines and local food.
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