Cheese and Wine Tasting at La Bottega del Vin Bono, Cortona

A morning or afternoon in Cortona is made for wandering—but it is equally made for stopping. Just off Piazza della Repubblica, La Bottega del Vin Bono is one of those small, welcoming places where a glass of wine can easily become a tasting, a conversation and a useful introduction to the flavours of this corner of Tuscany. The shop and wine bar is on Via Benedetti, close to Cortona’s main square, and is an easy addition to a day spent exploring the town.

The real pleasure here is pairing regional wines with local and Italian cheeses. Rather than treating cheese as an afterthought, make it the centre of the visit: ask for a mixed board and invite the staff to match each cheese with a glass. It is a relaxed way to discover the differences between fresh, aged, sheep’s-milk and cow’s-milk cheeses—without needing a formal winery appointment or a long lunch.

What to taste

Start with Pecorino Toscano, the essential regional cheese. Made with sheep’s milk, it can be young and gentle or more mature, firmer and savoury. A younger pecorino works beautifully with a bright Tuscan white or rosé; an aged piece is better with a fuller red, especially one with enough freshness to cut through the cheese’s richness.

Look out too for Pecorino di Pienza, from the hills south of Cortona. It is often more aromatic and can be served plain, aged, or flavoured with herbs, pepper or truffle. If truffle is on the board, pair it with a structured Tuscan red or ask for the staff’s current recommendation.

A good mixed tasting may also include creamy fresh cheeses, ricotta-based specialities, local goat’s cheese and firmer northern Italian varieties. The best boards offer contrast: something mild, something mature, something tangy, and perhaps a blue cheese for those who enjoy a stronger finish.

The regional pantry extends beyond cheese. We often get Crema Crostino Toscano and Tartufata, to take back to Altabella: They recommend the first for crostini, the second for pasta or a quick truffle-tastic supper.

How to enjoy it

Go in the late morning before lunch, or in the early evening when Cortona begins to soften after the heat of the day. La Bottega del Vin Bono is listed as open from 11 am to 8 pm most days, closing on Thursdays, but check before travelling as seasonal hours can change.

Ask for a local wine flight, a selection of cheeses and a little explanation of where each one comes from. Then take a few provisions home: a wedge of pecorino, a jar of tartufata and a bottle chosen for your villa table. It is one of the simplest ways to bring a taste of Cortona back with you.