There’s something magical about eating outside.
Same bread, same cheese, same wine. But place it on a blanket among vines and wildflowers, and suddenly it’s not just dinner anymore.
It’s a moment.
Especially here, in Val d’Orcia between Pienza and Montepulciano, where the hills are soft, the sky is wide, and the landscape looks as if someone designed it specifically for romantic moments.
We’ve set up countless picnics at ABBADIA.
Between the vine rows. In meadows full of summer flowers. Under ancient olive trees. And up on the hill, where the valley opens so wide you can see to the horizon.
Couples come back and don’t talk about the food. They talk about the light. About the colorful butterflies. About that moment when they stopped checking the time. About the feeling of being in exactly the right place — right here.
Here’s why — and why the simplest meals are often the most unforgettable.
What Makes a Tuscan Picnic so special
It’s not the food, though it’s delicious. Small bites. Local salumi. Pecorino cheese. Fresh bread. Fruit from the garden. Our ABBADIA wine. That’s all you need.
It’s not the setup. A blanket. Cozy pillows. Glasses. Candles. Everything there, nothing too much.
What makes the difference is all around you:
The setting. Amid vine rows, wildflowers, or gnarled olive trees. Colors, scents, and that hard-to-explain feeling of being in exactly the right place. A place you didn’t know you were looking for — until you’re sitting here.
The pace. No courses. No clock. No one asking if everything’s okay. You eat when you feel like it. Talk when you want to. And sometimes you just sit and look. These pauses that never have space in everyday life happen here by themselves.
The intimacy. Just the two of you. Okay, maybe Ruby, who drops by hoping someone will drop a piece of cheese. Otherwise nothing. No neighboring tables. No voices. No background noise.
It’s the here and now.
Among the vineyards of Val d’Orcia, in the heart of the UNESCO-protected landscape between Pienza and Montepulciano, a simple picnic becomes a Tuscan love story — quiet, romantic, and full of magic.
Our Picnic Locations
1. The Vineyard
Setting: Rows of vines stretching down the hillside. Grapes hanging heavy in late summer, everything green and alive in spring. The view extends far across the valley to the distant Apennines. Birds, crickets, and the gentle breeze — otherwise silence.
When it’s best: June through October. Late afternoon, around 6-7pm. The heat mellows, the light softens, and you stay until the sun slowly disappears behind the hills.
Why couples love it: Because it feels so real. You’re sitting right among the vines that made the wine in your glass. You see the world — but no one sees you.
Our take: This is where most picnics happen. With bench and table if you want — or just a blanket and pillows. Both are perfect.
2. The Wildflower Meadow
Setting: Waist-high grasses. Poppies. Daisies. A carpet of colors, with soft hills beyond that look painted.
When it’s best: In May and June, everything’s in full bloom. Later in summer, the meadow becomes more golden, quieter, warmer in tone.
Why couples love it: This place feels like a fairy tale. Wind moving through flowers, butterflies passing by, everything seems a bit unreal — in the best way.
Our take: This is somewhat seasonal. If you’re here in spring or early summer, choose the meadow. It shows Tuscany at its most playful.
3. The Olive Grove
Setting: Among ancient trees with twisted trunks, silver leaves filtering soft light. The ground is cool, even on hotter days.
When it’s best: High summer, July and August — the perfect retreat.
Why couples love it: The quiet. The shelter. And the idea of sitting under trees that have experienced many generations of summers.
Our take: Still, protective, intimate. Ideal for hot days — and for people who like to hide a little.
4. The Vantage Point
Setting: Our hilltop terrace with sweeping views across the valley. 180 degrees of landscape, above it an open sky that transforms into pink, orange, and gold at sunset.
When it’s best: As almost always in Tuscany, early evening between 6-7pm. The daily light show in the sky does the rest.
Why couples love it: Because it’s simply breathtaking. It’s no coincidence that so many romantic proposals happen here.
Our take: A bit less hidden, more dramatic. If you prefer “wow” to a soft “whisper,” this is your spot.
What's actually in the Picnic
We keep it the way it makes sense here: local, honest, really good — and always paired with the wine.
The basics (always):
- Fresh bread. Really fresh. Sarah bakes it daily.
- Local meats from Belli in Torrita di Siena — our trusted butcher.
- Pecorino from Pienza, various ages, from young and mild to strong and crumbly. The real stuff.
- Our organic olive oil. Hand-picked, green-golden, peppery.
- Fruit from the garden — depending on season, figs, grapes, or apples.
- And of course, our wine. Usually, Merlot or white. Sometimes both.
- Plus, other flavorful snacks, always paired with the wine.
What we don’t pack: No chips. No industrial snacks. No desserts. No coffee. Why? Simply because none of it is needed here.
We provide glasses, plates, and cutlery. But honestly — it tastes best with your hands.
How It Actually Works
You tell us when: Contact us before arrival. We buy fresh. And we don’t do more than two a week.
We set up: Blanket. Pillows. Candles. A cooler bag with everything you need. Wine is open, cork loosely in. Glasses ready. Napkins too.
You arrive: We’re already gone. The spot is yours. No handover, no small talk. (Only at the vantage point do we serve the picnic on wooden boards at a set lounge table. And if you’d like, we’ll take some photos — Ruby included, she loves photos.)
Time: As long as you want. One hour. Three. Until the wine’s gone.
No rush. No one comes by. No one clears plates. No one pressures.
When you’re done, just leave everything where it is. We’ll pick it up later.
Why It's Romantic
A restaurant visit follows a fixed structure. Courses. Waiters. Other guests. Reservation times.
All lovely — but all prescribed.
A picnic has none of that.
You eat when you’re hungry. You talk when you want to. And when you feel like silence, silence is simply there — without needing explanation. You stay until the moment feels complete. Not until someone asks if you’d like dessert.
Romance isn’t created by cheese or sunsets. (Though they definitely help.)
It’s created by beauty. By space. And by the rare permission to simply be.
It’s no wonder that a picnic in the vineyard has become an unforgettable part of many couples’ honeymoons. This kind of togetherness — quiet, relaxed, just for you two — is exactly what honeymooners are looking for.
What Couples mostly Don't Expect
It’s a bit messy:
Crumbs on the blanket. Cheese that won’t cut elegantly. A drop of wine on the linen.
That’s not a mistake. That’s part of it.
And don’t worry — we have very good laundry.
It takes longer than you think:
One hour becomes two. Two become three.
Outside, time loses its edge.
No one checks the clock. You won’t either.
You drink more than you expect:
Couples almost always say: “The second bottle is for tomorrow.”
It never is.
Sometimes they ask for another. We don’t judge.
You eat less than you expect:
We pack enough for a light dinner.
Most couples don’t quite finish.
That’s completely fine. Ruby thinks so too, by the way.
You might get engaged:
Picnics are quiet, intimate, and surprisingly emotional.
Six proposals have happened so far between blanket, wine, and vine rows.
Six yeses.
And that was just the beginning. And even more couples come back later — on their honeymoon, for anniversaries, or simply because they want to experience this moment again.
Common Questions
“What if it rains?”
We’ll reschedule or move to a sheltered spot.
Your choice.
“Can we request specific foods?”
Yes — within the concept.
No salumi? No problem. Allergies? Let us know.
We’ll take care of it.
“How much does it cost?”
It depends on the setting. Starting from €95 per couple. Food, wine, setup, cleanup — everything included.
Not cheap. Not expensive. Fair.
“Can we have it without wine?”
Of course. We’ll leave the bottle sealed.
Take it home, for yourself or as a gift.
“What about bugs?”
It’s summer. There are flies. Sometimes a wasp.
They quickly lose interest once the salami’s gone.
Nothing dangerous.
A small price for being outdoors.
“Can we bring our own picnic?”
Why would you?
Plastic cups, supermarket bread, and guessing the right spot?
We’ll do it for you. We know what works.
You just arrive — and enjoy.
What Not to Expect
This isn’t fine dining.
No courses. No choreography. No service.
Just good food, good wine, and a blanket in a beautiful place.
This isn’t a poolside snack.
This isn’t for “quick between two swims.”
It’s about this romantic moment of closeness in beautiful nature.
And it’s not a party.
This picnic is for two.
Quiet. Private. Romantic.
For groups, we do something different — at a large table in the pergola, same spirit, just more glasses.
The Simple Truth
A picnic is, technically speaking, just food outside.
But in the right place, at the right time, it becomes something much bigger.
A memory. A turning point. A moment when you both realize: this is why we came to Tuscany.
Not for the museums or checklists – but to sit together in a vineyard, surrounded by beauty. Breaking fresh bread. Sharing cheese. Drinking wine from grapes grown just steps away.
That’s the Tuscan love story.
Not loud. Not staged.
Just romantic. Simple. Intimate. Because true hideaways whisper.
Ready for Your Romantic Picnic?
When you stay at ABBADIA, we will remind you. It is a bucket list experience. that you can’t afford to miss.
We’ll ask when and where. Then we’ll quietly set it up. And step back.
All you need to do is arrive —and allow the moment to unfold itself.
Welcome to ABBADIA.
Welcome to Moments That Stay.
