Pic nic Deluxe Assisi and wine tasting 5 wines

Just below Assisi’s Basilica of Saint Francis, SAIO pairs five wine tastings with a walk through family vineyards and a generous picnic under a veranda. The view is the star: church towers, olive groves, grapevines, and the hills around Assisi all sit in the same frame. I especially like the mix of guided tasting and unhurried wandering, plus the chance to taste local foods rather than nibble on generic crackers.

The one bottle of wine per couple adds real value to the $52 price, particularly when the picnic includes cured meats, pecorino, bread, Torta al Testo, cookies, and olive oil. The main caution is practical: the walk is self-guided, and recent rain can turn the path muddy. This is also not a simple walk from central Assisi, despite being only 800 meters from the basilica as the crow flies.

Key points at a glance

• Five wines with Agnese: The tasting introduces SAIO wines and explains how they are made.
• A vineyard picnic facing Assisi: Lunch is served beneath a covered veranda with a broad view of the basilica.
• A real Umbrian spread: Expect Perugia bread, SAIO olive oil, pecorino, mountain cured meats, Torta al Testo, and cookies.
• One bottle included per couple: You choose a bottle from the wines tasted, while extra bottles and tastings cost more.
• A gentle self-guided walk: Maps and information boards explain viticulture as you pass through vines and olive groves.
• Weather affects the setting: Rain moves the experience indoors, and wet paths may be muddy.

Why this SAIO experience works so well

Many winery visits ask you to choose between a formal tasting and a scenic meal. SAIO gives you both, but keeps the tone relaxed. You learn about the wine first, then have time to look around at your own pace before sitting down to eat.

The setting does much of the work. SAIO is a family-run producer operated by the Mencarelli family, who make wine and extra virgin olive oil. Its position near Assisi means you can connect the food and wine to the place you are visiting, rather than spending half a day reaching a remote estate.

I like the scale of the experience. At 2.5 hours, it is long enough for a proper tasting and lunch but short enough to fit around a morning visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis. You are not committing to an all-day food tour or a long formal lecture.

The $52 price also deserves attention. For each person, it covers the guided tasting, vineyard map, picnic, table settings, water, and one bottle of SAIO wine per couple. A couple therefore receives two tasting experiences, a substantial lunch, and a bottle to share or take away. That makes this one of the better-value food and wine outings near Assisi, especially if you would otherwise buy lunch and wine separately.

Arriving near the Basilica of Saint Francis

The meeting point is the SAIO Wine Shop at Via Campiglione 94, Assisi. The listed GPS coordinates are 43.076725, 12.585997. The winery is about 800 meters, or 875 yards, from the Basilica of Saint Francis, but that distance can be misleading if you are planning to walk from the historic center.

One visitor specifically cautioned that the busy roads do not always have sidewalks. I would not treat this as a pleasant stroll from central Assisi unless you have checked the route carefully and are comfortable with roadside walking. A taxi is the more practical choice from town.

If you are driving, the directions are straightforward. From Perugia, take the SS75, leave at Ospedalicchio Sud, and follow signs toward Assisi. SAIO is about 9 kilometers from that exit. From Foligno, take the SS75 exit for Santa Maria degli Angeli, then follow signs toward Assisi. At the roundabout beneath the basilica, take the road toward Bastia and Perugia. SAIO is about 1.5 kilometers farther.

The location works especially well for drivers and for people combining the visit with Santa Maria degli Angeli or the lower approach to Assisi. Plan your transport before the tasting, since wine and rural roads are a poor combination.

Starting with five Umbrian wines

The visit begins with a guided tasting of five wines. The host explains the production, the local setting, and the character of the wines rather than simply pouring five glasses and leaving you to guess.

Agnese is the host most often associated with the experience. She is described as warm, clear, and enthusiastic, and she speaks English as well as Italian. Her role matters because wine tasting can easily become either too technical or too vague. Here, the information is tied to what you are drinking and to the vineyards outside.

You will learn about how SAIO makes its wines and how viticulture fits this part of Umbria. The exact wines can vary, so it is best to think of the tasting as an introduction to the producer rather than a fixed lesson in five named bottles.

The tasting is also useful if you know little about Umbrian wine. You can compare the pours, ask questions, and decide which bottle you prefer for lunch. That choice carries through to the picnic, where one bottle per couple is included.

Drink at a measured pace. Five samples followed by a bottle shared over lunch can add up, especially in warm weather. The experience is designed for enjoyment, not for rushing from glass to glass.

Walking the vines and olive groves

After the tasting, you receive a map and can walk through the vineyard area on your own. Information boards explain wine and viticulture, giving the walk a little structure without turning it into a marching tour.

This is one of the best parts for anyone who likes to see where food comes from. You pass grapevines, olive groves, and old oak trees, with Assisi visible across the surrounding countryside. During harvest season, you may see ripe grapes, and one earlier visitor particularly enjoyed tasting grapes directly from the vine.

The walk is not presented as a strenuous hike. It is a gentle wander through the property, with time to stop at the signs and take photographs. Still, it is not a paved museum path. After rain, mud can build up on shoes, and the route may be less enjoyable. Wear shoes you do not mind getting dirty, particularly outside the dry April to October period.

The self-guided format is a plus for some people and a drawback for others. I like being able to pause and wander without staying with a group. If you want a detailed explanation of every vine and field, though, you may find the walk less informative than the tasting itself.

A veranda with one of Assisi’s best views

The picnic takes place beneath a covered veranda in the vineyards. This is the moment when the setting earns its keep. From the lunch area, you look back toward Assisi and the Basilica of Saint Francis, with the vines and olive groves in front of you.

The view is not a minor extra. It changes the meal from a standard winery lunch into a place-specific experience. You are eating local food while looking at the town that brought you to Umbria in the first place.

The veranda also provides welcome shelter from strong sun. One past visitor had a very windy day but still found the conditions added a bit of character. The more important weather issue is rain. In poor weather, both the tasting and the picnic move into the tasting room, so you should not book this expecting an outdoor meal in every season.

April through October is described as the best period to visit. That makes sense if your priority is the outdoor walk and the veranda. SAIO remains open all year, but winter and wet-season visits carry more risk of an indoor meal and muddy paths.

What comes in the picnic basket

This is not a token plate of cheese and two small breadsticks. The picnic is intended as a proper light lunch, and the portions have been described as generous.

You can expect:

• Perugia-style bread
• SAIO extra virgin olive oil
• Pecorino cheese
• Cured meats from the Subasio Mountains
• Traditional Umbrian Torta al Testo
• Umbrian cookies
• Water
• One bottle of SAIO wine per couple

Torta al Testo is a local flat, salty cheese bread that gives the meal a distinctly Umbrian touch. The cured meats and pecorino make the basket substantial, while the olive oil gives you a chance to taste another product made by the Mencarelli family.

The food is served with wine glasses, plates, cutlery, and placemats, so you are not balancing lunch on your knees. One account also praises the hot pork served with the picnic, but the core food list does not promise it every time. Treat that as a possible addition rather than a guaranteed course.

If you do not eat meat, contact SAIO before booking to ask about options. A vegetarian or vegan request was accommodated successfully in the past, but the current information does not spell out a standard alternative menu. Do not rely on an assumption made at the last minute.

How much time to allow

The scheduled duration is 2.5 hours. That should cover the tasting, the self-guided walk, and lunch without making you feel pressed.

The experience is easy to fit before or after the Basilica of Saint Francis, but allow time for transport. The winery is close to the basilica in distance, not necessarily in walking convenience. If you are using a taxi, arrange the return before you begin, particularly if you are visiting outside peak hours.

The visit is offered in Italian and English. For reservations outside normal opening hours, SAIO asks you to contact them directly. Starting times vary, so check availability when choosing your date.

The booking terms are useful for a changing Italy itinerary. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option means you do not have to pay at the time of booking. These details are less exciting than the wine, but they make the outing easier to fit into a busy trip.

Who will enjoy it most

I would choose this for couples, food-minded visitors, and anyone who wants a slower break between church visits. The meal is generous enough to replace lunch, and the vineyard setting gives you a quiet change from Assisi’s stone streets.

It is also a good first wine tasting. Agnese’s clear explanations and the five-wine format give beginners enough guidance without requiring specialist knowledge. People who already know Umbrian wine can use the tasting to choose a bottle and learn more about a local family producer.

Families may enjoy the walk and views, but the core experience is built around wine. It is less suitable for anyone who does not drink alcohol or who wants a highly structured guided hike.

I would be cautious if you have limited mobility, though the available information does not give an accessibility assessment. The path is through vineyards and olive groves, and rain can make it muddy. Contact SAIO before booking if the terrain or walking surface matters to you.

Small drawbacks worth knowing

The biggest drawback is the route from Assisi. The winery appears close to the basilica, but the roads may not be comfortable for pedestrians. Include taxi cost in your budget if you are staying in the hill town without a car.

The second issue is weather. The veranda is a major reason to book this outing, yet rain moves lunch indoors. The tasting room still offers shelter and the same basic food and wine experience, but you lose the panoramic setting.

The self-guided walk may also feel too loose if you expect a full vineyard tour with a staff member beside you. The map and information boards provide useful context, but the tasting is where most of the personal explanation happens.

Finally, the included bottle is one per couple, not one per person. Additional bottles and tastings are not included. Read that detail carefully if you are traveling alone or planning to bring home several bottles.

Should you book the SAIO vineyard picnic?

Book it if you want good local food, five wines, and a direct view of Assisi without paying for an all-day excursion. The family setting, generous picnic, and included bottle make the price persuasive, and the 2.5-hour length leaves room for other sights.

I would book between April and October, choose a dry forecast, and arrange transport rather than attempting the roadside walk from town. If rain is likely, go only if you are happy with an indoor tasting-room meal.

For a relaxed introduction to Umbrian wine, this is an easy choice. It is less suitable if you want a formal vineyard tour, a fully paved route, or a guaranteed outdoor picnic in every season.

FAQ

Where does the SAIO wine tasting and picnic take place?

The meeting point is SAIO Wine Shop, Via Campiglione 94, Assisi. The GPS coordinates are latitude 43.076725 and longitude 12.585997.

How far is SAIO from the Basilica of Saint Francis?

SAIO is about 800 meters, or 875 yards, from the Basilica of Saint Francis. The roads may not have suitable sidewalks, so a taxi can be more practical than walking from central Assisi.

How long does the experience last?

The tasting and picnic last 2.5 hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How many wines are included?

A guided tasting of five wines is included. Additional tastings are not included.

Is a bottle of wine included?

Yes. One bottle of SAIO wine of your choice is included per couple. Additional bottles cost extra.

What food is served?

The picnic includes water, Perugia bread, SAIO extra virgin olive oil, pecorino cheese, cured meats from the Subasio Mountains, Torta al Testo, and Umbrian cookies. Plates, cutlery, placemats, and wine glasses are provided.

What happens if it rains?

The wine tasting and picnic move into the wine tasting room if the weather is bad. The outdoor walk may also be muddy after rain.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. The host or greeter speaks Italian and English.