Pic nic Deluxe Assisi and wine tasting 5 wines

Assisi’s Basilica of Saint Francis rises above the vineyards, olive groves, and oak trees at SAIO, where a five-wine tasting leads to a generous picnic beneath a veranda with one of the area’s best views. This is not a quick pour-and-go stop. You have time to learn, walk, eat, and settle into the countryside.

I like the family-run setting and the way the wine tasting connects to the land around you. I also like the food: pecorino, cured meats from the Subasio Mountains, Perugia bread with SAIO olive oil, Torta al Testo, and Umbrian cookies make this feel like lunch, not a token snack. The main drawback is transport. The winery is close to the basilica by distance, but the roads from central Assisi are not suited to a casual walk.

Key points

• Five wines with a guided explanation: The tasting introduces SAIO’s production and Umbrian wine in a clear, approachable way.
• A veranda facing Assisi: Your picnic comes with an open view toward the Basilica of Saint Francis and the surrounding vineyards.
• A proper local lunch: Expect bread, olive oil, pecorino, mountain cured meats, Torta al Testo, cookies, and water.
• A family winery: The Mencarelli family has produced wine and extra virgin olive oil for decades.
• A self-guided vineyard walk: Use the provided map and information boards to explore at your own pace.
• Good value at $52 per person: The price includes the tasting, picnic, equipment, and one bottle of wine per couple.

Arriving at SAIO beneath Assisi

SAIO’s wine shop is at Via Campiglione 94, about 800 meters from the Basilica of Saint Francis. That location matters. You are close enough to pair this outing with a visit to the basilica, but you are not sitting in Assisi’s crowded historic center. Instead, you are below the town, among vines, olive trees, and open fields with the hilltop church in view.

From Perugia, take the SS75 and leave at Ospedalicchio Sud in the direction of Assisi. SAIO is about 9 kilometers from that exit. From Foligno, use the Santa Maria degli Angeli exit, drive toward Assisi, and at the roundabout below the basilica follow signs toward Bastia and Perugia. SAIO is about 1.5 kilometers from that roundabout.

If you are staying in Assisi, arrange a taxi rather than assuming this is an easy stroll. One early visitor enjoyed walking from the train station along rural roads, but the more direct roads can be busy and may not have sidewalks. This is a pleasant rural stop, not a town-center activity.

The meeting point is the SAIO Wine Shop, where the tasting begins. The guide may be Agnese, also referred to as Agnes in English-language settings, or another member of the family team. The tone is personal rather than formal. You can expect Italian or English, depending on the group and guide.

Five wines and a clear introduction to Umbrian wine

The tasting is the educational core of the visit. You sample five SAIO wines while learning how the winery produces them and how the local setting affects what ends up in your glass. You are not expected to arrive with a vocabulary for wine. The format is designed to help you connect the wine with its ingredients, place, and production.

The information boards and vineyard map add useful context. Instead of hearing a long talk and then forgetting it, you can look at the vines and surrounding olive groves as you learn about viticulture. That simple link between the glass and the plants outside makes the visit more memorable.

The exact wines served can change, so do not book this expecting a fixed list of labels. The important promise is five guided tastings. At the end, you choose a bottle of SAIO wine for the picnic, with one bottle included for each couple. If you want more wine beyond that bottle or additional tastings, those cost extra.

The guide’s approach is one of the strongest parts of the outing. Agnese has been praised for explaining the wines in a friendly, understandable way, while still giving enough detail for first-time tasters. You get information without the stiff presentation that can make winery visits feel like a sales pitch.

Walking the vines with Assisi in view

After the tasting, you can use the map to walk through the vineyard and olive groves. The route is self-guided, with information boards placed along the property. This gives you a chance to move at your own speed, stop for photographs, and take in the setting without being kept in a tight group.

The walk is not a strenuous mountain trek. It is a gentle vineyard outing, but ground conditions can change. After rain, the paths may become muddy, and clay-like mud can cling to your shoes. Wear footwear you do not mind getting dirty, especially outside the drier April to October period.

The setting is at its best when the weather cooperates. In spring, summer, and early autumn, the vineyard and olive trees provide the rural backdrop that makes this more than a tasting room visit. In the warmer months, the vines may be full and green, while harvest season can add another layer of interest. The winery is open all year, but April through October is the better window for the outdoor portion.

The view toward Assisi is the main visual reward. From the property, you see the Basilica of Saint Francis above the surrounding countryside. It is a useful reminder of how close you are to one of Italy’s major religious and cultural sites, while also showing you the farm country that supports the town.

A picnic of Umbrian specialties

The food is served under a covered veranda in the vineyard. This is where the outing shifts from wine lesson to relaxed lunch. Your basket includes water, plates, cutlery, placemats, and wine glasses, so you are not balancing food on a napkin or standing around the tasting counter.

For a couple, the spread includes:

• Perugia-style bread with SAIO extra virgin olive oil
• Pecorino cheese
• Cured meats from the Subasio Mountains
• Traditional Umbrian Torta al Testo
• Umbrian cookies
• One bottle of SAIO wine of your choice
• Water and the necessary tableware

Torta al Testo is a useful local touch. This traditional flat cheese bread is associated with Umbria and gives you something beyond the usual cheese-and-salami platter. The cured meats from the Subasio area also connect the meal to the hills directly around Assisi.

Portions are described as generous, with enough meat, cheese, and bread to make the picnic a real light lunch rather than a sample plate. One account specifically praised the hot pork served with the meal, but the standard description focuses on the listed local produce, so do not count on hot pork as a guaranteed item.

The food is simple, regional, and well matched to the wine. You are not getting a cooking demonstration or a restaurant menu. You are getting the sort of spread that works well outdoors: bread for the oil and cheese, cured meat for salt, cookies to finish, and wine to pull it together.

If you have dietary needs, contact SAIO before booking. A vegetarian or vegan meal has been provided in the past, but the standard picnic is built around cheese and cured meats. The supplied information does not promise a specific alternative for every dietary request.

Why the setting matters more than the tasting room

Wine tastings can blur together during an Italy trip. The setting here gives this one a stronger identity. You begin with a structured tasting, then walk among the crops used to create the region’s food and drink, and finish with lunch facing Assisi. The parts make sense together.

The veranda is especially useful because it gives you a place to slow down. You can sit with your chosen bottle, look toward the basilica, and take photographs without rushing off to the next church or museum. Several people have singled out this view as the best place for pictures during an Assisi visit.

The covered space also makes the outing workable in less-than-perfect weather. If rain or bad conditions arrive, the tasting and picnic move into the wine tasting room. That saves the booking, but it changes the character of the activity. You will still get the wine and food, but you lose the outdoor walk and the full vineyard setting.

Wind can also affect the veranda. A breezy day may make the picnic less comfortable, although the covered area remains useful. For the most enjoyable version, choose a clear day in the warmer season and bring a light layer for changing conditions.

Is $52 per person good value?

At $52 per person, the price is strong if you want both wine and lunch. You receive five guided tastings, access to the vineyard walk and map, a full picnic for two, water, serving equipment, and one bottle of wine per couple. A comparable restaurant lunch and separate winery tasting could easily cost as much, particularly near a major sightseeing site.

The value is best for couples. The included bottle is one per couple, not one per person, so solo visitors should understand that the wine allowance is structured around two people sharing. You can buy another bottle if you wish, but that is not included.

The experience also saves you from choosing between a formal winery visit and an informal countryside lunch. You get both in about 2.5 hours. That makes it a good fit between morning sightseeing and an evening meal in Assisi.

I would not choose it if your main goal is an in-depth technical study of Umbrian wine. The tasting is informative, but the visit is designed for a broad audience. It is also not the best pick if you want a fully guided vineyard tour with a fixed route and constant commentary. The walk is intentionally self-guided.

Who should book this Assisi wine picnic?

I would recommend SAIO to couples who want a slower half-day near Assisi, especially after visiting the Basilica of Saint Francis. The food, bottle of wine, and scenic setting make it particularly well suited to a birthday, anniversary, or relaxed afternoon away from churches and museums.

It also works for first-time wine tasters. You can learn the basic ideas behind the five wines without needing specialist knowledge, and the tasting leads naturally into lunch. The family connection adds warmth, while the map and boards give you enough structure to explore alone.

Families and mixed-age groups may also enjoy it, provided everyone is comfortable with a wine-centered outing. The walk is gentle, and the food is substantial, but the activity is still built around tasting and discussing wine.

I would think twice if you do not have reliable transport from Assisi or if your schedule is packed tightly around the basilica. The meeting point is nearby by road but not conveniently placed for an unplanned walk from town. I would also avoid the outdoor version on a rainy day if the vineyard walk is the part that interests you most.

The best timing is April through October, when the outdoor setting is most likely to be comfortable. SAIO operates year-round, so winter visits are possible, but bad weather moves the meal and tasting indoors.

Practical details before you go

Plan for about 2.5 hours. Check the available start times when booking, since the schedule can vary. For reservations outside normal opening hours, contact SAIO directly.

The activity includes free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve without paying immediately if that option is offered for your date. These policies help if your Assisi plans are still shifting, but weather remains the key practical variable.

Bring comfortable shoes for the vineyard walk. After rain, the route can be muddy. You should also arrange transport in advance, particularly if you are leaving from Assisi’s historic center or plan to drink the included bottle.

The experience has earned a 4.8 rating from 88 reviews, with repeated praise for the food, views, hospitality, and value. The most consistent strengths are the veranda overlooking Assisi, the generous picnic, and the friendly explanations during the tasting.

Should you book the SAIO picnic?

Book it if you want local food, five wines, and a memorable view in one easy half-day. The walk adds a quiet rural break, while the picnic gives the visit enough substance to justify the time and price.

Skip it if you need a fully guided technical tour, dislike wine-centered activities, or cannot arrange transport to Via Campiglione 94. For most visitors who want to see another side of Assisi beyond the basilica, SAIO offers a well-priced and genuinely local pause among the vines.

FAQ

How long does the SAIO wine picnic take?

The activity lasts about 2.5 hours. This includes the guided tasting of five wines, the vineyard walk, and the picnic lunch.

Where does the experience begin?

You meet at the SAIO Wine Shop at 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 distance is short, but the roads from central Assisi may be busy and may not have sidewalks.

What food is included in the picnic?

The picnic includes Perugia bread, SAIO extra virgin olive oil, pecorino cheese, cured meats from the Subasio Mountains, traditional Umbrian Torta al Testo, Umbrian cookies, and water.

Is a bottle of wine included?

Yes. One bottle of SAIO wine of your choice is included for each couple. Additional bottles and extra tastings are not included.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If the weather is unsuitable, the wine tasting and picnic take place in the wine tasting room instead of outdoors. The winery is open throughout the year, though April through October is the best period for the vineyard setting.