Travel Destinations By Ondine Cohane November 30th 2016
Castello di Ama Gaiole in Chianti, Siena, Italy 8/10
Telegraph expert rating
“This hamlet and its vineyards not only produces some of Chianti’s most impressive wine but it has also become a contemporary art showcase. With four renovated suites in one of their 18th-century villas, it’s the perfect spot to appreciate the wine, art, and 200 acres of beautiful landscape right outside your windows.”
8/10 Location Not far from Siena (about two-and-a-half hours' drive from Rome airport, and an hour-and-a-half from Florence), the property is close to many of Chianti’s best vineyards and picturesque hill towns, but be forewarned that even distances that look short on the map can be quite windy.
9/10 Style & character Castello di Ama is quite unique in its use of original buildings, like an on-site church and cantina, to showcase art installations in a very striking, but never jarring, way. Last year, the owners turned one of the hamlet’s most pretty buildings, called Villa Ricucci, into four suites, with newly-kittedout-bathrooms and plenty of common areas furnished with Edra lamps and Pierre Frey fabrics. Particularly lovely is the kitchen with its roaring fireplace, and the sitting room with art and wine books to browse. And the mirrored piece by Daniel Buren, inspired and created specifically for the property, creates an instant photo opportunity overlooking the vineyards.
Travel Destinations By Ondine Cohane November 30th 2016
7 / 10 Service & facilities While there are a number of amenities on-site, from the wine tastings to the cosy country restaurant, the service here, while friendly, is more a hands off villa-style approach as opposed to 24-hour reception. Restaurant Wi-Fi 8 / 10 Rooms Occupying an 18th-century villa, the owners turned the lofty original quarters into spaces that respected their considerable heritage while adding modern touches. There are four suites, with original wood beams and terracotta flooring plus custom beds, and new bathrooms with huge shower heads. The Bellavista, with its views of the vineyards, is our favourite, and comes with two rooms that make it perfect for a family. 8 / 10 Food & drink Helmed by the owners’ former personal chef, this restaurant is completely unpretentious but charming with Tuscan classics like pappa al pomodoro, pici al cinghiale (wild boar sauce), and bistecca al Fiorentina (T-bone steak) among the dishes to augment the wine list — try the estate’s Haiku, it is surprising for the region, and delicious. Breakfast meanwhile is prepared in the communal kitchen, and includes freshly-made bread, local yogurt with muesli and fruit, and eggs. 8 / 10 Value for money Double rooms from €300 (£267) year-round. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi. For the privilege of staying in a private villa surrounded by art and wine, it’s pretty much one of a kind for the region.
Access for guests with disabilities? Not suitable although the owners do try to accommodate guests with disabilities however they can.
Family-friendly? With the emphasis on wine, art, and history, a stay here is better suited for families with teenagers or older.