Monaci delle Terre Nere Country retreat in the foothills of Mount Etna

Spacious outdoors are waiting for you: take your most comfortable shoes and discover the fields and landscapes of the ecocertified estate Monaci delle Terre Nere. The dreamlike residence at the slopes of Mount Etna is devoted to the concept of Slow Living - back to the roots and a true quality of life paired with fine luxury are the country boutique hotel‘s philosophy.

It took 8 years to finish the estate, however, the result was definitely worth every effort: original features have been preserved in the rooms and suites and traditional Sicilian architecture has been lovingly paired with contemporary art.

Monaci delle Terre Nere offers all in one place: an eco-sustainable resort with its own wine estate and organic farm. Self-grown products can be enjoyed in the restaurant „Locanda Nerello“, which treats its guests with exclusive culinary sensations and reflects the Eco-Bio identity. The restaurant is the expression of the estate, where the dedication to the lands and the respect for the environment are combined with passion for food and for the territory, with the refined wines of Etna as protagonists.

The resort is the perfect place to reconnect with yourself and find your inner vitality. Transform your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and find the ideal path to a new, healthy routine.

Monaci delle Terre Nere

In vino veritas – 3 questions for a sommelier

Right on the slopes of Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, you’ll find the historic estate of Monaci delle Terre Nere and its own vineyards. Full of extraordinary charm and natural beauty, this spot was originally chosen by the monks of St Anne’s order in the 17th century. Terraces were built for the cultivation of vines given the area’s propensity for wine, which today is part of the Etna DOC area. We met with Marco Torrisi, Monaci’s very own sommelier, to ask him three very important questions about wine.

Can you give us some tips on how to choose good wine?

You need to consider a number of elements and find the right balance. A tip for choosing a good-quality wine is evaluating the area of origin. Ask yourself: do the grapes come from a vineyard owned by the producer?

The second secret is to give priority to wines with origin marks (e.g. IGP, IGT, DOP, DOC), and to avoid buying wines that don’t have one. Finally, the last tip concerns the price: in the absence of further elements to evaluate, to be sure you’re getting a wine of average quality, it is better to buy bottles starting from an average price upwards. This is not a strict rule, as some excellent wines can cost less than you think and vice versa, but it is a parameter to be taken into consideration.

At the end of the day, however, you must always keep in mind what you want to eat with the wine. So as not to risk ruining the meal, you need to know how to combine wine with food, or at least the basic rules. Finding the right combinations is a real art and you cannot expect to become an expert immediately as if by magic. You have to build up your own experience. So, just like everything in life, it comes down to learning by doing.

How do wine and sustainability work hand in hand?

Environmental sustainability is the human activity that regulates its practice according to ecological assumptions in the framework of sustainable development. The renewal of resources is at the centre of the discourse surrounding sustainability and is seen as the intrinsic capacity of the world to transform itself in a cyclical manner – a capacity that must be defended in order not to modify the delicate balance on earth. The sustainability of wine is man’s ability to preserve nature so that future generations can take advantage of the same quantity of resources we have available today. At Monaci, we try to preserve nature as much as possible by using as few chemicals as possible. We aim for the quality and not the beauty of the vineyard. For us, the customer who drinks wine must drink healthily.

What was your favourite vintage of the past few years, and what do you like most about the wines produced at Monaci delle Terre Nere?

My favourite harvest has to be the one from 2014. Our elegant wines, certified organic, are distinguished by strength, finesse and elegance, respect for the land and its product – namely, the grapes. Obsessive care of the vineyard, precisely because: “Great wines are produced from great grapes,” a phrase that summarises our philosophy.

Monaci delle Terre Nere is a privileged place, the first where you can taste the wine produced from the estate’s vineyards. Several autochthonous varieties from the Etna region can be tasted at our Locanda restaurant. Nerello Mascalese and Carricante stand out, varieties of white grapes exclusively found in Etna.

The biggest mistakes to avoid?

– Don’t judge the book by its cover... or the wine by its label!

– Don’t take wine too seriously

– When choosing your wine, don’t be afraid... TAKE THE RISK!

– Don’t be fooled: picking the same variety doesn’t mean it’s the same wine

– If there is a wine that intrigues you, explore. It is never bad!

La Valise Mexico City Local upon arrival

Along the colonial street of La Roma in Mexico City are the most elegant townhouses in the Mexican capital. One of these houses is home to the exclusive boutique hotel La Valise Mexico City. This hidden gem with only 3 rooms has become a real insider tip since its opening. An expansion to 8 rooms is planned by mid-2023. However, anyone who wants to stay here should plan well in advance in any case. Curated collectibles and antiques combined with Namron’s own design create a world that enchants. In the middle of the lively metropolis and yet an oasis of tranquility.

Housed in a gorgeous townhouse located in the “historic center”, packed with colonial artifacts, galleries, and hip restaurants.

La Valise San Miguel

Boutique hospitality in the city of art and culture

After careful restoration, the classic structure of the house blends seamlessly with the local architecture and complements the beauty of the surroundings.

The heart of La Valise is the oasis in the courtyard. Here, time ceases to exist. The gently swaying lemon trees, the murmur of the water and the sun’s incoming rays make space and time melt away. A double Chichimeca staircase forms the center of the garden and frames the ancient cultural omens. The aesthetics of the architecture and the staged design elements create a serene, almost mystical athmosphere.

The rooms and suites highlight the uniqueness of Mexican craftsmanship and Aztec symbolism. Contrasted with modern design elements, an ensemble is created that combines the past and the present.

The original building, which now houses La Valise San Miguel, belonged to a friend of the Mexican-Italian artist Pedro Friedberg who gave the property a very special touch with his art. The artworks were more or less the essence of the house. This was also the reason why they were included in the overall concept during the conversion to the Hotel San Miguel and can still be seen there.

They enjoy their breakfast either in the suite, in the courtyard or another cozy niche in the hotel. Ingredients for the delicious smoothies or local pastry specialties all come from the region. La Valise doesn’t have a restaurant, but it does offer a range of appetizers, wines, and cocktails to round out your culinary stay.

Spa treatments are performed right in your suite. The experienced therapists offer a range of massages, facials and rituals for body, mind and soul.

TULUM | MEXICO