What features must a wine resort have to offer an unforgettable experience amidst Tuscan hills and wines? All the advantages of Castello Banfi Wine Resort.
Wine resorts in Tuscany, choose the best
If you are looking for a holiday of relaxation and good food in the Tuscan hills, a wine resort is the ideal experience. Staying at a wine resort in Tuscany means immersing yourself in the beauty of an unparalleled landscape, amidst the scent of ripe grapes and fairytale castles, while enjoying the best wines of the region.
The wine resort phenomenon is relatively recent in Italy and represents an exclusive type of holiday. Within a few years the number of wine resorts in Tuscany and the rest of the country will grow. In Tuscany alone there are as many as 65 structures that meet the requirements of structures identified as wine resorts. After all, we are talking about the land of Chianti and Brunello, in an area where good wine, hospitality and beautiful landscapes are certainly not lacking.
Wine resort: what is it?
But what is a wine resort? For wine lovers, it is a place in which to explore the production lands of the finest labels, face to face with those who work there, enjoying first-class tastings surrounded by nature. For lovers of relaxation, it is a corner of paradise among the hills, where you can be pampered and spoiled while sipping a good wine, perhaps in a whirlpool bath. For couples, it is the ideal location in which to celebrate a special event, with a dinner of typical products and quality wine in fairytale settings such as castles and medieval villages.
In short, three characteristics a wine resort must have: hospitality, breathtaking scenery and, of course, good wine.
Wine resort: the characteristics
A wine resort is generally run by medium to large wineries that offer tourists, in addition to tastings of typical products and guided tours inside the cellars and vineyards, the possibility of staying in historic residences, old castles or restored mills.
Attention to detail is one of the characteristics that wine resorts must have: old structures are renovated and furnished in such a way as to preserve their ancient splendour, but at the same time offering all the comforts of a modern, luxury hotel. In fact, there is no lack of wine resorts with wellness centres, spas, gyms, swimming pools and everything that could make your stay even more comfortable. It is no coincidence that many resorts in Tuscany are chosen as locations for events and weddings.
Another fundamental characteristic that distinguishes a wine resort from a 'traditional' resort in the Tuscan hills is the inescapable link with wine. A holiday in such a resort is also an immersion in the world of wine and its production: at certain times of the year one can even participate in the grape harvest, as well as visit the wine cellars that often still preserve the ancient working tools, a priceless cultural and historical heritage.
Along with good wine, good food should not be forgotten. A stay at a wine resort in Tuscany is an experience that involves all the senses: many structures are in fact also Slow Food presidia where it is possible to taste the typical dishes of the region prepared by haute cuisine chefs according to tradition and with local products.
Finally, the landscape: the beauty of the Chianti and Brunello lands speaks for itself, with its sunny hills and rows of vines, blue skies and the scent of ripe grapes, fairytale villages and perched castles.
Hotel Castello Banfi Il Borgo, among the best wine resorts in Tuscany
One of the best wine resorts in Tuscany is Castello Banfi Wine Resort, a resort created within the walls of a medieval Tuscan castle, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and hills in the beautiful setting of Castello di Poggio alle Mura. This property, part of the Banfi winery, encompasses all the characteristics necessary to be an excellent wine resort, namely hospitality, good wine and beautiful scenery.
The rooms at the Hotel Castello Banfi Il Borgo, furnished by the famous interior architect Federico Forquet, are equipped with every comfort and are characterised by their attention to detail, fine fabrics and hand-decorated rooms. The common areas, such as the elegant Reading Room overlooking the castle courtyard or the modern wellness centre, are designed to pamper guests with every consideration. The restaurant La Sala dei Grappoli, an elegant room in the shadow of the historic Castello Banfi, allows guests to savour local excellence and traditional Tuscan cuisine, with seasonal tasting menus specifically designed to enhance the region's typical products, accompanied by the best selection of Banfi wines.
Finally, and it could not be otherwise since it is one of the best wine resorts in Tuscany, Castello Banfi Wine Resort offers its guests the opportunity to visit the Enoteca, an elegant Tuscan shop of yesteryear with fine Banfi labels as well as local gastronomic and artisanal products.