Sensational private wine estate outside Castellina in Chianti, with a dreamy quality you’ll wish you could bottle.
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Il Cellese
Owner Sergio Sardelli’s grandfather planted the first vines at Il Cellese in the Sixties, and his aunt was one of the first women in the region to produce Chianti Classico. A 20-year restoration has transformed the ruins of this family-run private wine estate in Castellina into a drop-dead gorgeous villa that sleeps 19, a vision of Tuscan tradition given a cool, contemporary twist. An immersive way to experience one of Italy’s finest wine regions.
A wine-tasting session at the house, led by a seasoned cellar master
The heated indoor-outdoor pool and its accompanying spa with sauna
Party-perfect outdoor dining space, complete with pizza oven, that seats 30
A yoga platform in the olive, lavender and cypress-lined gardens
A terrace overlooking Chianti’s hills and rows of vines
The villa
Il Cellese is one of the most sensational country houses in Italy. With interiors of terracotta tiles and exposed beams, and bold abstract art on the stone walls, it fuses quintessential Tuscan charm with state-of-the-art modernity. Headline acts include the indoor and outdoor pools and an open-air yoga sala. In the estate’s winery there is a private restaurant space, which invites oenophiles to sample wine produced by the villa’s own vineyard, where custom barrels are painted by artists Santiago Ydáñez and Miki Leal. (Take home your favourite bottles in the villa’s custom-made crocodile leather trunk.) In the beautifully landscaped gardens is a wood-fired pizza oven and barbecue for those who love to cook, with a terrace for under-the-stars suppers overlooking Chianti’s hills and Il Cellese’s rows of vines.
The house sleeps 19 in 10 en-suite bedrooms (all but one with king-size beds), which are all lovely, so nobody gets the short straw if they’re last to arrive.
The location
The cute Tuscan town of Castellina is a 10-minute drive from Il Cellese. Those interested in architecture and history will be curious to learn about its connections to Filippo Brunelleschi, founding father of Renaissance architecture. This authentically Italian neighbourhood is home to a handful of low-key, family-run trattorias serving delicious, simple, Mediterranean flavours and time-honoured recipes alongside fabulous homegrown wine. Castellina’s hilltop position provides a fresh perspective on the vine-lined countryside that rolls out like a green carpet in every direction towards Siena and Florence.
THE A&K GUEST EXPERIENCE: WHAT’S INCLUDED?
When you book one of our Private Estates in Chianti, your stay comes with a host of additional experiences, services and treats, including:
A case of Tuscan wine and a welcome hamper of specialty foods from local producers, from artisan cheesemakers to homemade breads and homegrown olives.
Welcome and farewell dinners at the villa, prepared by a highly esteemed local chef.
Wine-tasting at the villa or in the winery on your estate, with an expert from one of Chianti’s leading vineyards.
Cookery class with a local Italian chef, who will tailor the class to suit your party’s taste and ability.
A session with a professional photographer, who will come to the villa to capture some special moments, for the best set of holiday photos you’ve ever had.
Exclusive goodie bags of gifts for children and adults.
A dedicated local host and concierge who will take care of every detail of your stay, with daily visits and round-the-clock availability on WhatsApp, should you need them.
Pre-arrival grocery shopping service.
An airport meet-and-greet host to whisk you through the airport to your waiting private car.
Private return airport transfers.
A beautifully presented breakfast every day, at a time to suit you.
