Hidden in the Tuscan countryside are some of the best wine resorts in the world, offering acres of vineyards, olives groves, and forests, spectacular views, and all housed in historic Italian Estates. This is my pick of the top 10 best wine hotels and resorts in Tuscany.
1. Castello Banfi Il Borgo
Castello Banfi Il Borgo is part of one of the largest and best wine estates in Tuscany. This 14-room hilltop property was built in the 1700s to lodge farmworkers and household staff serving the eighth-century castle just above it. The hotel’s hilltop location offers extravagant views and a sense of privileged isolation.
Castello Banfi Il Borgo is a true castle hotel complete with turrets and battlements. Its beautiful copper and cream stone buildings look out over its own prestigious vineyards, a landscape of greens and tans, and the rolling Tuscan hills beyond. Within the castle are a reading room, a museum with the largest private collection of ancient Roman glassware in the world, and a spectacular courtyard where jazz concerts are held in the summer. Also on offer are cloisters curtained in wisteria and a historic ambiance so perfect that Disney could have created it.
Beyond the fine dining and the wine, the pool is a massive highlight of this property, offering the perfect place to lounge and relax, but the main attraction to accompany your dip will always be the sensational views.
The decor of the former farm buildings was entrusted to renowned interior designer Federico Forquet. He designed the suites, reading room, and restaurants to be warm and elegant spaces conducive to the pleasures of tasting the exquisite wines produced by the Mariani family.
In terms of dining, La Sala dei Grappoli welcomes you in an elegant and refined atmosphere. In the summer, weather permitting, dinner is served al fresco on the terrace from where the spellbinding sight of the historical Castello Banfi lights can be enjoyed. A seasonal menu allows you to select traditional Tuscan dishes, presented with a modern touch and accompanied by outstanding Banfi wine.
La Taverna is your other dining option. This classical Tuscan restaurant is situated in the shade of the medieval castle of Poggio alle Mura. Taverna Banfi, open for lunch, is positioned beneath the vaulted arches of the former barrel cellars of the castle where Brunello once rested in large oak casks. The menu offers Montalcino and Tuscany’s traditional dishes, enhanced by the freshness and authenticity of local ingredients.
Activities include lessons in how to prepare an excellent home-cooked four-course meal using fresh and local ingredients. Put on an apron, have your glass of wine, cook a starter, make pasta by hand, a main course, and a dessert before enjoying your culinary masterpiece, paired with a fine selection of Banfi wines. You can also eat at the Chef’s Table if you like. Wine tastings are unsurprisingly popular here. Try four premium Banfi wines and a wine pairing lunch at La Taverna.
The best way to enjoy the Tuscan countryside is horseback riding through the vineyards with horses, but you can also mountain bike or e-bike and discover the pleasure of riding in the Tuscan countryside with a guide who will escort you onto the best trails surrounding the property.
2. Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort
This idyllic estate of Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort lies across 125 hectares of the enchanting Tuscan countryside not far from Florence and Pisa. The buildings are in keeping with the traditional Tuscan style, designed and built by local craftsmen, and the décor is Italian-designed luxury.
The interiors are sophisticated with a warm, subtle color palette, chestnut beams, terracotta floors, and white cow skin rugs. But it’s hard not to keep coming back to those breathtaking views. Dining is outdoors on beautiful terraces, and the swimming pool and the outside bar area all offer a fantastic view of the vast landscape surrounding you.
There are just 7 rooms in this exclusive resort. Each offers something special, be it a four-poster bed, marble bathroom, private terrace with sun loungers, or a hilltop position. The restaurant Maremmana serves delicious, locally sourced Tuscan food, and award-winning wines perfectly accompany it. There is a wine bar in the library as well as the Vineyard bar outside.
The beautiful swimming pool is surrounded by natural wooden planking and lots of comfortable sun loungers. A beauty suite is available for your wellness needs, and the hillside makes the most amazing location for their yoga classes. Of course, being a winery, there is a fabulous range of wine-related activities available on the estate itself, including tasting, creating your own blend, and a complete wine experience where you find out exactly what it’s like to be a winemaker.
3. Castello Di Casole
Castello Di Casole offers more than 100 acres of vineyards, frequent wine tours and events, and an estate-grown red wine blend. When you dine at Ristorante Tosca, there are large wall displays showcasing hundreds of vintages from leading wineries in Tuscany and around the world.
At the heart of this vast estate is a storied castle that dates back to the year 998. Your arrival will be through a cypress-lined lane that leads to the elegant courtyard. Here you will be welcomed into this five-star boutique hotel, with 41 private suites in various sizes and styles to accommodate all who visit the unique needs and tastes. Each suite effortlessly combines Old World Tuscan charm with modern boutique luxury, elegance, and sophistication, including fabrics, fixtures, and furnishings from the most acclaimed designers in Italy and throughout Europe. Steps away are a mesmerizing spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor and outdoor dining, and inspired activities.
4. Sina Brufani
Sina Brufani situated in the heart of wine country (although not actually on a vineyard), has counted the queen mother of England and the prince of Monaco among its esteemed guests and considers it a true honor to host many of the world’s most discriminating travelers.
Here in the center of historic Perugia, this intimate hideaway offers 94 traditional yet modernly equipped guest rooms, the renowned Collins’ Restaurant, and an enchanting view of the Umbrian Valley. Locals flock to the outdoor terrace during the summertime, partaking of the delicious regional cuisine and refined wines. Of particular note is the indoor swimming pool; ancient Etruscan ruins are displayed under its transparent glass floor.
Perugia’s medieval streets and alleyways are right outside the hotel’s door, and more importantly, Sina Brufani offers a private VIP tour and wine tasting at the nearby Arnaldo Caprai winery.
5. Four Seasons Florence
The Four Seasons Florence is definitely one of the best resorts in Tuscany. Although it isn’t set amongst vineyards, it offers a great selection of wines. This hotel is ideally located a short drive from all the vineyards of Tuscany and a walk (be it longish) from Florence’s center.
The hotel spreads out between the main building, the 15th-century Palazzo della Gherardesca, and La Villa, a sixteenth-century former convent on the other side of the eleven-acre park, the largest private garden in Florence, which also houses a gorgeous pool.
The 116 rooms are individually decorated with oodles of silk, velvet, marble, and lots of antique furniture. The opulent main restaurant, Il Palagio, is real and Tuscan. The poolside trattoria/pizzeria Al Fresco, open when weather permits, offers simpler trattoria dishes, pizza, and grilled meat or fish. The glass-roofed Atrium bar is a Florentine smart-set venue for tea, aperitifs, cocktails, and of course, fine local Tuscan wines!
6. Belmond Villa San Michele
Built on a steep terraced hill among citrus and cypress trees, the 45-room Belmond Villa San Michele began as a Franciscan monastery in the early fifteenth century. Today, it features a facade attributed to Michelangelo, views that stretch to Florence, and a cooking school offering thrice-weekly classes focusing on Tuscan staples, including pasta.
Surrounded by a wooded park and gardens, its hilltop location affords the city’s dramatic views, only 15 minutes away by courtesy shuttle. Swim in the gorgeous pool, the highest in Florence, or take a cooking class at the acclaimed cookery school.
Most guest rooms boast stunning views and a private terrace or gardens. No day is complete without a meal at La Loggia Restaurant, one of the city’s finest dining establishments. Little guests can enjoy fun activities suggested by the dedicated kids’ concierge.
7. Villa La Massa
Twenty-two acres of gardens and plenty of olive and lemon trees surround the sixteenth-century Villa La Massa, located just a few miles outside Florence on the banks of the Arno.
Set in the Tuscan countryside and linked to Florence’s city center by a complimentary hotel shuttle, each of the 51 rooms and suites, divided between 5 villas, is furnished in Florentine style. The Casa Colonica, an ancient farmhouse, features 4 suites and a kitchen and can be rented out on an exclusive basis, while the Limonaia features stunning river views. The restaurant Il Verrocchio serves traditional Tuscan cuisine, while the new L’Oliveto bistrot offers relaxed Tuscan dining. A brand new stylish swimming pool and the Arno SPA complete the offer.
The gourmet restaurant “Il Verrocchio” offers the traditional Tuscan cuisine with over 400 labels of wine; its terrace overlooking the Arno River is a unique setting for romantic dinners.
8. Castiglion del Bosco
Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is one of the largest private estates in Tuscany, founded by Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo, and managed by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Located within the UNESCO Natural and Cultural Park of the Val d’Orcia, this estate is ennobled by eight centuries of history. Surrounded by rolling wooded hills, extensive vineyards, and farmland dotted with ancient farmhouses, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco offers its guests and members the chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of this authentic corner of Tuscany in a setting of unparalleled elegance and refinement.
Offering a range of elegant, spacious suites and villas, this culinary destination is in the heart of the Brunello di Montalcino region and home to an on-site winery.
9. Pratello Country Resort
Although not specifically a wine resort, Pratello Country Resort is none-the-less a perfect retreat in Tuscany and should not be overlooked. The hotel is set in an 18th-century hamlet and is located in the center of a 320-hectare wildlife park with woodlands, olive groves, and unique views.
The heart of Pratello Country Resort is the precious garden, a jewel of architecture and nature built in the classic Tuscan style. The green design creates natural charming geometries in which you can discover green corners and patches of the wonderful landscapes. Olive groves, fields, hills, and forests are a natural frame for one of the most romantic corners of Pratello, where you can admire enchanting sunsets. With views on rolling Tuscan hills, the infinity pool is available for guests of the Resort every day until sunset. Next to the pool is the Pool Bar, where you can have drinks and a light lunch.
Pratello Country Resort morning begins with a rich and elegant buffet in front of the superb view. Before dinner, take an aperitif alfresco to enjoy the views or enjoy your drink in the delightful lounge bar named Le Scuderie. At night, the kitchen specializes in Tuscan cuisine. Fresh pasta, exclusive dishes based on game, truffles, and seasonal fresh products can be enjoyed in the beautiful dining room or outdoors under the stars. The cellar offers a good selection of Chianti Classico, Chianti Riserva wines, and Super Tuscans, such as Tignanello. Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and a small selection of white wines to complete it.
10. Hotel Byron
Perhaps Hotel Byron is a hotel to visit after your winery stay. This hotel is set amid the glamour of Tuscany’s Riviera. The villa, formerly a socialite’s home, is rightly upscale, but it is a relaxed chic, one that invites quiet days spent lounging by the pool or dawdling over lunch on the checkerboard-floor terrace. Chef Cristoforo Trapani’s cuisine is certainly worth lingering over, with his creative take on traditional dishes earning a Michelin star. Completely renovated in 2019, the 29 individually appointed rooms, simple in their elegance, boast sea or garden views, set against a backdrop of the Apuan Alps. High-fashion shops are a stroll away.
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