Property 8388 - Montebenichi - Tuscany

8 Double bedrooms – 2 Cotteges – 2 Suites - Pool - Tennis court

An authentic Tuscan family farmhouse renowned for its fine wines.

Location and Surrounding Area. Property 8388 was built on the ancient remains of a fortified watch-tower, which was once used to defend the gorgeous Ambra valley situated between Siena, Arezzo and Florence. In the early 1400s, the property was owned by the Florentine De’ Medici family and the estate has been cultivating exceptional wines since these times. Today Property 8388 is also an exclusive residence with refined bedrooms and suites, which have been lovingly furnished with authentic period furniture. The estate has 22 hectares of vineyards which produce mainly Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. Guests are invited to visit the wine cellars and book wine tasting sessions with the experts to fully experience all that Villa Merlot has to offer. 

The villa is located in Montebenichi on the borders of the famous Chianti Classico wine producing region. It is an idyllic rural area with meadows and woods and even today, manages to retain the unspoilt peace and quiet so typical of this part of Tuscany. Property 8388 is nestled close to several famous vineyards producing some of the world's finest wines: the Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Tignanello for example. Montepulciano is a stunning hilltop Renaissance town and the Cantucci family, for example, has been creating fine wines since the 1700s and is considered one of the founding fathers of the exceptional red wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Another sought-after red wine, the Brunello di Montalcino, has been produced in the hills around Montalcino since the early 14^th century, partly due to the fact that Montalcino has the warmest and driest climate in Tuscany. 

This same mild climate means that golfers can play all year round on some of Italy's most seductive golf courses. The prestigious 18-hole Golf dell'Ugolino, for example, is the oldest Golf club in Italy. It even features in Chris Santella's best-selling book, “Fifty places to play golf before you die”. 

Florence is the capital city of Tuscany and an art-lovers paradise. It was the centre of the Italian Renaissance movement and the museums, galleries, palaces and churches house some of the world's greatest artistic treasures. The cathedral, baptistry, Uffizi, Bargello, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens and the Accademia have to been seen and once you tire of art and history, take a wander through the pretty streets and across the Ponte Vecchio bridge which spans the River Arno. Florence is also home to designer shopping and the thick, juicy Florentine steaks are a local speciality. 

Property 8388 is about an hour's drive from Pisa international airport, an hour and a half from Florence international airport and two and a half hours from Rome's Fiumicino international airport. The pretty village of Pietraviva is 1.5 km down the road, Ambra 5 km, Siena 30 km,  Arezzo 35 km, Montepulciano with its incredible wines only 50 km, Florence 70 km and lovely Lucca 150 km.

The Property. The old farmhouse, with its cottages and suites, features accommodation surrounded by vineyards and offers visitors the chance to experience a genuinely unique holiday in this stunning area of Tuscany. The main house sleeps up to 16 guests, the first cottage sleeps two people, the second cottage sleeps four and the two independent suites each sleep two guests with the easy possibility of an extra person in each suite.

On the ground floor of the main house, there is an entrance hall with plenty of space to hang coats, a large dining room, a gorgeous, Tuscan style living room with an antique white grand piano, a fully equipped country kitchen with fireplace, a TV lounge, a well-appointed library, several sitting areas, a bathroom, pantry and shady terrace with a gazebo for relaxing conversation and delicious dining in the open air.

There are six king-sized bedrooms and a suite on the first floor. The bedrooms each have their own en suite, travertine marble bathroom. The spacious suite has two king-sized double bedrooms and an en-suite bathroom. The beautiful, handmade parquet flooring provides a marvellously warm backdrop to the antique furniture and every room is air-conditioned.

The spectacular garden is laid out on two different levels in Roman style and has a far-reaching views out across the Tuscan countryside. The ceremony hall was originally the wine cellar and can be used to host elegant functions. There is a magnificent fountain, a very large private swimming pool with its own shower and laundry room, and a wonderful shady pergola, which is ideal for relaxing in the afternoons. The upper, tree-filled garden also has a private chapel and a large terrace. The tennis court and the larger swimming pool are shared with guests in the cottages and suites.

The first cottage has two single beds and an en suite bathroom and the second cottage has two double bedrooms and an en suite bathroom.

There are two new, independent suites located over the larger swimming pool. The first suite is nearly 50 m² and sleeps two guests in a lovely bedroom with en suite bathroom. There is a sitting room with pretty, corner kitchen and a dining area. There is a comfortable sofa bed for a third guest if required. This suite has its own private garden with barbecue and outdoor, furnished dining area.

The second suite is 42 m² and has a large double bed with an extra single bed and en suite bathroom. There is a corner kitchen in the living/dining area and again, the suite has its own private garden with barbecue and outside, furnished dining area.