Back to Piedmont Winery
Back to Piedmont Winery
Dear Kirill,
I have been meaning to take a few minutes all week to send a great big thank you.
All the hotels/bed and breakfasts you booked for us were wonderful:
The Piedmont Winery had the most wonderful view, dinner was exceptional as promised and the rooms (& beds) were comfortable. Esther was making the homemade pasta when we arrived and although we couldn't communicate very well we were made to feel most welcome. That house must have some history and we all wished that we could have communicated better because I am sure both Esther and Franco would have had great tales to tell.
The Verona Winery was awesome! Our apartment was lovely and Paolo made us feel very welcome. Their wine was exceptional (we brought some home) and breakfast each morning was very nice. We were very happy that they had a pool since it was 35C the day we did our day trip to Venice. We arrived on Sunday & Paolo recommended the local restaurant that was a 700 m walk from the B & B (Al Ponte Ferrazze). I was surprised that this place was not on your list of recommended restaurants: it was tiny and the menu was limited but the food was excellent, the staff so friendly despite the fact that no one spoke English. They tolerated our sad efforts at Italian and we would have gone back the Monday if they had not been closed. It's always nice not to have to drive to and from dinner.
Locanda del Lupo was very pleasant as well. Our double suite was much nicer than our friend's single suite, however. We had eaten a very heavy lunch so were not very hungry at dinnertime. We were sitting in the courtyard and asked if we could have an appetizer plate out there instead of going in for dinner and the wait staff were more than happy to accommodate us. The town itself really did not have much to offer and in hindsight if we had realized the actual travelling time from Verona area I think we probably would have gone straight to Lerici from Verona.
The Lerici Seaside Hotel was awesome! What a view. Again, however, the single room was not nearly as nice as the double room. The town of Lerici is lovely and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there. It was convenient for our day trip to Cinque Terre and the local restaurants were great. We tried the recommended restaurant, Ristorante Golfo dei Poeti but felt it did not live up to your review. It was a satisfactory meal but not exceptional. We did have exceptional seafood at another restaurant close by, La Mano di Fatima. The homemade ice cream bars that were available right next to Ristorante Golfo dei Poeti were to die for!
The staff everywhere was extremely courteous and helpful. We would recommend any of the places we stayed at and feel that we got excellent value for the money spent.
We didn't take your advice about buying local maps in advance and I would definitely make sure I had them next time. Fortunately we had a GPS and it really helped us because we never would have found the Verona Winery just using the map we had. On the way to Canelli, we stopped in a small town (never got the name) and had an awesome three-course lunch, including wine for 11 euros per person.
We found ourselves with lots of time to spare before being able to check into Verona so on the way we took a detour along the eastern shore of Lake Garda, stopping off for lunch in the town of Garda. It was a true gem of a town: very picturesque.
The car rental went off without a hitch (at least we haven't been billed for anything extra as of this moment in time.)
I will recommend your services to anyone I know going to Italy. Kristin helped me plan the itinerary and we were thoroughly impressed by all your properties. It was nice to know in advance the quality of the accommodations. We wanted a trip that was a little more rural and you helped provide it. Thanks again for your assistance in making our holiday so memorable.
Sincerely,
Heather B.
Dear Jessica,
A huge kudos to Piedmont Winery. The food was unbelievably good, each dish better than the last! They were very hospitable and would recommend their agriturismo to anyone (though some knowledge of the Italian language is probably necessary, which we had). No problems at all with accommodations. I know my dad is planning to post a nice comment through the website about Piedmont Winery.
We did have trouble with driving directions and I would highly recommend GPS to help with finding things. We spent alot of time driving in circles trying to find a particular road. I think you already mention this on your site but confess I didn't read through too much of it thinking I had already taken care of details. I'd also further investigate acquiring a cell phone for the trip. I think a cell phone would be more helpful in the small towns than in the bigger cities where access to phone cards and payphones is better.
Thanks very much!
Amy W.
Dear Kirill,
Overall we were very very satisfied with the hotels we booked through your website. In Canelli we stayed at Piedmont Winery Guesthouse: very lovely, large rooms, beautiful, very quiet setting. We did have an outstanding lunch in Cannelli at San Marco Ristorante, also very very expensive, but then you don't get to eat great big slices of white truffles with fresh pasta everyday!! We really loved Cannelli as we felt we were really in Italy, almost no tourists! We would recommend the hotel to anyone, but they need to clarify the dinner situation on their website.
Outside of Verona, we stayed in the Verona Winery. We loved this place, beautiful setting, wood burning fireplaces, very peaceful. Our hosts were wonderful we had a delightful wine tasting and a tour of the vineyards. This is really a great find and I would recommend to anyone traveling to or through Verona. We did have a hard time finding the place, are GPS got confused and the signage was not clear. Anyway, once there it made the "find" all the more enjoyable!!
Fred G. and Vicki M.
Dear Julie,
I wanted to tell you about our experiences at Piedmont Winery.
There was a miscommunication on my part because the apartment we requested really wasn't designed for two couples. It was designed for one couple and 2 kids. I also didn't realize until after I had made the reservation that our hosts did not speak any English. I think this information should have been available when initially viewing the site. However, we got lucky because there was a German family staying there and they did speak English. We had wonderful conversations with them and they translated our needs to our hosts. Our hosts were very gracious and when they realized that we were two couples they offered us a real bedroom in the house for Sunday night at no extra charge.
They also went out of their way to find truffles for us so we could have their special truffle dinner. It was one of the most amazing meals I have ever had. We were so glad to have this incredible experience, and the wines were magnificent. I also learned later how humble our hosts were. They never served us any of their own wine. It wasn't until the next weekend in Refrancore (outside of Asti) that we were served their wine in a sweet local restaurant. They were sure that we had had this wine and were amazed when we told them no, and that we really wanted to try it. It was so good that we bought a bottle to bring home and share with friends.
Even with our difficulties, it was a wonderful experience and I am so glad that we stayed at Piedmont Winery.
Overall our trip to Italy was fantastico. We found most Italians to be very friendly and helpful, and most generous. Their generosity made us want to share more with them. Our journey was not just about seeing places but also about connecting and sharing with the Italian people. It really was an awesome adventure.
Grazie,
Gael F.
Dear Jessica,
Please pass on our sincere thanks to Kristin and, for that matter, to all of you at InItaly.com who helped make our holiday such a special one.
I am a bit swamped at work catching up on things right now, however, I certainly will be sending you our rave reviews about Piedmont Winery and also Palazzo Bandino, as well as general comments on the trip, so please bear with me.
Thank you again for everything.
All the best,
Leigh G.
Hi Jessica,
Our trip to Italy was fabulous!! We had a wonderful 2 weeks and driving around the country roads in Northern Italy was really not that intimidating. We figured out after a day or two that if the name of the place you were looking for wasn't on the sign just go straight. We asked for directions at a hotel once and they confirmed this by saying "Always go straight".
Piedmont Winery was a different experience. The rooms in the Guesthouse were very nicely appointed although a little formal. The living room was also a little formal, but the complimentary grappa was enjoyed. Unfortunately the host was not available as it was harvest time and the mother could not speak any english at all, but she was very gracious. Suggested visits in the area are definitely Alba (where we had a great meal the second night) and the most beautiful hill in all of Italy at La Morra. Next time we would love to stay in this town, it was so enchanting, and the vineyards are just breathtaking.
All in all, I would definitely recommend your website to anyone. I found it very helpful and all the destinations were very close to description and better than one could hope for. We would love to go back every year.
Bye for now and thanks again
Kim and Michael M.
Dear Kirill,
We recently spent two nights at Piedmont Winery. It was wonderful and all you said it would be. I also booked our car through your website; all went well.
Thank you for making these arrangements. I will use your services in the future and recommend you my friends.
Arne C.
Ciao Kirill!
Although it's been a few weeks since we returned from Italy I did want to be sure and write to you to thank-you for your assistance and to provide feedback on our accommodations.
Our first stop - Piedmont Winery was absolutely wonderful! Franco and Esther are sooo nice, the accommodations were great and the food was out of this world!! It definitely helped that I speak some Italian as we were able to have some great conversations. It would have been much harder to get by without the language. We had a fabulous time though and would not hesitate to return! The location is great for exploring the surrounding vineyards and small villages.
The location of their home is great - perched on a hill overlooking vineyards and the town of Canelli. I will admit though that it was somewhat tricky to find. Actually, we saw one sign and then no others but happened to stumble upon it by driving in the direction we assumed it must be in! I would agree with other clients though that a couple of more signs around the town or on the road would be a great help.
Just an FYI re: the local regional map and the local Asti maps - they don't actually match up. Surprise! It was fun trying to get around the countryside since the road names also don't necessarily match up with what's on either of the maps. A little frustrating but once you realize this it just becomes an adventure to try and figure out which map is correct and where you really are!
All in all we had a great trip. The weather was less than ideal but the accommodations, food, wine and scenery were great compensation. Piedmont Winery was clearly the highlight of our 3 weeks and I would strongly recommend this home to anyone travelling to this area.
Thanks again for all your help....will be using your services again on our next trip to Italy.
Tracey B.
We spent three nights at Piedmont Winery. It is a beautiful villa set high on a hill overlooking the owner's vineyard. We stayed in the separate apartment a few steps away from the Villa. The food was fabulous and the hosts, Ester and Franco, were very gentile. They gave us itineraries to follow to see the highlights of the area. We went to Asti on the day of their famed Palio. It was an incredible pageant of costumes and horse races. It is held on the third Saturday of September. I highly recommend the experience.
When we return to the piemonte region we will definitely stay with Franco and Ester. The meals were excellent and the hosts made you feel you were guests in their home. Having some knowledge of Italian was a big help because they do not speak English.
Carol K.
Dear Kristin,
Thanks for your email. I have conflicting feelings about "Piedmont Winery." On one hand I want to share this jewel of a place with the whole world. On the other hand, I'd love to keep it a secret so it doesn't get over-run. What can I say? The owners, Franco and Ester, were outstanding hosts. The scenery was spectacular. Their culinary skills out of this world. I will always have very fond memories of this place.
Susan G.
Dear Kristin,
Asti country is a miracle. So beautiful! Piedmont Winery is situated up at the top of one of the many rolling hills with vineyard views from one sloping hillside to the other and the other and the other. It is like a salad bowl of vines, hills to valleys and back again a thousand times.
Franco and Ester made a big hit with us. Again, very personable and a lot of fun. Franco collects antiques and paintings so we were on the same wave length in conversation. The apartment was ideal. It has a separate staircase and door on the outside of the building. There is no air conditioning but the higher altitude brings a soft breeze to cool you off or a swift wind to cool you down.
The bedroom is large with views "da morire". The bathroom is also large with a gift standing right in the middle - a washing machine! The apartment has a kitchenette - more than adequate, and a table for dining. The soggiorno has a sofa trundle bed, armoire for clothes and a hutch with dining supplies.
Of course we didn't dine there; we took full board that included breakfast and dinner. We ate in the portico facing large sliding windows to the patio and view outdoors. Ester is a renowned chef who has resurrected many lost Piemontese recipes. She marries these recipes with her own creative style and "voila" you are in ecstasy.
The location of the B&B is very good for visiting all the Asti wine regions. Since this was our vacation away from our vacation, we just roamed the countryside and popped into whatever village or shop or azienda we came across. Besides wines there is a lot of history, castles and sanctuaries here and practically no tourists.
Another great vacation with the help of In Italy. Thank you for your interest and your efficiency.
Ciao, alla prossima,
Carol Ann N.
Dear Cynthia,
Piedmont Winery was really a treat for us in late March after Milan. Franco made us welcome when we finally found the place. It was charming and the gourmet dinner was so enjoyable. We should have had the area map that you offered! We wish that we had stayed more than two days in that area of the Piedmont and would advise others to make the Winery their base to do just that.
Haydee and John W.
Dear Cynthia:
The Piedmont Winery is a beautiful place to stay. It's on top of a mountain overlooking vineyards on all sides. There is a wonderful patio where you can sit and take in the beautiful surroundings. My wife and I spend three days there.
There are two potential issues visitors should be aware of:
Despite these two minor items, I would recommend Piedmont Winery for the following reasons:
John & Marla S.
Dear Kristin,
Piedmont Winery was a special find. The owners are wonderful and the meals among the best, if not the best, we had in Italy. One of our group had a birthday while we were there, and they went out of their way to plan a special occasion. It was grand. Again, it required a car and was hard to find - up a twisting road - but the views were great. We chose it as a place to stay there on our way to Malpensa airport. It worked fine - 2 hours to the airport would have been OK, except that Malpensa is badly signposted. Fortunately, we allowed an additional 30 minutes. Anyone visiting the area should definitely go to Alba - nice pedestrian area, and we were there for a wine festival! As a warning, you definitely need a detailed map if you are going off the main roads. The scenery is lovely, but the towns are not on the larger area maps. Skip Asti, we could find nothing very interesting there, and the drive was not at all interesting.
Nancy and Steve M.
Dear Kirill,
We had a great time on this trip (I can't imagine going to Italy and not having a wonderful time). My comments:
Piedmont Winery: we really enjoyed our stay here, and only wish we'd had better weather to really appreciate it -- after several days of fog and rain, we had one beautiful sunny day when the views were spectacular, breakfast was served outside on the sunny porch, and I could just imagine being here in the summer, lounging on the lawn and walking through the vineyards. You recommend in your write-up taking the half board arrangement, because there is no better food in this area. We did not take the half board plan, but were easily able to arrange with Franco to have dinner there on 2 of the nights we stayed. You are right about the food -- these were 2 of the best meals on this trip, I'm still dreaming about the pasta. We didn't see much of Ester (she kept busy in the kitchen) but Franco was an absolutely charming host.
Thank you, Julie and Kristin, for all your help in arranging this trip.
Judy A.
Dear Julie,
First of all, I'd like to thank you for your help in making our trip successful. We enjoyed both of the places you recommended. Piedmont Winery was a little more rustic than we had anticipated but we enjoyed it nonetheless. I would highly recommend eating all dinners there as their food is fabulous gourmet. We did have to ask directions in town exactly where to go to get there; it is very difficult to find as others had said. Thank you, again, Julie, for all your input and I will highly recommend In Italy to everyone for their travel in Italy.
Clarene M.
Cynthia,
We had a wonderful time in Italy. The hosts were wonderful - so welcoming, kind and great cooks! We actually lucked out and found our way there the first time w/out getting lost. The views and scenery were spectacular. I must confess, tho, that the accommodations were nice and clean, but nothing luxurious. The furniture was probably from the 60s or 70s, but was still fine. We didn't have a phone in our room. Also, they don't provide soap or shampoo, so let folks know to bring some! But overall, we still enjoyed it and would consider going back.
Caren T.
Dear Jessica,
Piedmont Winery was a wonderful success. The proprietor at Piedmont Winery was excellent, charming and generous. The negative side was that we had hoped to do some bicycling along the ridge (very hilly), and the bikes were in such terrible shape, even a simple ride was almost impossible. (My husband did it, with broken brakes, but I wasn't so brave). Also, even though the dinner meals were delicious, the only wine served was the wine they grow on the estate, which was fine, a Dolcetto d'Alba, but, while in Piedmont, it was very important to me to enjoy some of the famous and great wines of the region, such as the Barbarescos and Barolos, and even the wonderful Barberas. So, it would be important for you to mention this in your descriptions. It is hard to drive to a restaurant at night because the roads are extremely dark and hilly---so it presents a bit of a dilemma.
Ciao,
Davye G.
Dear Julie,
Thanks for all your help planning this trip. We were very impressed with the quality of your website and the services you provided. The advance reservations for the Accademia in Florence worked out very well.
Piedmont Winery was wonderful, peaceful, and relaxing. Exactly what we imagined! The quiet countryside with its friendly people was such a treat. The food prepared by Franco and Esther was absolutely fabulous, and the accommodations were simple, clean, and comfortable - just what we had expected and hoped for. Franco arranged for us to go on a truffle hunt one evening, which was quite unique and interesting. We hope some day to return to this wonderful place.
Thanks again for all your help,
June and David B.
Dear Jessica,
Our visit with Ester and Franco was great. The road is hard to find the first time but everyone in town knows the farm and can tell you how to get there. The place was exactly as we expected. Simple but comfortable. The view was better than we expected. We really enjoyed visiting the market in Cannelli. We were also struck by the beauty of the cemetery at the foot of the road to the farm -- it is worth a stroll. The Enoteca across from the Gancia complex was a cool find. The young guy running it loves american blues and plays the music down in the brick wine cellar/restaurant it was neat. I would definitely recommend this place and would like to return myself.
Donna
Dear Julie,
When we first planned our trip using InItaly.com our friends thought we were making a mistake. "What in the world do you know about them?" "You should use a travel agency here in town." Well, we are glad they were very wrong. It was our 25th wedding anniversary and we wanted to have a special trip to remember. Not only did we have an unforgettable trip, but it actually exceeded our expectations!
We flew into Milan, rented a car and drove to Piedmont Winery in Canelli (about two hours away). To our surprise the roads were very well marked and we had absolutely no problem finding our destination. We were somewhat apprehensive about driving in Italy before we came but it turned out to be much easier than expected. The Winery was very nice and Franco and Ester were very gracious. The villa is located on top of a hill just above the town and has wonderful views from every vantage point. We had a lovely suite of rooms-- bedroom, dining/kitchen, and sitting room. A wonderful view and lovely breeze meant we kept our bedroom windows open throughout our stay. The 5 course dinners are reason enough to visit Piedmont Winery. Each meal was spectacular! You could tell the owners used to run a restaurant. Canelli is a lovely little town, and the surrounding countryside is absolutely beautiful. Mango is an especially interesting little town with a wonderful castle/museum/winery/ restaurant.
The only downside to this area and villa was the lack of English spoken. We saw no other American tourists and almost no one spoke English (including our villa hosts). This proved to not be a big factor, but it is worth noting for other visitors. If you want to see a part of Italy that does not just cater to Americans this is it.
We definitely will be back.
Ed and Ellen J.
Dear Kristin,
This was our second trip to this exceptional place. Ester & Franco keep you going back with their mastery of the "Antica Cucina Italiana". Their cooking prowess is reason enough to spend a few days with them, made even more enjoyable as they are both gracious hosts and delightfully warm and friendly.
While there make sure you visit the towns of Barolo, La Morra and Cherasco. Have lunch in both osterias in Cherasco, Della Rosa Rosa (closed Wed. & Thurs.) & Lumaca (closed Mon. & Tues.), both are very creative and have excellent wines- Barolo is must!
Arnaldo L.
Hello Kristin
The accommodations in Piedmont Winery were superb, but the food was unbelievable, better than any 5 star restaurant, incredible, orgasmic! Franco combined tastes and textures and aromas and had a homemade wine to go with every course. He is proud of the local cuisine and shows it off beautifully. With every dinner we learned a little more about Piemonte's history and food and wine. Just an incredible dining experience, one that we will never forget. Canelli was the highlight of our trip, because of the accommodations and because that's where our family roots are. We all came back prouder than ever to have Piemontese ancestry. It was also a wonderfully calm and slow paced change after 7 days in Rome, the city of EVERYTHING. The rooms were impeccable and comfortable. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the Italian wine country. We also went to several of the enotecas and were warmly welcomed and treated as honored guests even off season and without reservations. What a friendly and welcoming part of Italy! Thank you for your excellent service. This too I will recommend to anyone planning a trip to Italy.
Louise S.
Kristin,
You know, the Langhe was very special to us. The land, the people, the cultural heritage that seemed to permeate the lives of everyone we met. Not to mention one of the prettiest places on earth we've ever seen. And the cuisine. We've not enjoyed such a consistently high level of cuisine anywhere. Ester at Piedmont Winery cooked meals that rivaled the finest restaurants of San Francisco and New York. And certainly served with a lot more love!
Ritorneremo!
John L.
Dear Ghia,
Piedmont Winery was beautiful, though somewhat difficult to get to. It appeared that some shrubs had grown over the sign pointing us to the right way. With neither of us speaking Italian and neither of our hosts speaking English, it was somewhat frustrating to get help from our hosts. Fortunately the locals were gracious and amazingly helpful beyond comprehension. When we asked a police officer where a restaurant was, she gave us a police escort. A "Mr. Luna" was very kind and rescued us from one of the many getting lost outings. We had maps, but street signs were hard to come by.
There was one restaurant recommended in Asti that was off the charts. Best meal we had in Italy. And nice nice people.
Janice K.
This was not just a rewarding experience, but THE BEST EXPERIENCE we've had in travelling throughout Europe or anywhere else.
We arrived very late - 12:30 am, partially our own fault, and partially due to the lack of directions. The place was dark and locked, so we knocked on a few doors, to no avail. Disappointed, we started to leave, but Franco, the owner, popped his head from a window. We explained we were from Canada, and he responded "un momento" and he immediately came down - he was most pleasant (having just been awakened) and showed us to our excellent room. The next day, we wanted to do a little siteseeing, so he recommended Alba, which turned out to be an excellent recommendation. We returned for dinner.
For the dinner, I cannot say enough. The food was not merely good, not merely excellent, but THE BEST meal we've had on this or any other trip. Served by the most congenial hosts we've ever encountered. Each course was served with a wine (produced by Franco from his estate) which particularly suited the course. Every course - the appetizer, the white truffled pasta, the granite palate cleanser, the guinea fowl, the desert was uniformly of the highest quality. It became evident that we were not just eating another great Italian meal, but we had the privilege of dining with two of the Great Chefs of Europe.
Other guests for dinner included a large family group from Switzerland, who drove four hours just for the meal. They, too, raved about the food. Apparently, Franco and Ester's meals are well known!
In Italy, the food is normally quite good. But we would return just to savor another dinner that these two chefs prepare. A true highlight of this trip and probably of many trips to come.
James and Gloria G.
Dear Cynthia,
We enjoyed our stay at Piedmont Winery. The accommodations were very nice. The instructions on how to find the place were a bit sketchy but the townsfolk were happy to help us locate the right route. The panoramic view from the Piedmont Winery is lovely. The location was extremely convenient for day trips to Alba, Asti, Torino. The food and wine were uniformly excellent. We would stay there again. For anyone interested in white truffles and good wine, this area of Piedmont is the place to be in October.
B. Olney
Dear Julie,
We had a great time at Piedmont Winery. The host and his wife were very sweet and professional and the rooms were clean and large. We had lots of privacy. I highly suggest that anyone staying there also have dinner there. Their food is wonderful and served with wines that they produce on their own estate. We really enjoyed taking a walk around the vineyards after dinner - it was quiet and beautiful. Our only complaint was that while we were there the weather was pretty crummy - it rained almost constantly. So we didn't get a chance to explore the Piedmont area as much as we would have liked. We did go to Alba and Asti, both nice towns, and we visited some of the smaller towns as well. I also highly recommend checking out some of the other local agritourism places for lunch or just to visit. Hope this answers your questions. We would definitely go back.
Best Regards,
Nadine S.
Dear Kirill,
At Piedmont Winery, we were given a suite with a laundry machine. Great place, great food, great wine, great hosts, great views.
Rich H.
Dear Kristin,
The time we spent at Piedmont Winery was wonderful. The place is quite beautiful, they have spent long hours tending the gardens, and the vineyards. The host made every effort to accommodate any request that we had. The food was excellent.
Karren D.
Fabio,
Piedmont Winery was a wonderful selection. It is one of the best B&B's we've stayed at anywhere. There just weren't any tourists around anywhere we went in that part of the Piedmont.
It sits on a hill top, or ridge more accurately. The hosts are charming, and the food and wine was excellent. The muscato wine, which we had with desert, was not to be missed. We ate in three dinners and were pleased with the food. The other night we ate at San Marco in Canelli which was superb. Great barolo wines and an 8 course dinner! The living room is spacious and the furniture and painting rather spectacular...huge 17th century sideboards, etc. Rooms were nice and airy.
Best wishes and thanks for such a good choice.
Leonard
Back to Piedmont Winery