EXCLUSIVE AND DELUXE Tuscany BICYCLE TOUR Hotels
Rooms with a View (DuVine guests soak up the sun on a terrace at La Chiusa)
La Chiusa
Words cannot describe the views from La Chiusa’s many terraces and gardens. Across the vineyard-filled valley, the picturesque town of Montepulciano snakes along the ridge. To the south, Tuscany’s highest peak and dormant volcano, Monte Amiata, dominates its surroundings. In the mornings, the valleys often fill with fog creating the impression that the surrounding hilltowns are islands in a vast, misty sea.
This charming little relais and restaurant holds a very special place in our hearts. La Chiusa is the product of the lifelong work of two of our dear friends, Dania and Umberto. It was Umberto’s vision that transformed his family’s medieval olive mill into a stunning luxury hotel. In many of the hotel’s fifteen rooms, you can find old millstones and other reminders of the building’s agricultural past. The jacuzzi-like bathtubs, however, are definitely a modern touch. Umberto is a true Tuscan man and makes sure his guests get anything they want. Every afternoon you can find him overseeing his splendid staff from his table under the pergola where he will be happy to share a bottle of prosecco, fresh grapes from his vineyards, and the story of how he brought running water to the town.
Umberto with some freshly-picked mushrooms
DuVine guests visit Dania (at center) in her kitchen
Dania is a world-renowned Tuscan chef and the Ristorante La Chiusa, where we eat on the first night of the tour, is her baby. She has devoted a lifetime to preserving traditional Tuscan cuisine, using only the freshest seasonal ingredients and age- old methods. Her meals are unforgettable. She always makes a point of coming to our table after the meal and giving us a tour of the kitchen or autographing copies of her cookbook. There is also an extraordinary selection of local wines, with special attention to Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Chianti Classico. "Super Tuscans" such as Sassicaia, Solaia, Ornellaia Tiganello, Pergole Torte are never missing, and the wine cellar also offers Château Lafite, Mouton Rothschild, Château Petrus, Romanée Conti, Opus One and other jewels of the international enology.
The Rooms
Vecchia Oliviera
This lovely hotel is built right into the walls of Montalcino; the same walls that held out against the armies of Florence longer than any of Siena’s other satellites in the 1550’s. As the name implies, this hotel was once an oil mill, but has been carefully renovated while preserving the building’s old charm. The location is ideal because it affords a spectacular view out towards Siena from the pool and balconies while the front door opens onto the town’s narrow old streets. We spend plenty of free time here, giving everyone the opportunity to take a swim and explore the town in search of that perfect bottle of Brunello, souvenir or cappuccino at a local café. Sandro, the owner, is a perfect Italian gentleman who will do anything to make your stay more pleasant.
A view of Montalcino with Vecchia Oliviera
bottom center abutting gtone gate
Villa Scacciapensieri
”Scaccia”, as we like to call it, is a peaceful 4-star hotel, run by the Nardi family for over seventy years. Dating back to the turn of the 19th century, it was built by a Sienese nobleman who wanted to escape Siena’s crowds and heat while still remaining engaged in the city’s social scene. Perched on a hill just north of the city, the hotel still serves its original purpose. Guests mingle with the villa’s peacocks as they wander the extensive grounds, including a beautiful swimming pool and tennis court. Despite this relaxing atmosphere, it is only a short shuttle ride to the center of Siena, a bustling medieval city with enough history, art, shopping and fine dining to suit anyone’s tastes.
The villa’s main building feels somewhat like a hunting lodge and many of the rooms retain the original furniture. Rooms facing north have a spectacular view of the green hills of Chianti, while those looking south offer a romantic portrait of Siena’s towers and steeples. Breakfast is a rare treat, attentively served by white-jacketed waiters. Internet connection is also readily available.
View from the pool into the hills of Chianti
Borgo di Vescine
Nestled amongst the trees on a remote forested ridge in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, this hotel and winery is one of our favorite discoveries. You could drive right past the driveway and never know it was there. This isolation makes it the essence of peacefulness. Once a remote medieval hamlet, the buildings have been converted into a hotel so that the rooms, spread out between a number of different stone outbuildings, are large, quiet and comfortable. The walls are covered with ivy and the brick walkways are lined with flowers. The pool, with its accompanying bar, is a particular favorite for our cyclists, relaxing with new made friends after the last day of riding.
Our friend Vincenzo is the enologist and he will give us a tasting of his Lodolaio Chianti Classico as well as proseccos, whites and a malbec made at their sister winery in the Veneto.
The view here is fantastic and in the morning, early risers are rewarded with an incredible sunrise.
The walkways and gardens of Borgo di Vescine
