Category: stay

Posted on by

The Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Renew your vows

THE VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Unique Gift Ideas to Surprise Your Special Someone.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Tuscany with something that makes you feel appreciated and cherished! Send your bestie a cheerful gourmet surprise from Tuscany, indulge in a special treat with a special someone on the hills of Maremma, or plan a trip with friends or on your own. Don’t forget to check out our ultimate wish list for the season of love – for you, for them, and of course for us!
Posted on by

Immersive Tuscan days

IMMERSIVE TUSCAN DAYS

Autumn & winter edition

TUSCANY IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST LOVED DESTINATIONS, BUT WHAT IF YOU HAVE JUST A FEW DAYS TO SPEND HERE?

HOW CAN YOU OPTIMIZE YOUR TIME WHILE STAYING AT CONTI DI SAN BONIFACIO WINE RESORT?

WE’VE GOT SOME SUGGESTIONS TO HELP YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND.

HERE 5 SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU

1. ONE

For enthusiasts of art and culture, the Tuscan cities and villages offer some of the world’s most beautiful and well-known attractions.

Stay at our Wine Resort in Maremma to explore the best areas in the Tuscan countryside.

Montemassi and Massa Marittima are located not far from each other and are a true wonder, two medieval jewels rich in history, art and monuments. In particular, Massa Marittima is the birthplace of Monteregio DOC wines.

Visiting these hamlets, not far from Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort, will allow you to have half a day at your disposal to spend on another experience. In the autumn season, a horseback ride in the forest or on the beach of Cala Violina will immerse you in the beauty of the autumn-colored forest.

Alternatively, for wine lovers, you can spend a couple of hours learning the secrets of Winemaking with our Complete Wine Tasting. During a visit to the cellar, our winemaker will let you taste the different varieties of wine and will explain our production and aging methods throughout the experience.

2. TWO

If you are looking for a Hotel Spa experience in Tuscany, there is no better way than to spend a day at the spa in Maremma during the colder seasons.

The Terme di Saturnia are the best-known and most famous thermal springs and one of the most enchanting destinations in the Maremma. Its’ thermal waterfalls, “Cascate del Mulino“, are perhaps the most famous natural thermal springs in Tuscany, consisting of so many natural pools of warm thermal water and relaxing waterfalls. They are open to the public and completely accessible throughout the year.

When you return to us, we recommend that you end your day with a cooking class organized by one of our chefs at Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort, who will guide you in preparing typical Tuscan dishes that you can then enjoy as your dinner.

3. THREE

Tuscany is the ideal destination to enrich your holiday with unique experiences. We suggest you head to Siena during the day while staying at our Retreat. It takes about 40 minutes to go there – one of the most loved and visited cities in Tuscany, a place rich in history and art, and strong traditions. The famous Palio di Siena is known the world over.

If you are visiting Siena for the first time, you must visit, the city’s heart, the wonderful Piazza del Campo, one of the symbolic places of the city. In the area between Piazza del Campo and the Cathedral, you will find the city’s main attractions, including the precious Duomo.

Once back at CDSB, book an in-room or spa relaxing treatment to end a perfect day in Tuscany.

4. FOUR

Tuscany is a region full of landscapes of outstanding beauty, such as the Maremma Natural Park, a protected area rich in ecosystems where biodiversity and conservation are at the heart of our wild countryside. You can discover this miraculous place by bike, on foot, during carriage rides, on a night excursion, or on a guided bird-watching tour.

Upon your return to CDSB, enjoy our six-course food and wine pairing dinner. Our executive chef and sommelier have personally selected each of the seductive pairings. During your dinner, you will have the opportunity to talk with them about their flavors and aromas, the different winemaking philosophies, and the unique stories behind the artisans who produce these local ingredients.

5. FIVE

Autumn brings with it delicacies with the original flavors of Tuscany. Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort designed local activities perfect for the Tuscan autumn. The “Truffle Hunter” is a day spent with an expert “hunter” of truffles and his dogs, in the Tuscan woods.

Prepare yourself for an intensively emotional day. Finish off this once in a lifetime adventure with our perfect “Truffle Lunch” where you can taste in Tuscany the fruits of your spoils.

Posted on by

Our wellness philosophy

Our wellness philosophy

OUR WELLNESS PHILOSOPHY

How wine & wellness is good for the body & soul – Q&A with Sarah di San Bonifacio

HOW WINE AND WELLNESS IS GOOD
FOR THE BODY AND SOUL

Q&A WITH SARAH DI SAN BONIFACIO – FOUNDER AND CEO OF
CONTI DI SAN BONIFACIO WINE RESORT

To get under the skin of the evolving philosophy at the resort, we asked Sarah about the project she started now almost twenty years ago. As an English woman living in Italy for a decade, after twenty years of working in the City of London, we felt she might know something about switching gears and making better and more mindful choices!

Q. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND CREATING THIS RETREAT IN TUSCANY?

The project was really born out of an urgent need to rebalance my life when I was working at Goldman Sachs in the late 90’s. I had decided to convert some of the blood, sweat and tears into an escape. I fell in love with this estate in Tuscany and ever since I have come here to unplug from the crazy back in London!

From the beginning the place was mesmeric and it only ever took 24 hours to completely let go. It was like a spiritual detox being out here and made the subsequent years of work possible. Sharing it with others and creating a destination where our guests can restore harmony and balance to their often busy and stressful schedules became my mission. It took another ten years to finally have the courage to leave my job but aligning my passion and purpose has been the right journey for me.

Q. WHAT DOES WELLNESS MEAN TO YOU HERE IN TUSCANY?

I believe the concept of ethical travel and hospitality has been around for a while. We see more and more of our guests mindfully choosing their vacations. It needs to mean more than just “taking a break.” Our guests tend to have their own wellness objectives around clean eating, eco travel and reconnecting at an emotional level through an authentic and often transformative experience.

Guests arrive here frazzled and leave feeling that both body and mind have been nourished. Our location in Tuscany meets their visceral needs. The Wine Hotel sits within a couple of hundred acres of unspoilt organic vineyards, olive groves and forest. We have organic fine wines that we make on the estate and the immersive wine, food and nature experiences are right at their fingertips. I think there has been a big shift from traditional destinations to unspoilt, virgin locations which are off the grid. A stay with us is often a part of a bigger personal wellness journey.

Q. WHAT WOULD A TYPICAL STAY LOOK LIKE FOR A CITY DWELLING GUEST?

The need to unplug and tap into local life in a completely natural environment has become a big lifestyle goal. Escaping to a private wine estate where they can walk in vineyards and taste wine from the barrels or pick organic vegetables from our garden then cook and eat with them are just a couple of way we help fulfill our guests dreams.

Don’t we all want to make better choices for ourselves and the planet? Our holidays are no exception so a big part of our mission is to help visitors do just that. We tend to think of their time with us as our opportunity to curate a menu of experiences to meet their wellness goals. A couple who arrive from a busy, urban life tend to visit us with an immersive nature experience in mind. From the moment they check in, the unwind begins.

The service has to be attentive and meticulous without being overwhelming-always driven from the heart. You will feel as if you’re the special guest being cared for in the house of a friend. Of course the architecture and the interior design matters – the canvas has to be right and reflect a philosophy of restorative calm and warmth. I’ve tried to create light and airy spaces which connect you to the outdoors – winter or summer.

Q. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ORGANIC IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS?

We were really determined that any property and land we took on would be organic. This estate is certified organic which means that chemicals have never been used here, not in the vineyards, the olive groves or the fields.

At the core of our mission is to be ethical and sustainable both in the way we care for our guests and also the wine, foods and oils we produce. The restaurant at the hotel is a holistic experience in and of itself. Sitting under the trees watching the sunset eating locally sourced meat and fish and vegetables from the organic garden on site.

To compliment the plate we produce three award-winning Super Tuscan wines from the vineyard stretching out beneath you. We’ve know for a long time that Italian food is already avant garde when it comes to excellence but here in Tuscany, farm to plate takes you to the next level. Its pure medicine, nourishing body and soul.

Q. SO WHAT’S THE BIG MESSAGE?

The passion and driving force behind the Wine and Wellness Retreat is to create a sanctuary of personalised well-being. I want to empower guests and make it easy for them to spend a few days with us restoring the harmony we so often are lacking back at home. I think this is where we all feel at our most fulfilled. We’re all trying to prioritise self care and save our sanity at the same time so undisturbed natural environments with transformative experiences you can enjoy with others or alone for some solo reflection are an obvious choice.

 

Some might choose to hike into the hills with a truffle hunter or take out mountain bikes and cycle to some of the incredible Unesco cultural sites which are on the doorstep. Then a private yoga lesson or guided mediation and an in-room ayurvedic massage. We just recommend taking the time to do what makes your soul happy.

 

There’s an amazing simple truth that when we make better ethical decisions we live better lives and it’s one of the best ways to help the environment. Visiting small boutique retreats like ours support local workers, craftsmen and women, farmers, cheesemakers, artisans and so many more…. and of course allows us to preserve a sustainable farming philosophy for the long term. I’ve learnt from my time here in Italy to slow down, stay consciously and to love things that last.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Dreaming of Tuscany

clay banks TL60StXgi10 unsplash scaled

Dreaming of Tuscany

8 Reasons to come back after Lockdown

As we all speculate madly the reopening of our borders and our personal freedoms it is impossible not to daydream about where we’ll go when all of this is over.

Here in Italy it looks as if international travel could be seriously limited for most of us in 2020 and holidays in our beloved country will be the order of the day. While we’ll be ready to jet off to faraway places when we can travel overseas again, our time in isolation has given us a new appreciation of the beauty spots found right on our doorstep. One place we’re dreaming of retreating to is Tuscany and to help you along we’ve come up with 8 reasons why Tuscany might fit the bill for your first adventure outside of the four walls of your city apartment.

Click on the playlist I’ve put together below to really feel the vibe…

  1. Open Spaces After time spent in close quarters with our families we are all begging for space-both inside and out. Our souls need restorative calm and comfort at the same time. We also know that maintaining safe distances will be critical now to prevent a second peak. Choosing more remote locations in the middle of small farming areas away from big cities will keep us safe and allow us to retreat without worry. Open skies, landscapes and deserted roads are on our shortlist of must-haves.

2. Immersing ourselves in Nature The unspoilt reserves and bountiful nature, combined with the warm hospitality, offers the perfect post-lockdown remedy to ‘re-wild’ and get back to nature. Gentle hikes, bike rides, yoga on your terrace or a lazy walk on an unspoilt beach are what we need to offset weeks of shifting sands and uncertainty. We want to unplug and tap into the simplicity of local life.

 3. We can drive there…and bring your dog How much do we love throwing our bags, kids and the dog in the car and heading off? As much as a trip overseas takes us out of ourselves, the flight can often zero us when it comes to travel stress. The simplicity of travel with the family and a car loaded up with everything we need is actually a godsend. And our children and our dogs need the countryside as much as we do.

4. Clean living, eating and drinking Getting back to our core values will be a priority for many of us. We’re all feeling” less than” after lockdown so making sure that whatever break we choose gives us the chance to nurture ourselves with organic food and drink and a farm to plate ethos Spending a few days being taken care of with wines, olive oils and regional foods which are all sourced locally is good for the body and for the heart. Plus, at its centre the best travel experiences are full of tastes, smells and connections of the senses. Its self care at its best and supports our local Tuscan artisans who have been hit the hardest during the crisis.

5. Making our money go a little further All of us have felt the hardship of the lockdown and how it has affected the Italian economy and our own pockets. Many of our own Italian businesses won’t survive and this is particularly true for those in Tourism. However, some are offering incentives to encourage us to support them while they help us at the same time. In addition, most Hotels are offering 100% flexibility for any bookings made right now. #booknowstaylater is the advice from many travel experts and by doing so we’re helping small boutique businesses get through a tough time. 

6. The Air is Clean in Tuscany Every day I check Il Meteo and I see the lightest azzure colour indicating the almost perfect air quality. Knowing that clean air is central to staying well during Covid makes me really think about where I want to spend time in the future when I have a chance to escape. Tuscany’s air quality and untouched landscapes resonate with our need for deep down healthy living-this is one of the new luxuries we will all be demanding. No doubt we will want to eat beneath the trees, gaze at a sunset and sip a glass of something exquisite al fresco. Its the lifeblood of our country.

7. The Wine….oh the Wine Vineyards stretching out beyond our gaze, a glass of rounded, red gorgeousness at our lips is something which echoes from our ancestors and draws us with a hypnotic pull to Tuscany time and time again. There’s nothing quite like your Tuscan aperitivo as the swallows fly overhead and the day comes to a balmy close. Wine experiences and tastings take you deeper and closer to the earth which produces some of our best vintages and olive oils. Don’t forget that this Summer we’ll have it all to ourselves without the tourists. Heaven!

8. Staying consciously It’s not enough anymore to check-in, chill and check out. We’re looking for a curated stay and a transformative experience. This holds true even with a short break close to home, but we don’t want to sacrifice quality. Service for many of us simply means someone listening to our needs and meeting them with personal attention, care and kindness. After such a huge shift in our lives where we have lost so many of our routines and in-person connections, we are feeling a deep deficit of self-care and grounding. Making sure we choose destinations with an ethical philosophy around the personal wellbeing of guests is a high priority for anyone coming to terms with the last few months. Where better than Tuscany to slow down, stay mindfully and heal in a safe sanctuary you can trust.

To reserve your private hideaway at Conti di San Bonifacio Wine and Wellness where you can recharge and rebalance in one of our seven suites #booknowstaylater.