Deluxe Accommodations in Tuscany

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.

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.  Complimentary Wireless Internet available.