Exploring Vallepicciola Winery, it’s vineyards, cellar, and art: featuring the Collectors’ Experience and Wine Safari tours as well as the new “Casa in bottiglia” installation by artist Clet Abraham.

Nestled in the wine tourism destination of Val di Picciola in the heart of Chianti Classico, the Vallepicciola Winery offers an array of experiences that immerse visitors in authentic Tuscan wine culture. Year-round, the Collectors’ Experience and Wine Safari tours take guests on a journey through the winemaking process: from the first flowers and berries in the vineyard to the bottling. Not to be missed at Vallepicciola is the contemporary artwork “Casa in bottiglia” by French artist Clet Abraham, who participated in the “A(Rt) Message in A (Chianti Classico) Bottle” project promoted by the Consorzio del Chianti Classico.

Set in Pievasciata, a small village just 15 km from Siena, Vallepicciola is the Bolfo family’s premier winery in the heart of Chianti Classico, crafting excellent wines and offering an array of outdoor and indoor activities. Year-round, tourists can stroll through the vineyards and visit the state-of-the-art winery, including the cellar. Vallepicciola Experience and Wine Safari are two of the most appealing tours for wine lovers.

Vallepicciola Experience

Guests at Vallepicciola can delve into the rich heritage and artistry of the winery through the exclusive Vallepicciola Experience, a two-hour tour that unveils the secrets behind the estate’s world-renowned wines. The journey begins amidst the picturesque vineyards that grace the rolling hills of Chianti Classico. Guided by Vallepicciola’s knowledgeable hospitality team, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the terroir that nurtures exceptional grapes. This immersive tour includes tasting 5 distinctive wines; each sip unveils the unique character and terroir expression that characterize Vallepicciola’s approach to winemaking. This experience takes approx. two hours and is paired with local cheeses, freshly baked bread and focaccia as well as Vallepicciola’s own extra virgin olive oil. Rates are €40 per Person.

Wine Safari Experience

The exciting Wine Safari tour is tailored specifically for adventure enthusiasts. Guided by Vallepicciola’s drivers, guests traverse the estate’s breathtaking landscapes in a jeep, revelling in the panoramic vistas that define this iconic wine region. The adventure culminates in an intimate exploration of Vallepicciola’s winery and the meticulous craftsmanship that transforms grapes into exceptional wines: from the fermentation room, the heart of the winemaking process where the magical transformation unfolds, to the barrel cellar, where the wines patiently mature under the watchful eye of renowned winemaker Alessandro Cellai.

The grand finale is a tasting of Vallepicciola’s most celebrated wines: Vallepicciola Bianco, Boscobruno, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione,  Parva Domus, Migliorè. An adventure for all – This exclusive two-hour experience is available by reservation only, starting at 11:00 AM and at 4:00 PM, until October 2026. Rates are €130 per Person.

A(rt) Message in a (Chianti Classico) Bottle

“Casa in bottiglia” by French artist Clet Abraham arrived at Vallepicciola by means of the “A(rt) message in a (Chianti Classico) bottle” project, promoted by the Consorzio del Chianti Classico, and celebrates not just wine, but also Chianti Classico, which has long inspired poets and artists. The bottle-sculpture made of polystyrene and standing 4 meters tall is a street art reinterpretation of the iconic bottle that has always defined Chianti Classico, featuring a whimsical house with a door, window, and a smoke cloud from the chimney, representing a unique visit for art lovers.

Hotel Le Fontanelle*****

It was siblings Bruno and Giuseppina Bolfo who discovered the wine-growing potential of the Val di Picciola Valley when they bought an abandoned 17th-century monastery in 1999 and renovated it into what is now the five-star Hotel Le Fontanelle.

It took seven years to carefully and respectfully renovate the structure, maintaining the energy in its massive stone exterior, building with wood from the region and delicately adding refined terracotta pavements aligned with the classic style of Chianti.

Thus in 2006 Hotel Le Fontanelle became a unique place, which, thanks to a refined and gentle welcome, offers a more authentic and immersive experience of Chianti. The 5-star accommodation offers a discreet elegance deep in the heart of Chianti. The luxury rooms and suites are furnished with terracotta floors and oak-beamed ceilings, some offer a private lounge or garden area.

The beautiful location offers a panoramic swimming pool, a heated indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi and relaxing area. Mountain bikes are free to use for guests.

Surrounding the property there was a piece of land of 3 hectares that became the starting point of the winemaking business. Five years later, the brothers bought and restored another ruin adjacent to the hotel, reaching 6 hectares of vineyards that would allow Vallepicciola to start a small wine production intended for the consumption and sale at the hotel only.

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Borgo San Felice is about a 30-minute drive from Florence, and only 10 miles (15 kilometers) from Siena.  A borgo is actually a small village so I was expecting that all I would see was a collection of old houses. How wrong I was!

The hotel sits on a hill about 1,150 feet (350 meters) above sea level.  It perfectly harmonizes with the surrounding countryside.  The authenticity of Borgo San Felice is clearly evident from the first glance, as you climb the road following the gentle and unmistakable lines of the Chianti Classico Senese.  I entered from a long driveway that opened up the closer I got and noticed that the gravel parking area was located away from the guest rooms so that no noise from the cars could be heard.

Borgo San Felice is composed of fascinating buildings – palazzi, stone-built houses, medieval dwellings – all within a few feet of each other, but still very private.  You realize immediately that the village has been there forever, or almost.  It is built around a Medieval Piazza where an elegant 18th century patrician Palazzo stands out magnificently in front of an intimate Chapel in limestone.  I could not wait to explore these ancient walls and see what the hotel has to offer.

After check-in at the reception desk I was shown to my room, which was at the top of the stairs in a small tower, all on its own with beautiful views over the vineyards.  It was located in the big house, which sounds rather ominous but it wasn’t.  I didn’t want to waste time with unpacking so I decided to venture out right away.  In fact, the recent completion of a three-year restoration project has led to a totally new spatial layout and service offering, so I was curious.

It was still early, too early for dinner or even Happy Hour or, as the Italian say, Aperitivo.  Oh well…

Besides lending bicycles, there is a heated pool surrounded by a beautiful garden, with views all the way to Siena; two tennis courts just outside the Borgo, bocce courts, a fitness center as well as a Spa which is housed in the original Oil Mill, offering everything from facials to full body and personalized treatments.  The Wine shop has a fantastic selection of the best Tuscan wines, many of their own production, among others, as well as some local food items.

Borgo San Felice is also a Wine Resort and many international awards have crowned the prestigious wine production of San Felice.  Among the numerous awards assigned down through the years to the wines produced on these estates are Il Grigio, Poggio Rosso, Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino and Il Vigorello – the first Supertuscan.  The most recent award is the prestigious accolade assigned to the Chianti Classico San Felice 2016, which placed 19th in the worldwide Top 100 Wine List 2018, drawn up by Wine Spectator.  The Wine Cellar can be visited upon request, and there are guided wine tasting sessions.

And then, of course, there is The Poggio Rosso restaurant where “Tuscan Fine Living” is celebrated.  Exquisite gourmet offering has been part of the renovation project and now, has a decidedly international twist, while continuing to respect and valorize the Tuscan tradition, thanks to a collaboration with Chef Enrico Bartolini and the new Executive Chef Juan Camilo Quintero.  Only last year, the restaurant was awarded with its first Michelin Star.  For a simpler form of cuisine or a “quick bite”, there is Osteria del Grigio, in the family spirit of the Tuscan tradition.

The extent of the facilities makes the hotel feel very self-contained.  You don’t need to go anywhere unless you would want to visit nearby tourist sights.  At the reception you can find itineraries for off-site excursions.  Guest have access to a heliport and two Tesla charging stations for electrically-powered vehicles.

The town of San Felice is first mentioned in the year 714 when it was the source of controversy between the bishops in Arezzo and Siena.  No-one knows when the village was actually established but it must have been many years prior to that.

There is a small Romanesque church at one end; the ancient Pieve di San Felice was constructed in the 8th century (and reconstructed in 1705 when it was enlarged and a proper nave added).  From the 9th century onwards the town suffered through the plague, which killed over 80,000 in the Chianti district, and hostile battles that raged around it.  Mercenary forces ravaged the area, such as the English and German White Company and then Spanish and Swiss mercenaries who were in the pay of Florence. There was also a second Aragonese invasion known as The Battle of San Felice, which involved the Ricasoli family.  Besides these, there were constant battles between Siena and Florence that continued over four centuries until the fall of the Republic of Siena in 1555.  It is amazing that this little village survived!

In the first half of the 20th century it was owned by the Del Taja family who managed to hold onto it until 1968.  However, the postwar years were tough as life in Italy’s big cities appealed to people more than poverty in the country.  In less than 20 years the village population shrank from 240 people down to 90 and even the chapel looked ready to collapse.  The Del Taja family sold the village to a Milan insurance company, Riunione Adriatica di Sicurta, which concentrated on getting the vineyards into shape.  The early 1970s mark the beginning of a new development model: the estate was bought by the Allianz Group, which set its sights on enological and territorial excellence.  In the late 1980s a new plan to restore the village and create a hotel was put into action and the hotel opened in 1990.

Thanks to the recent renovation project, the number of rooms in the hotel not only has increased from 49 to 60, the 29 rooms and 31 suites have all been totally renovated.  They are distributed between the various buildings, giving guests the sensation of staying in a village dwelling rather than a hotel room.  Each room or suite has been decorated with exquisite taste, many having outstanding views over vineyards and towards Siena.

Two fairly new additions are Villa Casanova, with three fully fitted apartments for a total number of 9 rooms, complete with a large garden and pool, and Villa Colonna which offers guests a more intimate solution consisting of just two bedrooms and a private garden with pool surrounded by olive trees, looking out onto the nearby hills.

Borgo San Felice is close to big cities and yet, it seems a million miles away from everything.

Borgo San Felice
Tel. +39 0577 3964
Località San Felice – 53019 Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena)
www.borgosanfelice.com * info@borgosanfelice.it

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