Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany

The last leg of our Italian road trip was spent utterly spoiling ourselves in Tuscany.

We explored a little, but I’ll share that tomorrow.

Today I thought I’d show you around our Tuscan home, Castiglion del Bosco.

Rather than little hotel rooms, you get great big villas or suites with their own sitting rooms and balconies that lead out onto the gardens.

Sumptuous four poster beds and velvet sofas, all surrounded by huge oil paintings.

We ditched our bags and went on a sunset stroll around the grounds.

Fresh from a downpour of rain, the place shimmered in the setting sun.

The smell of fresh grass mingling with roses and the warm earth.

Utter heaven after a few hours in the car!

Striped jacket // White dress

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We took a seat at one of the hotel’s famous restaurants and tucked into a few snacks, and a bottle of pink.

Dipping truffle pizza into Tuscan honey is a new life high 🐝

A photo posted by Rosie Londoner (@rosielondoner) on Apr 25, 2016 at 11:00am PDT

We nibbled and chatted away while looking out at the greenest Tuscany I’ve ever seen.

Rolling hills and rows of Cyprus trees for as far as the eye can see.

Our following afternoon was spent in the cellars.

Castiglion del Bosco is one of the oldest and most respected wineries in Italy.

We were treated to a tour of the cellars and a taste.

Before being led even further underground, to the member’s only tasting room.

A sort of Bond villain lair, deep below the vineyards, where members can store their own wines in their very own temperature controlled locker.

There are only 200 lockers, and as a member you can visit any time to enjoy your spoils in the quiet seclusion of the cellar.

We tried a selection of dreamy Tuscan reds, with cheese, bread and honey.

From smooth, deep, velvety red all the way through to the punchy “Super Tuscan” fireballs!

The vineyards here produce some of the finest wines in the world.

The Campo del Drago (a Brunello di Montalcino cru) was my favourite, so we swiped the bottle and headed for the hills.

The hills where it was grown.

This is where Massimo Ferragamo (of the Ferragamo fashion house) fell in love with the area and bought the estate.

It’s not hard to see why.

We topped up our glasses and settled in to watch the sunset.

When the night began to close in around us, we headed back down to the hotel.

Slipping into the warm pool and swimming in the last of the light.

After a long bath and lounge in fluffy bathrobes, we dressed and made our way to supper.

Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, the Campo del Drago restaurant is still worth a visit.

We embarked on the most remarkable of tasting menus.

Treating us to the very best of local produce and Tuscan specialties.

Truffled polenta with poached egg yolk and more truffle.

Risotto with more truffle!

Exceptionally good garlic and scampi pasta.

The best pasta we had during the entire trip, as it happens.

Slow cooked wild boar.

Fancy tiramisu. (Give me a dollop of an Italian Mama’s home made version any day! But this was still lovely.)

Tomorrow I’ll share a little of our Tuscan adventuring, and then that’ll be it for our Italian trip!

And what a trip it was…