Chianti Castles & Wine

Introduction
Tuscany Italy
Set in an 18th century Tuscan farmhouse in Chianti. Meadows, woods and beautiful gardens with a views of a medieval castle surround the equestrian centre.

This is a certified organic property since 2000, and 2014 Trip Advisor Green leaders. You will discover typical Tuscan food, with a special attention to quality and the substitutable of the ingredients. Our heat and energy production come from renewable energy sources. The buildings have been renovated in harmony with the original form. Our desire was to create a harmonious setting, for a limited number of guests who are looking to stay in a friendly, and at the same time tranquil environment. This is the perfect place to take a walk, to cycle and experience nature and countryside. You can relax around our salt-water swimming pool.

We offer a program that explores an area more than 400km2, without having to pack and unpack everyday but enjoying staying in a comfortable, ancient country house tasting superb Tuscan food and wine, and riding well trained horses that during the year also compete in military and dressage. Each day we will ride a new route along old tracks and show the rider the variety of our territory, which is rich in historical Medieval buildings, vines, olive trees and woods, villas, and farms (Poderi). All of this away from traffic and large crowds and we pass the best Chianti wine farms with excellent tasting wine.

Non Rider Options:  The location of the farm makes it an ideal base for cycling and hiking, and for those who wish to mix cultural tourism with outdoor pursuits.

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a stationary ride, so all nights are spent at the same location.

Description
The farmstead of Santa Margherita was built at the end of the 19th century and is now the home of a riding centre and farm. It is situated in the Senese Chianti at the centre of the Siena, Florence, and Arezzo triangle. Surrounded by meadows and woods with a view over an ancient medieval castle, it offers a quality to its guests of nature’s silence (by our choice the rooms do not have television), the twitter of the birds, the neighing of the horses, and the flow of the rivers.

The buildings have recently been renovated without altering their original form. The farm house is divided into apartments so that guests will be able to enjoy the complete privacy during their stay at the riding centre. All apartments have their own private space outside with a table and chairs.



Division of apartments:
-Alloro Apt: Alloro bedroom + sitting room with sofa bed - can accommodate 2+ 2 guests - 48 sq. m
-Grande Noce Apt: 3/4 bedrooms (Suite, Rosa Chinae bedroom)  with adjacent sitting room and kitchen - 180 sq. m
-Cottage: two floors with view of our pasture + Castello for 2/3 guests - 50 sq. m

Our desire was to create a harmonious setting in 6000 square feet, for a limited number of guests who are looking to stay in a friendly, but at the same time discreet environment. We are also a certified organic farm and we try to respect the environment in the way we run our farm holiday accommodation. Castelnuovo Berardenga town council organizes cultural and social activities in the area and there are two well-known spa swimming pools ten minutes away.

We love animals and have a lot, so we are unable to accept dogs or other pets, but if you are looking for such accommodation there are two neighboring farms which offer two apartments where it is possible to take animals.

Room Occupancy
The single supplement fee is mandatory for every solo traveler (not possible to share room with a stranger). 



Meals
All meals are included.

We cook traditional Italian food. Our food is prepared with as many organic ingredients from the gardens as possible. The farm has been certified as an organic property since 2000.

Breakfasts typically consist of bread with butter, jam and juice complete with yogurt and cakes prepared by us, using many local products.
Dinners are typical Tuscan gourmet dishes that will satisfy the most demanding pallets.

Wine is included with dinner.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to dietary restrictions if given prior notice.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


This week is generally proposed from Sunday to Sunday.

Riding Center
Sadio and Donatella personally assist and receive their guest and riders. They speak French and English and have been running the Horse Riding Centre since 1992. The Riding Centre is affiliated with the Italian Federation of Equestrian Sports.

Horses
We currently have 20 horses. Once horses join the center they are never sold and periodically they are trained and worked by our instructors. They work both in the school and in the countryside, and spend some hours every day in the fields to relax and play. We like our horses to be happy!
We choose our horses not according to their breed but by looking at their attitude to work in the flat and in the countryside. For this reason in our stables you will find many different breeds: Anglo-Arab, Thoroughbred, Warmblood, Murgesi, Arab, Holsteiner etc. We make sure that our horses have good mental balance so they can change riders easily. Our horses are friendly and easy to handle.

Tack & Equipment
Saddles are Kieffer or Appaloosa Prestige.
There are many short chaps and helmets available at the Riding Center.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival
Arrival at the riding center in the afternoon. Around 7 pm we will get together and offer you a welcome drink before we join you for dinner around 8:30 pm.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at the Farmhouse in Santa Margherita

Day 2 (Monday): Ride around the Riding Center
Half-day riding takes us to the romantic abbey of Badia d'Ombrone. Lunch at the riding center and in the afternoon we ride to our neighbor at the medieval Castello di Montalto for a visit and tea with the lady of the manor.
Riding approx 2 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farmhouse in Santa Margherita

Day 3 (Tuesday): Ride to Arceno
One full day of riding on rolling hills and landscapes that take you to Arceno (a centuries old property), where you breathe in the history and beauty.  This property is located in the heart of Tuscany, in the Sienese Chianti area, between Florence and Siena. It extends for more than a thousand hectares. We will have a wine tasting in a superb location with the view of vines, olives, and two tree-lined avenues with their double line of cypresses that are protected by law given their great value and uncommon beauty. We stop for a visit and maybe an aperitif in the medieval village of San Gusme (11th century) and then arrive at the Etruscan site of Campi, where we have our picnic lunch. The view is magnificent, spreading over 360 degrees from Monti del Chianti to Siena to Monte Amiata.
Riding approx 5-6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farmhouse in Santa Margherita

Day 4 (Wednesday): Half-day ride to Montebenichi & Visit of Montepulciano
Half-day riding in the morning takes us to the medieval village of Montebenichi. Lunch at the riding center and in the afternoon we visit Montepulciano and enjoy some wine tasting. 
Riding approx 2.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farmhouse in Santa Margherita

Day 5 (Thursday): Ride to Felsina Wine Farm
One day riding with a picnic in the Chianti Classico at FELSINA wine farm.
Riding approx 5-6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farmhouse in Santa Margherita

Day 6 (Friday): Ride across Crete Senesi & Rapale
We pass through the “Crete senesi”, a completely different area, famous for their sheep cheese. Then, we head to an ancient Etruscan road with an amazing view of the Chianti hills and Siena, on sunny days. Finally, we pass through the village of Rapale, one of the last remaining untouched ancient villages.
Riding approx 5-6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farmhouse in Santa Margherita

Day 7 (Saturday): Half-day Ride to Monastery Borgo Monastero & Visit of Siena
Half day riding in the morning at the monastery Borgo Monastero through forest, olives, and vines. Lunch is eaten at the riding center and, in the afternoon we visit Siena by car. Siena is thought to be the best well-preserved medieval town in Italy.
Riding approx 2.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farmhouse in Santa Margherita

Day 8 (Sunday): Departure
Departure after breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast



Non Riders
Non-riding companions are welcome to join this trip. It is best to have a car in order to do some sightseeing while the rest of the group explores on horseback.
Things to do besides horse riding, which can however take over a major part of the day, we can suggest:

• A walk, for which we can supply our written guide.
• Short excursions, for which we can supply our small written guide, which we call ‘around us’.
• Excursion by bike, a really easy way for visiting our hills.
• Rapolano Spa, 10 minutes by car, with its modern facilities and hot pools at Antica Querciolaia and San Giovanni.
• Explore the medieval city of Siena, only 20 minutes by car.
• Explore the Chianti area which extends in the directions of Florence for more than 50km.
• Explore Arezzo, 30 minutes by car.
• Explore Florence, 50 minutes by car / train
• Explore Montepulciano and Montalcino, 30 minutes by car.
• Explore Monteriggioni and San Gimignano, 30 and 50 minutes by car.

Rates and Dates for Chianti Castles & Wine

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Castelnuovo
Airport: Florence / Pisa
Transfer: Montevarchi train station

Climate:
                                                Florence area