Il Cellese

Sensational private wine estate outside Castellina in Chianti, with a dreamy quality you’ll wish you could bottle. 

Owner Sergio Sardelli’s grandfather planted the first vines at Il Cellese in the Sixties, and his aunt was one of the first women in the region to produce Chianti Classico. A 20-year restoration has transformed the ruins of this family-run private wine estate in Castellina into a drop-dead gorgeous villa that sleeps 19, a vision of Tuscan tradition given a cool, contemporary twist. An immersive way to experience one of Italy’s finest wine regions. 

The villa

Il Cellese is one of the most sensational country houses in Italy. With interiors of terracotta tiles and exposed beams, and bold abstract art on the stone walls, it fuses quintessential Tuscan charm with state-of-the-art modernity. Headline acts include the indoor and outdoor pools; an open-air yoga sala; and indoor wellness area with gym and sauna. In the estate’s winery there is a private restaurant space, which invites oenophiles to sample wine produced by the villa’s own vineyard, where custom barrels are painted by artists Santiago Ydáñez and Miki Leal. (Take home your favourite bottles in the villa’s custom-made crocodile leather trunk.) In the beautifully landscaped gardens is a wood-fired pizza oven and barbecue for those who love to cook, with a terrace for under-the-stars suppers overlooking Chianti’s hills and Il Cellese’s rows of vines.

The house sleeps 19 in 10 en-suite bedrooms (all but one with king-size beds), which are all lovely, so nobody gets the short straw if they’re last to arrive.

THE A&K GUEST EXPERIENCE: WHAT’S INCLUDED?

When you book one of the Private Estates in Chianti, your stay comes with a host of additional experiences, services and treats, including:

• A case of Tuscan wine and a welcome hamper of specialty foods from local producers, from artisan cheesemakers to homemade breads and homegrown olives. 
• Welcome and farewell dinners at the villa, prepared by a highly esteemed local chef.
• Wine-tasting at the villa or in the winery on your estate, with an expert from one of Chianti’s leading vineyards.
• Cookery class with a local Italian chef, who will tailor the class to suit your party’s taste and ability.
• A session with a professional photographer, who will come to the villa to capture some special moments, for the best set of holiday photos you’ve ever had.
• Exclusive goodie bags of gifts for children and adults. 
• A dedicated local host and concierge who will take care of every detail of your stay, with daily visits and round-the-clock availability on WhatsApp, should you need them.
• Pre-arrival grocery shopping service.
• An airport meet-and-greet host to whisk you through the airport to your waiting private car.
• Private return airport transfers.
• A beautifully presented breakfast every day, at a time to suit you. 
• Daily housekeeping.