Castello Di Potentino

Supposedly you can buy wine and olive oil here but we where met by this sign ( picture) we rang the bell several times but no one answered. Also they don't pick up the phone. The dogs did come but they are adorable. Not worth the drive.

This is a real castle and a working organic farm producing (very expensive) excellent artisan style olive oil and single grape variety wines. It is a historic restored building but it is not a hotel. As the castle’s own website says, the experience is rustic. There are steep stairs so not suitable if you have mobility issues and the self-service breakfast was disappointing. || But if you have the right expectations you will enjoy. The people are friendly. The grounds are beautiful and the scenery is stunning.

We stayed three wonderful days at Potentino on a trip with friends. Charlotte was a delightful hostess who not only runs the place inclusive of its vineyards and other produce but is just as efficient in tendering to every guest’s whim. The castle is itself a gem of a place in a beautiful region of Tuscany and provided us with a perfect place to make a base to learn the nearby towns following Charlotte’s recommendations on local cuisine and sights. It is the kind of place where one wishes to become a regular guest and we hope to achieve that!

The castle is absolutely breathtaking. Is truly an amazing experience. One I will never forget. The rooms are nice. We loved our private library and view in the princess suite. Do be aware there is no air conditioning, but we found the room stayed mostly cool enough in May. Breakfast was simple but good, it’s self serve. There were a couple logistics issues during our booking, however, Alexander and Charlotte were super responsive over email and whats app. I never had any concerns as they were so helpful with everything.

A wonderful stay all round. We were there in Autumn, late November and the colourful landscape was the perfect setting for our long weekend in this truly unique castle. During the day we cooked and went for walks around the olive trees and vineyards. A simply magical setting. The castle itself is a stunning building both inside and out. The interior is carefully designed, stylish, warm and inviting. Charlotte is an amazing and welcoming host. Both she and her amazing team have enormous pride in what they do, and generosity to match - a rare thing these days! We had wine from the Potentino vineyards with every meal, the Lyncurio, Pinot Noir Rosé was a favourite, as were the two Alicante wines (red & rosé). If you have the chance, ask about the story of the wines and the rich diversity of the Seggiano valley which makes them so special. The honey at breakfast too. We joined the Cucina Povera weekend - true foodie heaven - and learnt much about making cheese, bread, wine and shared tips + recipes from amazing chefs and food lovers. We loved staying at the castle, enjoyed every moment and can't wait for our next visit!

We stayed here for four nights with a group learning about Renaissance history and philosophy. (The program was presented by an outside group.) This is a wonderful place to stay. The rooms were comfortable and the bathrooms modern and beautiful. Every day we went out to see medieval towns and Tuscan scenery. But the castle grounds are gorgeous as well, with vineyards, olive orchards and a rushing stream. It dates back to 1024 but there is evidence that the Etruscans first inhabited the location because of the fertile soil. All 4 nights we had a local chef prepare a dinner for us with "farm-to-table" ingredients which was so delicious. The castle also has wine and olive oil made from their own produce. I am not a wine drinker, but friends who were with me said that they were very good. The olive oil was good, too. Breakfast for us was "make-you-own" fare with cereals, eggs, fruits and breads.|For a taste of the really old days, make a reservation here.

Fantastic castle stay in the heart of Tuscany. Amazing and welcoming host. Stayed in the huge family apartment at the rear of the castle—with cozy beds, fantastic water pressure and delicious farm-fresh eggs we cooked in the kitchenette in the morning. Arranged for wine tasting and cheese making class ahead of time for when we were there -both were fantastic —low key and family-friendly. Enjoyed walking the grounds and discovering their Etruscan wine-making stone. A perfect relaxing stopover escape on our drive from rome to Florence to experience the heart of Tuscany.

Being at Potentino allowed me to listen to my thoughts again for the first time in years. It's hard to describe in words but once you are there, there is a feeling you are in a parallel reality. They do have great Wi-Fi connection but one will barely use it, there is no need for that as you start enjoying the peace and tranquility from the first moment you are there. The castle facilities are astounding, the surrounding areas are better than anything you might have seen in the movies, truly. The staff there is very, very kind, and you will try the most delicious wines, honey, and olive oil of your life, all produced by them. I would definitively go back - actually, I'd move and live there, working for food and a roof only, if I could - or if they'd take me ;)

This is a review of the WWOOFing experience, their wines, and their B&B business. Castello di Potentino is a truly special place, nestled in a still-unspoiled Tuscan wilderness. It's a vineyard and olive estate surrounding a recently-renovated 10th century castle. As one of the proprietors is fond of saying, the castle was renovated to look like it wasn't renovated. This means that there is WiFi (in some parts), electric lights, hot water, and flushing toilets, but you won't see a sleek stainless steel light fixture or modern art sculptures or anything super 'modern chic'. The place is *gorgeously* decorated, inside and out. Each room in the castle is uniquely decorated and the place has been used for photo and film shoots. When I was there, a moderate size film crew was there shooting a Medieval period piece; there were Medieval costumes, horses(!), falcons(!!), white box trucks, and, hilariously, film crew waving frantically at you not to cross the courtyard that you were about to step into because you'd be in the camera shot, following by a distant shout in Italian to effect of, "quiet on the set, cameras rolling (or something)". Lots of fun watching that process. On one weekend during my stay, there was a large wedding party, and I was delighted to see the place transformed and decorated festively for the wedding. The castle is definitely large enough to support multiple types of gatherings. They have a small chapel, multiple outdoor spaces for banquets, and the backdrops are resplendent with vineyards, olive trees, and an unspoiled Tuscan countryside. I did an stint via WWOOF (World-wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), where I am provided food and shelter and I volunteer to help on the farm. When applying, the two owners were good about responding via email and setting general expectations. I stayed about two weeks in the late Spring and really loved the experience there. WWOOFers can number from two to eight, and they all stay in the WWOOF flat, which is basically a three-bedroom apartment in the castle with electric lights, running water, and dorm-style accommodations (2-3 per room, plenty of space). Laundry facilities and WiFi available. Hours in the fields or helping in the winemaking/bottling areas are generally seven hours a day, five days a week, with Sat/Sun off, and a little extra work setting or clearing the tables at lunch and dinner. Mathematically, this adds up to more hours than the nominal norm for WWOOFing (5-6 hours/day, 6 days per week), but it's more than made up for by having two days off instead of one per week, which I think is a good tradeoff. The food is wonderful. Charlotte and Alexander (British) have gone native in a lot of ways, including excellent Tuscan food using locally-sourced ingredients. They are very knowledgeable about the local agriculture and food. Meals are taken with the owners and any family friends that are visiting (which can be quite an fun, interesting cast of characters), and if the hotel guests are eating at the castle, nearly the entire castle eats together. It makes for very interesting conversation and a convivial atmosphere. The house wines are always drunk at every meal, as is their homegrown olive oil. The wines are very good. I brought home and shared with friends the 2011 Sacromonte (red, Sangiovese), and won high votes of confidence from my two friends who are Napa Valley natives (Napa Valley=California wine region). I enjoyed tasting all the wines as we took meals together over two weeks. I didn't stay at the B&B portion; I was in the WWOOF flat, but I did get a chance to see some of the rooms, and they vary a lot in their architecture and decor, but all gorgeously and sumptuously decorated. There are two-bedroom apartments and single rooms and stuff in between. This variance comes from being in a centuries-old castle that had been added to by different owners over the centuries. This is a small B&B operation. It's only Charlotte and Alexander, plus a resident groundskeeper and maid. Between the four of them and some WWOOFers, they grow, harvest and make thousands and thousands of bottles of wine, harvest and make olive oil, and run a B&B operation, so in American parlance, this is definitely a 'small, family-run B&B.' That is, don't expect the type of attentiveness or efficiency compared to, say, a Four Seasons Resort, but do expect that you'll have a unique and special experience in a very special place.