Villa Pattono Wine Country Resort

"Private Tastings in the Piedmont Countryside Winemaker Renato Ratti recently opened to the public his family’s 18th-century, 13-room villa in the Piedmont countryside. An old cellar stores decades’ worth of Ratti wines. Guided tastings can be arranged upon request, and bottles can be shipped home for guests. The owners may open a restaurant in the next two years. For now, they direct guests to La Luna nel Pozzo, in the nearby village of Neive. The tiny family-run spot serves excellent homemade pastas paired with local wines. The villa’s old tower has been turned into a three-floor deluxe suite with hardwood floors, frescoed walls, and a Turkish bath. Each floor has 360-degree vineyard views. From $185. 39/0140-962-021. This appeared in the March/April 2013 issue."

Villa Pattono Relais & Spa, a Design Boutique Hotel Costigliole d'Asti, Italy

"Boasting a swimming pool with views of the vineyards and a spa, Relais Villa Pattono is set in the Piedmont countryside in Costigliole d'Asti. It features a hot tub, a furnished garden and a terrace. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Having been recently renovated, the rooms offer elegant modern furnishings with either a balcony or a terrace overlooking the surrounding hills. They include a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and air conditioning. At the Relais a sweet and savory buffet breakfast is prepared every morning on the ground floor. It includes hot and cold drinks, local cold cuts and cheeses. The property can also arrange helicopter tours, leaving from the adjacent helicopter pad. A bar is open daily from 10:00 until 20:00, and it is also possible to buy locally produced wine from the property's cellar. It is easier to reach Villa Pattono by car and Asti is only 9.3 mi away. Alba, popular for its truffles, can be visited with less than a 25-minute drive." - My Boutique Hotel (en)