For wine lovers: at these addresses you can sleep among the vineyards

As wine lovers, there’s nothing we’d rather do than sleep in a wine barrel and bathe in red wine. Or, well, a holiday at one of these holiday homes, surrounded by vineyards, is also high on our list. It’s unbelievably beautiful here!

Angheli in Sicily, Italy

Angheli is a Greek name, which is not surprising in Sicily, as this island was part of the area known as Magna Graecia, or Greater Greece. But Angheli is also the name of one of the owners and the name of the wine produced by the Donnafugata winery, which is owned by Angheli’s uncle and aunt. The wine is made from local Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and goes down wonderfully with a good spaghetti al ragù. The villa is just a few kilometres outside Menfi, a wine town surrounded by hills covered in vines and olive groves. It even has its own small vineyard, where you can enjoy lovely evening walks—with a glass of wine in hand, naturally.

Artelia in Zakynthos, Greece

Artelia occupies a stunning panoramic position in the southwest of Zakynthos and offers enchanting views over Zakynthos National Marine Park, the idyllic island of Marathonissi and a 6-kilometre stretch of sandy beach where sea turtles lay their eggs. The villa is located in the middle of a private 250-hectare estate with stables, a riding arena for rare horse breeds and vineyards. You are therefore right at the source of the cultivation of the local white grape varieties Pavlos and Gustolidi. Sandy beaches, crystal-clear bays, welcoming tavernas and characterful villages are all within easy reach. Anyone who manages to tear themselves away from the dreamy villa at the top of the hill will have more than enough to see and do.

Linera in Sicily, Italy

In eastern Sicily you’ll find Linera, a beautiful holiday villa in an old winery dating back to 1860. The owner loves design and vintage, and it shows everywhere. Modern accessories blend effortlessly with antique family pieces and original mid-century art. The villa is beautifully situated between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, a few kilometres outside the village of Santa Venerina, and is the perfect base for discovering the wineries around the volcano. Thanks to the unique terroir (a combination of the position relative to the sun, the soil and the winemaker’s hand), high-quality Italian wines are produced in this area. Of course, you can visit producers such as Barone di Villagrande or Planeta Sciaranuova independently, but tours and wine tastings can also be booked.

Villa Liccia in Corsica, France

Corsican winegrowing dates back more than 2,500 years, when Phoenician settlers planted the first vines. In the 1970s, Corsica was not producing particularly good wine and there was overproduction. This was a thorn in the government’s side, and in the 1980s it decided to close most of the wineries and destroy the vineyards. The wine industry was subsequently rebuilt from scratch, with quality being monitored by the government. Corsica now has nine wine regions, including Sartène in the south, near Villa Liccia. Here you can pick up some delicious bottles of wine and then drink them at the villa, which invites you to spend most of your days and evenings outdoors.

Katalania in Zakynthos, Greece

This villa sits on a hilltop in the peaceful landscape of Zakynthos’s southeastern foothills. It is surrounded by dense forests that stretch all the way to the coast and is close to secluded sandy beaches and cosy tavernas. There’s a good chance you can order a verdea there. Verdea is a typical white island wine that has been made since 1800 from the local grape varieties Skiadopoulo, Katsakoulis and Pavlos. This table wine has a pleasant tang and is easy to drink. Another local grape variety is Avgoustiatis, which is used in Zakynthos to make wines with a deep red colour, soft tannins and high acidity. There’s a good chance the wine in your glass was made by a friend or family member of the taverna owner.

Rocca delle Tre Contrade in Sicily, Italy

Rocca delle Tre Contrade was once surrounded by vineyards. In 1850, the aristocratic landowners built a house there to stay in during the harvest. It stood empty from the 1960s onwards, until the current owners bought it sixteen years ago and completely restored it. The renovation was carried out using traditional methods and materials, such as lava stone, locally made sand-based plaster and antique roof tiles. The luxury villa is located at the foot of Mount Etna and is surrounded by vineyards and wineries. There are several options for wine tours and tastings in the region, but opening a bottle at home is just as easy—Rocca delle Tre Contrade has its own wine cellar.

Would you like more information about the villas? They can be rented through www.thethinkingtraveller.com.

Header image: Katalania in Zakynthos

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