P306
A short walk from a hilltop village with an impressive medieval castle, this superb, secluded property has a spectacular hillside position with beautiful views over the rolling Langhe and Monferrato hills. The south-facing grounds extend to about 3 Ha (7.5 acres) in total and include a mature landscaped garden, a spacious courtyard, a swimming pool, a well-maintained vineyard and some woodland.
The nearby village has basic day-to-day shopping facilities, a bar, a bank, a post office, and several excellent restaurants, while the towns of Alba and Asti, with their excellent shopping facilities, hotels, bars, restaurants and markets, can be reached by car in 20 minutes. In the direction of Asti the motorway / freeway / autostrada can be reached by car in 10 minutes. The international airports of Milan, Turin and Genoa can all be reached by road within 90 minutes, and the beaches of the Italian Riviera are a 60 minute drive away.
House
Approached via a quiet country lane, a private driveway leads to the spacious gated courtyard and to the L-shaped stone house. About 300 years old, the house has been transformed by the current owner into an elegant country residence: it includes 4-5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a beautiful country kitchen, a living room, a games room, and a cantina/wine cellar.
The 1990's renovation included a new roof, the installation of central heating, the renovation of the original terracotta floor tiles, repair of the vaulted brick ceilings, new internal and external doors, and a swimming pool. Some of the internal Langhe stone walls are exposed, and several rooms have impressive antique wooden beams - these features contribute to the unique character of the property. In addition, the house has been comprehensively refurbished over the last years, with the addition of some high-quality antique furnishings: most of these are included in the sale.
Accommodation
Ground Floor
The main door opens from the courtyard into a small entrance hall with access to a very spacious live-in country kitchen with fitted appliances including cooker, oven, dishwasher and fridge. The kitchen features an open fireplace and a vaulted brick ceiling - although this is currently plastered, the plaster could easily be removed by the new owner. French doors lead from the kitchen to the garden, and a second door leads to a very spacious portico at the side of the house - a favourite shaded al fresco dining area, with lovely views.
Adjacent to the kitchen is a study (or 5th bedroom), a guest bathroom and a small laundry room.
Another door leads from the entrance hall to a cosy living room with an original Victorian fireplace and a beautiful brick-vaulted ceiling. A further, very spacious reception room on the ground floor has French doors that lead to the garden: this room was most recently used as a games room, but it could easily be used for a different purpose.
First Floor
Stairs lead from the ground floor entrance hall to a first floor landing and corridor. Off this corridor are 4 spacious double bedrooms, each decorated in a different colour scheme, and all enjoying a stunning view over the garden, the vineyard and the open countryside to the south. In addition to the central heating, some of the bedrooms have a cosy wood-burning stove. The first floor also includes two spacious bathrooms, one with a stylish free-standing bath tub.
Services: Mains and well-drawn water, gas-fired central heating, mains electricity, alarm system
Garden & Grounds
The landscaped garden and courtyard on the south side of the house are enclosed by a fence, beyond which are located the remaining grounds. The garden features a lawn area, a swimming pool, and ornamental flower beds that are well-stocked with roses, shrubs and small trees.
The Vineyard
The well-maintained vineyard occupies 2.7 Ha of the grounds: about 1.8 Ha are planted with DOCG Moscato vines, and the remainder is planted with Barbera and Dolcetto d'Asti vines. It is currently tended by a neighbouring farmer, an arrangement that can either be continued or cancelled by the new owner, as required.