Two Great Years by Giansandro Cantori Photos by Francesco MIon 224
Immersed in the heart of the most authentic part of Tuscany - the area around Siena in the natural, artistic and cultural park of the Val d Orcia and the area that produces Brunello di Montalcino, the purest terroir of Sangiovese, Castiglion del Bosco is one of the largest private estates in Tuscany, stretching over around 1800 hectares. Massimo and Cristina Ferragamo, members of the family of the same name, which had already recently made large investments in important historic vineyards and homes in this region, purchased this splendid estate, full of memories and history, in 2003. After a great deal of renovation and thanks to the work of expert artisans and famous artists, the estate is now a top-level international resort. It is part of the Rosewood Hotel and Resorts Group, which has only 3 properties in Europe, but they are amazing ones: the Crillon in Paris, which is currently undergoing renovation and the Rosewood Hotel in London. We arrived on a day of blazing sun, one on which even the Siena granges, used to these high temperatures, found it difficult to contain the blasts of heat over the velvet and clay hills. We arrived comfortably sitting in the controlled temperature of a high-class cigar bar, enveloped by leather seats and with a perfectly soundproofed interior at human height. We are on board the queen of the off-road vehicles, a Ranger Rover, the latest expression of the technology of the Coventry company, called Hybrid - advanced technology that combines a turbo-diesel engine with an electric one. We enter the property in true style. As soon as we get out we realise that there s a massive difference in temperature, but hospitality is the basis of Castiglion del Bosco and in the delightful reception we are immediately offered an old but effective remedy against the scorching heat: a refreshing and restorative iced water and lemon. You notice big things in little details, and this structure is full of them. The property has 23 exclusive suites and 9 private villas; a cooking school, La Canonica, where guests can cook their recipes using products from the garden, with 180 types of vegetables and aromatic In these pages: glimpses of Castiglione del Bosco estate. Above: the new Range Rover Diesel Hybrid Parallelo, with diesel and electric engine that work simultaneously. 225
In this page: Some details of the village, suspended between luxury and charm. On the opposite page: the evocative Hall of Millecento Wine Club, one of the most exclusive wine clubs in the world herbs; la Bottega where they can purchase local delicacies and all the Castiglion del Bosco labels, as well as selected Tuscan and international wines; a store offering home furnishing items, personal accessories and clothing chosen with perfect taste by owner Cristina Ferragamo; a Bar with a view of the clay hills of Siena; a cigar room and a heated infinity pool with views over the hills of Montalcino. The golf course stands out: this beautiful course is immersed in the clay hills and the jigsaw puzzle of greenery of the Val d Orcia and we at Bespoke consider it the utmost in exclusivity, because it is one of the few examples of a private club, where only those who are invited can come and play. 226
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There are two restaurants run by Executive Chef Enrico Figliuolo, the excellent Osteria La Canonica, offering traditional Italian and Tuscan dishes in a casual, relaxed atmosphere and Ristorante Campo del Drago, dedicated to a new culinary experience, one that is innovative, authentic and wholesome. In the time we had we tried to experience all this quality first hand, from the main house to the suites and the communal areas. We can assert that they contain work of the highest standard and care has been taken over even the smallest details. We went down amongst the vineyards to test the other jewel in our hands, the Range Rover Hybrid, the pinnacle of today s Rover production. Innovative engineering ensures the seamless transmission of energy between the battery and engine. The village has 23 suites and 9 villas with private pool overlooking the hills of Montalcino, restored in total respect of the original architecture. Among the services offered, two restaurants led by Executive Chef Enrico Figliuolo. 229
In these pages: the spaces of the village are decorated with a clever combination of antiques and items of the finest local crafts. The estate was visited on board the Range Rover Diesel Hybrid: unique off road performance and premium technologies to tackle any terrain. This energy is created by the Regenerative Braking process, which captures and stores kinetic energy. The battery, normally lost through braking. This is then used to power the electric motor and ensures that torque is instantly available on demand. We tested this technological marvel amongst the vines, where grapes are harvested to produce the CDO reds and Brunellos of the Castiglione del Bosco wineries, together with a wide range of whites and top quality grappas. We tiptoed into the most exclusive parts of the estate - the wine cellars - where clients and friends store their best vintages, jealously guarded in silence and at the correct temperature. Two excellent years, those of the wines in the private cellars and that of the Ranger Rover Hybrid 2015 that accompanied us, the silent queen of this midsummer dream. www.castigliondelbosco.com www.ferragamo.com www.landrover.it www.rosewoodhotels.com 230
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