An actual bloody massive castle, at the top of a hill, in the middle of a vineyard, that you can stay in! Well it’s not the imposing fortress itself that houses Castello Banfi’s guests (that’s used as a surprisingly engrossing bottle-and-glass museum). Guests sleep in the small buildings huddled beneath the castle’s walls, spacious bungalow buildings with tons of nice features and stunning views of the surrounding Tuscan countryside. But the true draw is of course the shadow of that mediaeval-style, carefully restored castle. It’s Game of Thrones meets Drops of God.
Yes, Banfi is very famous for wine. The vineyards that surround the castle, as well as looking predictably otherworldly, produce all sorts of wines that are sold globally (with the most well-known export being its Brunello di Montalcino). There’s tours of the vineyards and the cellars (a 20-minute drive away) on offer, as well as various tasting sessions, which are conducted in a beautiful hall, accompanied by local cheeses and charcuterie.
The rooms aren’t rooms at all, really. They’re spacious apartments with proper bathrooms, entrance areas, corridors and large bedrooms. The fact you walk out from your room, essentially straight into the cypress-tree covered countryside makes Banfi feel less like a hotel and more like an idyllic commune built into a castle. Meals are served at the Taverna restaurant, situated under the vaulted arches of the castle’s former barrel cellars on the property’s west side (handy for watching the sun set with dinner).
The idea of an ‘elevated’ Tuscan menu, might make you wince. Sometimes simple country food is best left simple. I was delighted to discover though, that the food at Banfi really is excellent. We ate our way through the enormous Florentine steak course (as well as a few starters) and can happily report the kitchen goes above and beyond the type of flashy but saddening cooking that usually goes on at luxury hotels.
Ultimately, the sun-baked paths and stone walls of Banfi make for an environment you’ll probably remember for the rest of your life. For fans of Tuscany, it’s strongly recommended. For fans of wine it’s imperative you go.
Nearby
Banfi is incredibly isolated (in a nice way)! But there are nearby towns, such as the fantastic and historic Montalcino, which make for a really substantial day trip. In fact the entire Val d’Orca, in which Montalcino sits, is worth exploring. The area, which was used in classic films like Gladiator and The English Patient, is a Unesco World Heritage Site.