Superb 10 Ha Estate in Beautiful Hillside Location, 2.3 Ha Demeter-Certified Organic DOC Barbera d'Asti Vineyard, Stunning Mostly-Renovated Antique Stone House, Well-Suited for Exclusive Agriturismo or B&B

Near Canelli

Situation : This exquisite estate is set in very sunny, secluded and peaceful location on a hill overlooking the famous wine town of Canelli just 2 km (1.5 miles) away. The property is in the heartland of the the premier wine region, the so-called triangolo d'oro (golden triangle) of Nizza Monferrato - Agliano Terme - Santo Stefano Belbo. Canelli is one of the main commerical centres of the Piedmont wine trade, and many famous wineries - including Gancia, Riccadonna and Bosca - have their headquarters here. Canelli's historic cellars, declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, are also a popular tourist destination. The town offers very good shopping facilities, banks, restaurants, bars and enotecas, and schools, and can be reached by car in 5 minutes. The motorway is 30 minutes away. The international airports of Milan, Turin and Genoa are within an hour's drive.

The views from the house and grounds are magnificent - on a clear day the French and Swiss Alps can be seen. - including the famous peaks of Mont Blanc, Monviso and Monte Rosa, which all tower impressively over the rolling Piedmontese countyside. Road access is excellent, and the property can easily be turned into a generous family residence and/or an exclusive B&B/Agriturismo.

The Vineyard covers 2.37 Ha (6 acres) of which 2 Ha (5 acres) were planted 5 years ago with mainly DOC Barbera d'Asti vines, which now have reached production age. The remaining 3,700 sq m are an older, established Barbera d'Asti DOC vineyard. The vineyard is maintained strictly to organic standards, and is certified organic by Demeter, one of the world's leading organic associations.

There is further land that is well-suited for planting additional vineyard, should the new owner wish to expand the wine production. Currently the grapes are sold to a local organic wine producer. Subject to negotiation, agreement can be reached with a local producer to maintain the vineyard, should the new owner wish to sub-contract this.

The property also includes meadows, some woodland, a fruit orchard and an organic hazelnut plantation. The grounds extend to 10 Ha (25 acres) in total.

The House: is set in the heart of the estate and is approached by its own drive. The 300 year L-shaped farmhouse is of solid stone construction, and it is built in the style of a traditional Langhe cascina, in which living and working areas are under one roof. The house has a total floor area of about 600 sq m (6,000 sq ft), of which about one third was renovated to a high standard in 2000. The rustic character of the house has been well-maintained, the beautiful vaulted brick ceilings have been preserved, and the exposed antique wooden beams have been carefully restored. All rooms of the house have generous proportions and lots of light. The beautiful natural stone walls are partly exposed internally, and there are wooden floors throughout the occupied part of the house. At the back of the house is large cantina/portico (90 sq m or 900 sq ft) that houses the vineyard machinery and is also used for storage. All the agricultural machinery is included in the sale.

Part of the house, including the former stable and hayloft, is still being renovated by the current owner, but most of the structural work has already been done. A unique feature of the house is the new tower, which is currently being faced with natural stone to match the existing antique stone walls of the house. This part of the house provides plenty of space for further accommodation - it could be used to establish holiday apartments, or rooms for a B&B. We are happy to help the buyer find a very competitively-priced geometra (builder) to oversee further development. We provide this service to our buyers free of charge.

Accommodation

Ground Floor: the main door leads from the courtyard to a small entrance hall. On the right is a spacious living room with an open fireplace, wooden beams and four windows providing plenty of light. To the left of the hall is a spacious live-in kitchen, with an open fireplace and a separate larder/storage area. A door leads from the kitchen into another large reception room, plus a bathroom.

The First Floor has 2 spacious double bedrooms with open fireplaces, and a balcony that overlooks the courtyard, a large modern bathroom with a sunken bath tub, shower, two washbasins, WC and bidet. A door leads from the first floor landing onto the roof of the cantina - this area could be used to create further accommodation, or it can be turned into a huge terrace offering stunning views over Canelli, the open countryside and the Alps beyond.

The Courtyard is very spacious and is approached by its own drive and a gate: it features some mature trees which provide a shady al fresco dining area for the warm months of the year. To the side of the house the current owners have cleared a large flat area to accommodate a swimming pool, pool house and formal garden. There is enough space to create tennis courts and/or a golf driving range.

Opposite the main house, across the courtyard, is an outbuilding that contains the garage, a storage area, and a workshop.

Services: Mains water in addition to well-drawn water, mains electricity, modern wood-fired central heating, septic tank.

Sporting facilities: There are a number of golf courses in Southern Piedmont. The nearest, Le Colline near Acqui Terme, can be reached by car in 20 minutes. Tennis courts can be found in the nearby towns, and horse-riding is also very popular, with stables nearby. The excellent network of small, tarmac-surfaced country roads makes the area very popular with cyclists. The beaches of the Italian Riviera are a one hour drive away, and popular Italian ski resorts can be reached by motorway within a one to one-and-a-half hour drive.

Our opinion: An exciting property with an excellent vineyard, in a secluded, but not remote, location and with superb development potential. A new owner could move in immediately and develop the remaining building at any pace. It would make a stunning private residence, but with its organic vineyard it would also make an exclusive agriturismo or B&B.

More Pictures are available of this property.

For more information contact us quoting reference P263.