Red brick castle in the Langhe, Piedmont

An ocean of vineyards cascades down a gentle slope, ringing the stone homes and red roofs of an ancient hillside village. Up on the crest, the mighty bulk of a red brick castle surveys the countryside. And beyond it, the jagged peaks of towering mountains stand white and powerful against the cerulean sky.
The Langhe region, in Piedmont, marries the vinous charm of its Barolos, Dolcettos and Barbarescos wines with a Tuscan-like landscape and the first taste of the Alps. So it is hardly surprising that the many second home buyers who flock here from neighbouring Milan and Turin, but also from Germany, Switzerland, Britain, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, all share the same dream—live the wine-making life in a traditional stone farmhouse surrounded by acres of vines on a hillside overlooking the mountains.
Finding the perfect property for this can prove difficult, but estate agent Gabetti Langhe/Piemonte Houses have one such on the market at the moment. “It is a splendid estate which unites a truly unique location with an irreproachably tasteful renovation inspired by a passion for a harmonious lifestyle in close touch with nature,” they say.
Accommodation is in a beautiful, wisteria-clad farmhouse situated on a very quiet hillside in the heart of the Langhe. Vernacular in style, it has been exquisitely renovated to make the most of the light flooding in from its south-facing exposure. Bright and airy rooms have vaulted ceilings of exposed brick or timber, stone walls, and arched doors and windows. The ground floor has a living room with fireplace, a live-in kitchen, a bedroom and a summer kitchen and dining room opening onto a terrace. Upstairs are two bedrooms and a large living room with beamed ceilings. Even the master bathroom is extraordinary—think exposed stone walls, a stone encased tub, timbered ceilings and an arched window. There is also a basement cellar with brick-vaulted ceilings and a traditional outbuilding that has been converted into a guest apartment.
Beautifully landscaped gardens border the house, providing the perfect place to relax alfresco. Beyond them lies the estate’s greatest attraction—a vineyard planted with Dolcetto grapes, which produces the fragrant eponymous wine. The rest of the land is taken up by an olive grove, a vegetable garden and meadow.
The asking price is €795,000 through Gabetti Langhe/Piemonte Houses. For more information, contact +39 0173 70325 or visit www.gabettilanghe.com.