Chianti Farmhouse on a Wine Estate

Overall:
Very good. Owners were very accessible and accommodating. The vendemmia (grape harvest) was on at the time in their fields and they invited us to see the harvest and the processing of the grapes at their winery. The pool was a very nice one and the villa was a peaceful place to return to after a day of sightseeing.
Enjoyed Most:
The privacy and being surrounded by vinryards and olive trees was amazing. The villa was very spacious and comfortable. We really enjoyed the antique furnishings and beautiful murals. The location was perfect for day trips to many locations one would want to visit.
Enjoyed Least:
The 5 km road to the nearest town is a narrow unpaved dirt road and not walkable and the road leading to the property is full of ruts and loose gravel. Hard on the car. The seclusion of the property which is one of its attractions also makes it very difficult to find even with a GPS. Although we were supposed to meet the owner at an agency in the nearby town to be accompanied to the villa, the owner asked us to go directly to the property and we got lost. I recommend having owner meet clients somewhere in the town to avoid a lot of frustration.
Surrounding Area:
Great location. Ideal for trips to small nearby towns or big attractions. Great scenery everywhere. Just beautiful.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Barberino Val d'Elsa was a really beautiful little town with restaurants and stores. Not walkable because if the condition of the road.
Tips or Restaurants:
The owner is very good at recommending local restaurants and places to shop. Lots of really good restaurants and the Coop grocery store in Tavarnelle is very good.
Directions:
As stated earlier, the directions are not the problem. The nature of the narrow dirt roads makes it difficult to find even with a GPS.
Check In Out:
Check in and out were excellent. The owner is very pleasant and helpful.

Fran, September

Overall:
Excellent.
Enjoyed Most:
Location and view.
Enjoyed Least:
Tough drive on road to get there.
Surrounding Area:
Great scenery.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Barberino. Not walkable.

Bob, September

Overall:
It was simply perfect. The owners were very accommodating. Sonia even brought us eggs from her Mother-in-law's hens. Out every window was a glorious vista. Bob and I are artists and enjoyed plein air painting at the villa and surrounding villages. Driving our stick shift Fiat was a daily adventure on the hilly winding roads. We were fortunate to be there when the vineyard started harvesting the grapes. Sonia invited us to the winery to see the process. We took side trips to Venice, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Siena, Greve and lots of small villages. Barberino was having a festival when we arrived and Greve the following week. The people were warm and welcoming. The food, wine and beauty of the country-absolutely glorious. The pool was an added benefit. We felt lucky to have chosen Casa del Grano from all the available villas you supplied. Thanks, RentVillas, for your expertise and help in making this vacation a reality.
Enjoyed Most:
The views from the windows. The grapes were ready for harvesting. There were castles and other buildings , groves of olive trees and we were on top of the hill and could see the town of Barberino from our site. The villa had a huge upstairs with tables and chairs, family room and sitting room with lots of windows (along with 2 bedrooms and a bath) that provided us great space to paint on the few rainy days we had.
Enjoyed Least:
The thing we liked most and least about the property was the last 3 miles of the road to the property. It was one lane, gravel and rock and rutted. Tough on car and car was always filthy. The good thing about the road was there was very little traffic except the family occasionally which provided great peace and quiet.
Surrounding Area:
We were centrally located between Siena and Florence which made accessibility to many villages easy. Tuscany is a feast for the eyes. We toured Casa Sola, another beautiful winery, took a cooking class in Impruneta, everything seemed within easy reach.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Barberino Val d'Elsa. As the crow flies it would have been walkable, but the rocky road from the villa to the paved road and the winding "z" and "s" curves on the paved road would have been a major challenge.
Tips or Restaurants:
Pack light. The villa has a washer and a rack to dry clothes. No dryer. There was no drain stopper for sink. No A/C but had fan and open windows. There are several restaurants--two with awesome views and friendly wait staff. The grocery is limited but with nice deli for prosciutto, etc. Villages to the north and south have "super stores" and are 5-7 miles from Barberino. We asked everywhere we went where the locals ate and loved their choices.
Directions:
We were given wrong directions from the Car Rental Agency in Florence to Barberino and got very turned around. We had GPS on our iPhones and a Garmin. We couldn't get a consistent signal on phone. Eventually Garmin worked. It took 3 times as long as it should have. We telephoned Sonia and she got us to Barberino and met us to follow her to the villa. The next day she brought us local maps. Yay! We had WiFi at the villa and were able to get directions.
Check In Out:
Check in and out were very easy. Sonia spoke enough English we could communicate. She provided maps and information on the area. The wines they produce are very good-as was the olive oil.

Barbara, September