Castello di Tornano Wine Relais

My partner and I stayed 4 nights at Castello di Tornano and it was a truly memorable experience! The location is fantastic, with beautiful views of the Tuscan hills and vinyards, and mile after mile of protected wild forest. Despite Florence and Siena being very easily reachable it felt so peaceful, and a real respite from hustle and bustle with the only noise usually being the birds. The castle also has so much history to appreciate, the swimming pool used to be the castle moat! You can go up to the top of the tower for a gorgeous 360 view of the landscape, and with so little light pollution we'd really recommend it for a bit of romantic stargazing. Our room was very comfortable, with a wide (and long!) bed and a great shower (good temperature and water pressure). The castle is elegantly decorated with both modern and ancient pieces, such as several suits of armour but also abstract paintings by local artists. There's obviously been a lot of effort put in by the management to retain the original castle feeling while still providing modern luxuries, which we felt they've done very well. The staff was so helpful and nice, without exception they made us feel very welcome! We would highly recommend the cooking class, where we prepared a full Tuscan menu with local ingredients, including herbs from the castle's own garden. Another day we took the e-bikes and explored the local area, very recommended! These are perfect for the Tuscan hills, and you do not need to be in great shape to ride around :) We ate two nights at the restaurant and everything on the menu was delicious. It is hard to find something specifically to recommend as it was all so good, but we would have to suggest the game meat, the cold cuts, any pasta, the sirloin, and the unexpectedly tasty salt and olive oil ice cream. Matteo is an artist at the grill, and we will remember the Flintstone-sized bistecca for years to come! Despite being gluten free, we never felt limited or like we were settling for second best. The chef was great at adapting for gluten free food, and the allergens were clearly indicated. The wines were also superb! One thing to note: the last mile to the castle is a rather steep, unpaved track, which at first glance looked a bit more adventurous than we were expecting. However, we were able to traverse it easily with a tiny 0.7L Lancia Ypsilon, so if we could do it, anyone can!

I had the pleasure of staying here recently for just under a week and would recommend this place to anyone hoping to enjoy the best of the Chianti region in style and peace. I don't usually write reviews that often but felt the need for this trip because the experience was just that good. What a stunning historical place to stay. The castle grounds and views of the rolling hills of Chianti are breathtaking from every possible angle, I can't stress that enough. The castle itself is situated close to Siena and Florence, with nearby towns of Ghaoile and Lecchi. The castle itself is beautifully traditional with an elegant modern finish and really draws the eye from the surrounding area. There's a bunch of different areas to hang out outside and relax in privacy. The entire place was well taken care of and clean. Room I stayed in the building just off the side from the castle, and the room was more of the same, lots of space, traditional but with modern touches. Couldn't have possibly asked for more from a hotel room frankly. Views from the windows were amazing and the shower pressure was top tier. Food Probably the best part about the stay was the food. I think almost everything on the menu is sourced from the immediate area. Super fresh ingredients expertly prepared and served. Frankly some of the best food I've ever tasted and what I measure any form of Italian food up to from now on. We even got the chance to prepare ravioli and meatballs with Andrea the chef, which was a real highlight experience. Tornano was well stocked with a great list of local wines, and in particular their own Chianti Classico made on the grounds. Staff I think this is where Tornano really shines. My experience with the staff was flawless. Incredibly professional, welcoming and thoughtful. Got to know a few of the staff members, particularly Alex who really understood the region and where all the food and wine came from, every interaction was packed with all sorts of fresh insights. Haven't experienced this level of care in a long time. Activities Some unreal places nearby for wine tastings and dining out. The Malborghetto in Lecchi was a highlight. We had some electric bikes brought to the castle so we could enjoy a day cycling around Chianti. Siena was only about a half hour drive away I think and a day out in Florence was easily managed. Tornano felt private but never too remote. Improvements Some pretty minor gripes was the pathway leading from the pool to the castle in the evening had some lights that would make it hard to see where you're going in the dark, which might lead to a small accident. And the road leading up the castle is a bit narrow which led to a couple of awkward situations when encounting oncoming traffic. But again this is really looking for someone to critique.

A fabulous location with stunning views. The rooms are spacious and well appointed, and there is a lovely feeling of history all around the hotel. The staff are really friendly and speak excellent English. The food is excellent, and the Bistecca alla Fiorentine steak cooked over the open wood fire was amazing, as was the wild boar ragout. There was also lots of choice, so we had something different each night. There are lots of picturesque villages to explore, and nearby Siena is also great for sightseeing and shopping. We’re looking forward to going back and would definitely recommend!

Castello di Tornano is an ancient castle with real character and charm. It has a beautiful hilltop location with wonderful views out over the Tuscan countryside. We stayed there for four days, hiking and e-biking and exploring the old villages of Chianti. The team (and the new owners) are clearly working extremely hard to make you welcome. There’s a great breakfast with excellent home-baked pastries. The restaurant serves tasty local produce and local wine. Plenty of places to sit and admire the countryside. They aren’t aiming at the super-luxe crowd – it’s a lovely, friendly place to stay. Can recommend!

You have to come here! The setting is beautiful amongst vineyards and olive groves, the rooms and views are lovely, the service is excellent and the food is divine (all local). I especially appreciated the kettle in my room for my morning cup of tea! I spent one morning in a cookery class and can now rustle up fresh tortellini and we enjoyed the wine-tasting experience, too. The staff go out of their way to provide anything you may need.

We have had the most wonderful time staying at this fabulous castle. Our room was so comfortable and beautifully decorated. The staff were so friendly, kind and helpful. The food and wine were exquisite. We especially enjoyed the stunning scenery that surrounds this delightful destination. We shall most certainly return.

Stunning castle hotel and restaurant in the Tuscany hills set in approx 300 Acres of its own vineyards, olive groves, and ancient oak woodland, full of boar, deer, and so many animals, we lost count. We saw butterflies of every kind - including an “English Blue” which is so rare as to be near extinct in the uk. The Restaurant is hard to describe - as it is so good. Exquisite fine dining, coupled with relaxed and intimate atmosphere - served by friendly and knowledgeable team which really sits well with the castle and countryside, with superb attention to detail, matched with stunning quality and taste. We did a cookery course there with the 3 celebrated chefs who run the kitchen, and this was unforgettable - fun and friendly as well as informative and interesting - including making tagliatelle pasta from scratch. Everything was carefully and thoughtfully laid out, and so much to learn. We had our own creations for dinner that night, (tidied up and beautified by the chefs). The restaurant has fantastic selections of wines - but of particular note is the fact that you can have wine grown on that very estate, with Tornano Castle on the label - and the unbelievable olive oil on salads and with bread - the waiter (Alex), picked the olives for that oil himself the season before, along with one of his colleagues, and he explained how you can harvest the olives early or later in the season to get subtle differences in the flavour of the oil. Decorations in the Castle are also a delight - wall to wall antiques from the different ages across the over a thousand year history of the castle, with a dungeon / wine-tasting area, chapel, and rooftop terrace with 360 degree views of the scented hills all around. Sofas from the baroque period, Medici era tables and chairs, and every age both before and after - with curios and decorations in every nook. After dinner there is a lovely lounge with an open oak-fire scenting the room and setting the atmosphere. Bookshelves stocked with books in every language, and the staff seem to speak all the languages there are, and are so friendly! The grounds were probably my favourite part. The unhurried and timeless character of the castle sits perfectly within the tracks, paths, and wilderness in the castle grounds, and its own immaculate gardens - and you get a real feel for how the olives grow, and how the vines develop, just by seeing how they are laid out. On the ground are fragments of marble, and every type of stone. We stayed for 2 days - and wished we could stay for 2 months it is such a great place. If you’ve read this far in the review - read no further and go ahead and book a stay there!! We stayed in the Lancelot and Guinevere rooms (2 interlinked double-rooms), perfect for a family with teenage children, in the main hotel part of the castle - or you can stay in the tower, or a couple of cottages in the grounds which are amazing, one of them even has a hot tub outside, and a log burner in the lounge,

We had a wonderful stay at Castello di Tornano. The place itself was like something out of a fairytale. The staff was incredibly nice and welcoming, we enjoyed a wine tasting and an excellent dinner. The breakfast was wonderful too. The staff even organised a little birthday surprise for me, which was the sweetest! We only wished to have stayed for longer. I recommend staying at least two nights!

I loved staying int the tower. It was amazing being in a castle. Food was wonderful and pool was nice too. Most of all I enjoyed evening by fire pit meeting other foreigners.