Farmhouse near Asti Panoramic Views

Lovingly restored farmhouse with views of rolling vineyards & the Alps. 20 mins from Asti. Inside vaulted ceilings give rustic modern & cosy feel. Large kitchen dinning room & comfy living room both have wood burning fires. Master Bed a showstopper. Architect designed Eco-conscious renovation that has a modern rustic feel. Super cozy with comfy seating, wood burning fires, and full central heating. The house is filled with original artwork and crafts, modern furniture with state of the art media. The landscaped terraced garden with fruit trees, herb garden and shady gazebo is a perfect place to relax and doze after a sumptuous meal prepared from local produce from the many local markets. There is also a 14" trampoline for the young and young at heart. Guests have the run of the whole site, and the whole house. There is an additional adjacent house also available to rent at an extra cost if you require an additional double bedroom and bathroom for your party. The property is very private in a quiet hamlet. A great place to relax from the stresses and strains of modern life. During our 2 year sojourn at Cascina del Forno while we were renovating it we got to know the local countryside, festivals, restaurants and amenities like the back of our hand, and we are delighted to share that inside knowledge with you and make suggestions for things to do, and hidden gems to discover. In addition, our local English speaking property manager, Trevor, who will welcome you to the house when you arrive, and explain how everything works. He is also on call and able to help out if there are any problems, and has lots of up to the minute recommendations for local restaurants etc. We also make sure there is a guest file full of insider information at the house. Cascina del Forno is located in the centre of white truffle hunting district. Our neighbour runs a local restaurant specialising in truffles, and is able to take guests truffle hunting on his land during the season, with prior arrangement. He is usually keen to sell visitors any that are found. Mombercelli has its annual Truffle Festival during the 3rd weekend of October. While the more well known International Truffle Festival in Alba is just 25 mms drive away. You have heard of the Palio in Sienna - well, Asti which is just 20mins drive from the house, holds an even older Palio horse race on the 3rd Sunday of September. It is replete with a medieval parade, acrobatic flag throwing competition, and of course the bare-back horse race around the main square of Asti. Unlike its Sienniese counterpart, there are hardly any tourists at this event. It is an amazing feast of local tradition, excitement and colour. In the week running up to the Palio, Asti also hosts Italy's most important wine fair and competition, The Douja D'Or. This segues immediately into an amazing food festival of the Sagra, in which local communities, dressed in historic costumes, host stalls selling food they have prepared themselves. It is quite a sight to see the large market square filled with steaming cauldrons of stews, meat roasting on spits etc, surrounded by thousands of people eating a tressle tables, served by wenches in long skirts, and men in breaches. Barbera wine is produced locally and there are lots of wineries to visit and experience tastings. Bra, the home of the Slow Food Movement is just 35 mins drive away, and Barolo and Barbaresco are near by also. It is a great place to base yourself if you are keen to go wine tasting. The house is situated in a small hamlet on the top of a hillside, so guests need a car when staying. Shops and local amenities are a short 5 mins drive away. Trains into Asti and then on into Turin can be taken from the next door village of Montegrosso. Guests have a choice of airports to use if they book to stay at the Cascina del Forno. More or less equidistant from Turin, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate and Genova airports, between 1hr 30-40 mins drive away. The house is just 2.5 hrs drive from Chamonix - the French Skiiing resort, 1hr15mins from the Italian Riviera and 1hr 20 mins from central Turin, the seat of the Savoy Kingdom. It is a great place to cycle and walk, enjoying the panoramic views of rolling vineyards, and distant Alps. The local markets are wonderful, and full of local produce, which is delightful to prepare into delicious al fresco lunches and enjoy under the shady gazebo. There are a wealth of fantastic local restaurants, including Michelin Starred ones. We tend to eat out a lot when we are at the Cascina del Forno - this area is the home of the Slow Food Movement after all! It is a great place to base yourself if you are interested in exploring the wine heritage of the area.