Frattoria Del Colle

Exploring the Secret Gardens of Fattoria Del Colle

By Sharon Miller, Staff Writer

October 2007

A statue keeps vigil in the center of one of the secret gardens.

Located in the hills of the Val D Orcia, near the town of Montalcino, the Fattoria Del Colle wine estate provides its guest with more than a place to stay. The grounds are covered with apple, pear and olive trees with the fruit available for picking and despite what most would think, are the perfect place for small children to play. My son and I spent hours picking and eating fruit, playing in the small playhouse and swinging on the swing set that the estate provided. However, the traditional playground equipment did not enthrall him nearly as much as the secret gardens.

The first one we found was on a soggy trek to Trequanda, the nearest town. The rain sprinkled down just enough to be irritating. Not enough to warrant staying inside, but enough to make the quarter-mile, overgrown trail muddy and slippery.

Up ahead, the tinkling of bells danced across the wet air. Thoughts of Tinker Bell flitting through the trees crossed my mind and I smiled. The first smile of the morning. As we rounded a corner, the path opened up into a wider area, not quite a clearing because several large trees offered protection from the rain, but wide enough that you could easily walk amongst them. At f A canopy of trees create a tunnel that leads to the labyrinth and to the statue. irst glance, it looked like it was the dumping ground for the wine estate. However, upon closer inspection, it became obvious that this was where someone (I still don’t know who) turned trash into treasure.

Directly in front of us, three large cement sewer tunnels had been painted pink and positioned in a snake-like line. The perfect size for a 2 ½ year old to run through. Noticing this coincidence, my son bolted forward and quickly disappeared into the tunnels. To the left, another concrete leftover was decorated in a painstakingly detailed mosaic of broken glass. Next to that a large mirror leaned against a tree and two concrete stumps provided a great “jungle gym.” As I followed my son toward the concrete tunnels, three ropes brushed against my face. Not being able to deny my childlike curiosity, I reached up and pulled on one of the strings. A bell rang. I pulled the next one and was rewarded with a slightly higher pitch. The third pull produced the highest sound of all. My son jumped out of tunnels and dashed over to the stumps. I called him over and lifted him up so he could make his own music.

We discovered the second garden the next morning, as we made our way to the pool. Walking up through a tunnel created by trees, we found ourselves in a mini labyrinth. Small knee-high bushes were meticulously trimmed to form an easily navigable maze (at least for The author's son enjoys climbing through the pink tunnels. someone my height). At the center, a golden statue held vigil as she waited for someone to find their way. Again, my son bolted into the garden, following the circular pattern as fast as he could, trying to reach the statue in the center.

With over 23 hectares of vineyards and olive groves, visitors to Fattoria Del Colle could spend days wandering the grounds, no doubt discovering other beautiful gardens. Nevertheless, extensive grounds are not the only thing the estate has to offer. With prior arrangement, the ladies of Fattoria Del Colle will provide cooking and painting classes, wine tastings, and tours of the surrounding areas. Visitors can also schedule a wine and food pairing for up to 60 people in their restaurant. Mountain bikes are available for rent and depending on the time of year, you can also participate in the grape harvest. If you want to escape the grounds, the towns of Montalcino and Montelpuciano are about a 30 minute drive away. The natural hot springs of the area are also not far. For those with a bit more time to spare, Florence, Sienna, Rome, and Pisa are all easy daytrips from the estate.

Although rustic, the 19 apartments, located on the estate offer all of the comforts of home, with at least one bedroom, a sitting area, a small kitchen area with a stove and at least one bathroom. The smallest apartment sleeps two, while the largest can accommodate fourteen.

Whether you want to relax by the pool overlooking the surrounding vineyards, taste Brunello and Chianti wines straight from the barrel, or hike the trails that criss-cross the estate, Fattoria Del Colle has something for everyone. It can be the perfect romantic getaway or the gateway to the rest of Tuscany. It will be whatever you want to make it.

**All photos by Donald Miller

If You Go

Fattoria del Colle -

Agriturismo - Osteria
I - 53020 Trequanda (Siena)
tel. +39 0577 662108

fax +39 0577 662202
holiday@cinellicolombini.it
vino@cinellicolombini.it

www.cinellicolombini.it