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A Country
Holiday
Franciacorta,
Italy
by Valerie Summers
Vineyards,
castles, medieval towns with outdoor cafes overlooking a peaceful lake and one
of the most romantic hideaways in Italy, awaits visitors to the region of
Franciacorta. Just an hour outside of
Milan, nestled between the Alps and Lago de’Iseo, L’Albereta hotel provides a countrified escape into the elegance
of days past. In this region where
tantalizing wines are produced, where golf is practiced in an unhurried
setting, where the landscape is magical and the climate mild, the hotel provides a starting point for a
country holiday.
The
gardens and vineyards which surround the property create a peaceful scene for a
stroll or sipping a glass of the regional wine next to the bubbling fountain
which fronts the hotel. Nothing could
be finer than breakfasting in the garden edged with violet and yellow pansies
and sheltered by red Japanese maple trees with nary a sound save the splashing
of the fountain and the chirping of the birds. Guests
need only to venture a few steps past the lobby for an exceptional dining
experience at the Michelin starred Ristorante Gualtiero Marchesi, one of the
country’s finest restaurants. In this
formal bastion of Epicurean cuisine, traditional Italian dishes are presented
with aplomb. Exceptional service is
delivered by a professional waitstaff. The gracious surroundings features a wall of windows overlooking the
lush gardens. But the star of this show
is the heavenly, creative cuisine where two of the favorite dishes are black
squid risotto and lobster in red wine. The exquisite formal service paired with fine wines and beautifully
served and imaginative cuisine could easily be used as a promotional picture,
but it’s just the way they do things at Ristorante Gualtiero Marchesi. In
less formal surroundings, La Mongolfiera dei Sodi, (hot air balloon) a
charming, rustic, converted 16th century stable just minutes from
the hotel, serves up hearty county style cuisine. Their signature dish is an unbelievable three to four pound
charcoal grilled T-bone steak which
easily serves three people. The wine selection includes 150 labels from the
areas of Brecia, Tuscany, Lombardy/Franciacorta and Piedmont. The atmosphere is
upbeat and relaxed and there are usually several tables of large parties in the
restaurant’s four spacious rooms. It’s
a family operation with Mom in the kitchen and son hosting. After
all the eating many guests are eager to participate in some activities. The
hotel features an enclosed swimming pool and Jacuzzi, edged with marble
columns, facing a glass wall overlooking the vineyards which surround the
property. Guests enjoy the use of
the tennis court, billiard room, games room and reading room.
Wine
buffs will enjoy “A Walk In the Clouds” at the Bellavista Winery where the recent movie, starring Keanu Reeves, served
as one of the filming locales. It does
remind one of a movie set. Since
ancient times, the wines produced in the hills surrounding the lake have always
been well known. Evidence for this is
found is some quotations by Latin classics , the most famous is the fundamental
text written by a Bresccian doctor
Named Geronimo Conforto who wrote in 1570 of a wine “with sparks” being
produced in Franciacorta. At
the end of the 1950’s, a new era of wine and wine production in Franciacorta
was born out of a centuries old wine making tradition, particularly apt for the
production of dry sparkling wine. During the past 50 years, acres of land have become filled with orderly
rows of vines, replacing fields of grain and orchards. A visit to Bellavista guarantees a
delightful and enlightening experience. Franciacorta,
not only famous for its wine, also became renowned as the favorite country
retreat of nobility in centuries past. The mansions and country residences built in the hills by the noble
families all bear witness to their love for this area. The mansions, dating from different periods
mark the passage of time and the cultural changes that have taken place from
the Renaissance period to the neoclassic. Taste and styles change but there remains a perfect balance between
architecture and nature. Vineyards,
orchards and woods envelope the surroundings providing a peaceful rural atmosphere.
Modern city life rarely intrudes on the
tranquil environment of Franciacorta where commercialism and tourism have not
overtaken it. It remains a place of
unspoiled beauty untouched by time. For
information:
L’Albereta
Hotel Ristorante
Gualtiero Marchesi Bellavista
Vineyards La
Mongolfiera dei Sodi Lake
photo: Dan O’Connell -Updated 5-11-00-
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L’Albereta
still offers the same warmth and
elegance as the 19th century villa which it once was. Guests experience a trip into the past,
surrounded by original frescos and exquisite objects d’ art. The lobby’s conversation areas emulate a
gentrified, comfortable living room decorated in warm colors of ochre and burnt
orange, enhanced with cozy fireplaces and glistening Murano chandeliers. The 44 guest rooms and suites, all
furnished with antique furniture include spacious modern bathrooms with
oversized Jacuzzi tubs, double sinks and marble floors and counters. Several rooms feature canopied beds covered
in rich satiny fabrics of warm corals and icy greens, and blond wood floors
accented with colorful Persian rugs creating the ultimate romantic setting. The
best of the old is preserved in the 125 year old frescoed ceilings and the best
of the new is obvious in the bathroom facilities.
For
those with a penchant for more activity, hotel guests have access to nearby golfing at a choice of four different
courses, wine tastings, horseback riding and mountain bike riding in the
vineyards, trips by motor boat and ferry on Lake Iseo, sailing, and wind
surfing. Castles, abbeys,
monasteries, and ruins dot the
perimeter of the lake. At the center of
the lake, stands Monteisola, the largest lake island in Europe.