Before we dive into the details, could you briefly introduce yourself (and if relevant also your family members | name, age, place of residence)?

Hello, I'm Nadia and, together with my husband Alessandro, I own Langhe Country House. We have two daughters: Giulia, who is 12, and Arianna, who is 10. We live here at Langhe Country House!

We would love to share a bit about you as a person with our customers. Would you like to tell us more about yourself? For example: your interests, free time activities, work, family, holidays?

I’m Nadia, an architect with a focus on green issues and local traditions. Above all, I’m passionate about food. I am a member of Slow Food and have taken various cooking and pastry courses. I am also passionate about wine as an AIS sommelier. In addition, I love diving and traveling. My dream is to discover beautiful places where I can feel at peace with myself. Alessandro has dedicated his career to customer service in an international company. He loves tourist destinations that are rooted in natural landscapes but also equipped with comfort and relaxation.

We both worked at IKEA Italy, Nadia as a Project Manager for new store openings and Alessandro in customer service before moving into Safety and Security. Alongside this adventure, another wonderful one began with our daughters Giulia, now 12, and Arianna, now 10, our greatest achievement.

When and in what way did this property come into your life and what motivated you to make it a part of your life?

When we met, we had the same dream. Our common idea of a holiday is linked to well-being, good food, and excellent wine. We admit that we began searching for houses in Tuscany, but the quality-to-price ratio was not the best. Since Nadia is originally from Piemonte, the search continued in the Langhe region. We visited around 100 houses in order to find the right one for us. We fell in love with this farmstead instinctively in 2010 and, since then, we have never stopped putting our hearts and souls into the renovation project, also with the help of Grandma Anita and Grandpa Attilio, who has not been on this earth since December 2021. This farmhouse had all the desired features: the right size to create both our home and the guesthouse, three hectares of land for farming, open space in nature, and beautiful views. We found a place where we could grow our family away from Milan and the frequent trips up and down Italy.

Can you tell us more about the process of renovating and furnishing your property?
We feel a very deep connection to our property because we personally contributed to its restoration. From the very beginning, Nadia carefully oversaw the entire renovation project, while Alessandro took care of the electrical system himself. We were both hands-on, even cleaning the old bricks one by one. Every choice was made with love, from selecting unique pieces in local antique markets to choosing design lamps and furniture that reflect our taste. This personal involvement has made the house truly special to us, as every corner holds a memory of the journey we have taken together.

On a personal level, what makes your property truly special for you? Any standout memories or moments that make it dear to your heart?
We spent countless weekends driving from Milan to the rolling hills of the Langhe, visiting more than a hundred farmhouses in search of the place that would capture our hearts. Then we found this one, the only home we ever made an offer on. At first it slipped away, and a little heartbroken, we left for a holiday. But fate had other plans. Just a few months later, the house came back on the market, and this time it truly became ours.

How would you describe the atmosphere and interior of your property?
Our philosophy is to make the people who stay with us feel at home, with maximum freedom and in a warm family atmosphere. Our goal is for guests to experience the traditions of the Langhe while sharing the same passion that led us to live in this wonderful region of Piemonte.

For example, we do not have a barman, but we offer an honesty bar. Guests can choose a bottle of wine from our cellar, sign for it, and prepare an aperitif by the pool to enjoy with friends or as a couple. They can decide whether or not to book a spa session, as it is not included in the room rate. They may choose to have a light lunch and relax by the pool all day, use the barbecue in the evening, or go out to discover the many excellent restaurants in the area. In winter, four of our rooms have a fireplace with wood provided. At check-in, we explain how to light it for those who are not used to it, but guests are free to light it again after returning from dinner. This way they remain completely independent and can enjoy a comfort zone without stress. Our philosophy is simple: feel free, and feel at home.

Which part of your property do you love the most, and why?
We love the outdoor spaces, the wood fireplaces in four rooms, and the private-use spa, which is both intimate and relaxing.

What makes the location where your accommodation is located unique and special?
We are always open, of course because we live here, but also because we believe this area is wonderful to visit in every season, each for its own reasons. In winter you can enjoy the calm atmosphere and visit wineries not as tourists in a crowd, but in order to experience the real life of the Langhe. When it snows, there is nothing better than sipping a good glass of Barbaresco in front of the fireplace or taking a hot bath in one of our rooms, followed by a relaxing moment in the spa.

Spring is an explosion of colour. The vineyards, carefully tended from morning to evening, create magical sunsets with their fresh green tones. This is also the ideal time to take day trips to nearby towns such as Turin, just 50 minutes away, or Cuneo with its arcades full of shops, or Asti with its fascinating underground city. Summer, together with autumn, is our high season. Summer here is pleasant because the climate is never too hot, making it perfect to relax by the pool or rent a Vespa to explore the area. It is also the season to enjoy our local dishes such as carne cruda, vitello tonnato, peperoni con bagna cauda or bagnet, tajarin or plin al ragù, the famous Fassona piemontese beef, and the traditional bunet. Autumn is considered the peak season, above all because of the king of the Langhe: the white truffle celebrated at the Alba Fair. But it is also special for the September harvests of wine grapes and hazelnuts, the chestnut season with the famous Marroni di Cuneo, and finally the magical colors of the vineyards.

Are there any sustainable or eco-friendly applications associated with your property that you are proud of?
In every detail, we focus on sustainability. We begin with local zero-kilometer products for our breakfast, avoid plastic by offering water in glass bottles, and provide refillable containers for shower gel and hand soap. We use rainwater for the toilets, practice waste separation, and rely on photovoltaic and solar systems. We also offer a charging station for electric cars, free for our guests.

What motivated or inspired you to rent your property to guests?
The idea was born even before the purchase. It was the development of a vision that later came to life exactly as we had imagined it.

Can you paint a vivid picture of the overall experience someone can expect when staying at your property?
The ideal day for one of our guests begins with a good night’s sleep on a comfortable mattress with excellent pillows. If they enjoy sports, they can start the morning with a run through the surrounding hazelnut groves or a pleasant walk to Neive, just 2 km away. For those who want more, the longer trekking route suggests the Neive–Barbaresco–Neive ring. From 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. we serve our buffet breakfast, which is our pride and joy. The breakfast room and adjacent kitchen are on the ground floor, located in what were once the barns for cows and calves. Breakfast is full of local zero-kilometer and Slow Food products, with both sweet and savory options: hazelnut cakes and tarts, traditional biscuits (baci, brutti e buoni), croissants, jams, seasonal fresh fruit, cheeses from Alta Langa such as Raschera d’alpeggio, Castelmagno, and Robiola di Roccaverano, as well as local cured meats. Cooking classes for traditional Piedmont recipes can also be arranged in the adjacent kitchen, by reservation, for a maximum of three or four people.

After breakfast, guests can rent e-bikes, which are delivered directly to the property, and discover the landscape in a sustainable way. Alternatively, they can take a car to La Morra for a truffle tour, try a quad tour in the vineyards, or enjoy a wine tasting in one of the 240 nearby cellars. In the afternoon, it is always pleasant to rest by the pool, read a book, and enjoy a Spritz or a glass of Alta Langa, Arneis, or Nebbiolo wine. In winter, many prefer to book the private spa, where they can relax alone or with their family for an hour and a half. The spa includes a hammam, a sauna scented with lavender or rosemary depending on the season, an emotional shower, and a relaxation area. On our website there is a section called “What to do,” filled with many suggestions that we have personally tested.

Finally, a relaxing massage or a yoga lesson by the pool is always a wonderful option. For dinner, we encourage our guests to explore different restaurants because Piedmontese cuisine is incredibly varied. You can taste the full range of flavors of this region, from Michelin-starred restaurants to traditional trattorias. At the end of the day, guests are welcome to gather in the common area, the breakfast room, to talk, share experiences, and enjoy a handmade amaro, grappa, or limoncello, which we keep on the barrel and offer to all.

In what ways does your property stand out from others? What unique features or characteristics make it a one-of-a-kind experience for guests?
What makes our place special is that everyone who comes here should feel free to feel at home and experience the authentic life of the Langhe, the life of a true Piemontese. Whether dining in gourmet restaurants or in local trattorias, our guests are free to embrace and enjoy the essence of Italian life. We welcome all guests: couples, families with children, travelers with pets, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people of every age and background, and guests with disabilities.

During the pandemic we designed and built a fully accessible spa, which we describe in detail on our website in the Accessibility section. This was a meaningful project for us, because accessibility takes many forms. It is not only for guests who use wheelchairs, but also for those who are visually impaired, have dietary needs such as celiac disease or diabetes, or face other challenges. Our daughter Giulia, who lives with diabetes, inspires us to be especially sensitive to these issues.

Our location has also been used for photo shoots, and many families or groups of friends have reserved the entire property to celebrate Christmas, anniversaries, or birthdays. (We are not structured for weddings or engagements.) From mid-November to mid-January, our rooms are decorated in a Christmas theme with elegant and stylish details, allowing guests to celebrate the holiday season away from home while still feeling the warmth of Christmas. We never close, and pets are always welcome. We provide beds, bowls, and a small welcome gift for them. One room and the spa are fully accessible for guests who use wheelchairs.

Can you share the best compliment you've received from a guest?
Nadia and Ale are not self-celebratory, but of course we most appreciate compliments about us as people, about the kindness of our staff, and about the beauty of the design of our rooms. The employees who represent us are honest, sincere, and straightforward. They know how to welcome guests in a warm and kind way, and they are able to share both the passion for the region and the love for this land.

What do you hope guests will take away or remember most from their stay in your accommodation?
The sense of freedom, the natural surroundings, the attention to detail, the Piemontese zero-kilometre breakfast, and the experiences they enjoy thanks to the suggestions we personally test and share with them.

Do you have any recommendations for guests to fully enjoy their holiday? Your valuable tips will be featured on your accommodation's page!
Visit the Contratto cellars, a UNESCO World Heritage site, or the wineries in Canelli. Try a culinary experience at a starred restaurant in the Langhe, such as La Ciau del Tornavento in Treiso, Piazza Duomo in Alba, or All’Enoteca di Davide Palluda. You can also enjoy excellent restaurants like Umano in Neive, Campamac in Barbaresco, Osteria delle Aie in Castagnito, or Osteria Imperfetta in Guarene.

Take a castle tour and discover Govone, Guarene, Magliano Alfieri, Grinzane Cavour, Serralunga, Barolo, and Montà. Rent an e-bike or a Vespa to explore the hills, or enjoy a picnic in the vineyards of Michele Chiarlo at Parco La Court. Visit the market in Alba on Saturday morning to experience local life. On our website, guests can find many more suggestions in the section “What to do,” including ideas for a five-day itinerary in the Langhe region and experiences for children.