Villa in the Vineyard

Villa in the Vineyard Declares a Climate Emergency | Villa in the Vineyard

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:52:07 GMT

Villa in the Vineyard

It’s a no-brainer for us to declare a climate emergency. Our ethos for running Villa in the Vineyard since 2018 has been to be the most sustainable vacation rental in the unspoilt Marche region of Italy. I’m Nikki Mattei and I run the Villa with my husband Roberto. I have worked in sustainability for about 15 years and following an ethical lifestyle is in my DNA. I have also decided to move outside that ethical arena and offer my expertise and experience as a sustainability strategist. I want to empower other businesses who are not yet purpose-driven to take the first steps on their sustainability journey and be part of creating a better world for future generations. You find out more about what I offer here.

I have been talking to people (or anyone who would listen!) about the damage we are doing to our world for over 15 years, starting with my work as a breast health educator when I talked to women about prevention. I covered subjects such as the importance of organic agriculture, walking instead of jumping in the car and avoiding plastic (not only a byproduct of petroleum and harmful for marine life but it also releases hormone disrupting chemicals linked to breast cancer risk). A lot of people in those days thought I was a mad tree hugger but now we are all seeing the effects of climate change and the mess we have made of our beautiful world. In subsequent years, I have worked with campaigning organisations such as Fashion Revolution and organic brands such as Greenscents. This has enabled me to continue contributing to the education of consumers about the need for systemic change and a greater respect for our environment and every person and creature who lives on our planet.

SINCE WRITING THIS BLOG, I HAVE PUBLISHED OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AS OUR COMMITMENT TO TOURISM DECLARES A CLIMATE EMERGENCY. YOU CAN READ IT HERE

I found myself in responsible tourism when Roberto (an Irish national with Maltese and Italian roots) and I bought Villa in the Vineyard in the Marche region of central Italy. Our plan was to move from the UK and build our own eco house but when we saw the Villa it ticked all our boxes. The only thing was that it was bigger than we wanted as it was split into two apartments. The ground floor one was being used as a vacation rental. So we decided to go for it and launch our eco escape founded on respect for the land and the local culture of this undiscovered area.

The house was built 12 years ago using most of the materials from the original farmhouse including the stone, roof tiles and beams. It was designed to be of the highest environmental standards with thick walls insulated with wood chip; photovoltaic panels for electricity (now backed up by a renewables-only energy supplier); solar for hot water backed up by an energy efficient gas boiler; chlorine-free swimming pool run with copper ionization which requires less time for the pump to be running and avoids the corrosive and skin irritant properties of chlorine. Other aspects have been adopted for the benefit of guests, the local community and ecosystem. We have an organic kitchen garden maintained by Roberto who ran a horticultural business in the UK; the villa is set in 7.5 hectares of land which is run by the Vitali family up the road, following sustainable agricultural methods to manage the vines; only certified organic cleaning products and guest toiletries are used/provided and we use refills for both; we buy supplies from local or Italian companies and we work with a local accountant, plumber, electrician etc to make sure that we are contributing financially to the local economy. We always recommend local restaurants and independent shops too. We are proud to have a Gold Award from Green Tourism - you can read more about our green credentials here

I have always believed that offering consumers the most sustainable options is never a compromise on the experience. In my view, it actually enhances it. Isn’t using organic toiletries a luxury for our guests? Isn’t having underfloor cooling from our heat exchange pump rather than noisy, energy intensive air conditioning a blissful amenity?

We are lucky to live in a relatively unspoilt part of Italy where biodiversity is still abundant – we see snakes, ghekkos, rare birds, bees, butterflies, porcupines, wild boar and even wolves in the mountains. However, that it is no reason to be complacent. The local farmers here are definitely experiencing the effects of climate change such as more erratic seasons, extreme rain or drought and spring hailstones which often destroy all the fruit in this agricultural area.

We are only one small vacation rental so you could say that our impact is very small but change has always started with a small number of people making a change which can quickly accelerate into lots of people making a small change which creates an exponentially larger impact.

We only have 10 years to save our precious planet from catastrophic changes. Who wouldn’t want to be involved in being part of such an historical effort?

Our Declaration

This is what we have committed to:

1. Develop a ‘Climate Action Plan’

Adopted by your executive board* within 12 months of your initial declaration, or sooner if possible.

2. Share your commitment and progress publicly

Share your initial public declaration, your ‘Climate Action Plan’, and update on progress against your targets each year.

3. Cut carbon emissions

Accept current IPCC advice stating the need to cut global carbon emissions to 55% below 2017 levels by 2030 to keep the planet within 1.5 degrees of warming. Ensure your ‘Climate Action Plan’ represents actions designed to achieve this as a minimum, through delivering transparent, measurable and increasing reductions in the total carbon emissions per trip arising from your operations and the travel services sold by you.*

4. Work together

Encourage suppliers and partners to make the same declaration; share best practice amongst peers; and actively participate in the Tourism Declares community.

5. Advocate for change

Recognise the need for system change across the industry to accelerate a just transition towards carbon-free tourism.

* Not everyone working in tourism has a company board or sells products.

To find out about more about Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, click here

Holiday home with private pool for safe eco-retreat | Villa in the Vineyard

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 08:29:32 GMT

A holiday home with private pool in eco paradise

Holidaymakers are actively searching for holiday homes with private pools so that they can feel safe. Villa in the Vineyard offers you the perfect eco holiday home where you can feel both safe and private as we only welcome one group of guests at a time.

This has been a difficult time for us as a holiday home rental which has sustainability at its heart. After hours of research and thought, we have been able to adhere to the hygiene guidelines of the Italian government without compromising our ethical and environmental principles.

A private, peaceful eco retreat

At Villa in the Vineyard our guests have the luxury of the whole ground floor of our large eco villa as well as the exclusive use of the outside space with its large terrace, covered loggia, swimming pool and 2 acre landscaped gardens.

The apartment is a real home from home with a fully equipped kitchen, comfortable beds and quality furniture. For those guests wanting to get away from it all in a safe, rural environment, this is the ideal choice.

During lockdown we have all appreciated nature and being able to go outdoors for exercise became such a precious right. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the drive towards sustainabilty is as strong as ever, particularly as human activity is likely to have contributed to the rise in these type of pandemics.

From the outset, we have taken every measure possible to make Villa in the Vineyard the most sustainable and healthy holiday home with private pool in Le Marche. The villa has been built to the highest environmental standards using the original materials; it is run on renewables with a chlorine-free ionized swimming pool and is surrounded by sustainably managed vineyards. We have also done everything we can to maintain a healthy and safe environment inside the apartment by using organic products for cleaning and providing organic personal care products for guests. These two elements combined are why we have a Green Tourism Gold award.

We are aware that some of the procedures we are having to follow are not as environmental as we would like but the safety of our guests is, of course, of paramount priority. Where it is safe to do so, we will continue our eco practices as you can read below.

Safe and eco cleaning

Good hygiene is one of our best defences against coronavirus but this does not have to mean using harmful chemicals like bleach or metres of single use plastic.

Obviously, using bleach kills the virus as it is such a powerful chemical – you only need to smell it to realise that. So, as an ethical business, what were we meant to do? Use products that are on our ‘black list’ as harmful to the environment and long term human health?

As one of my marketing clients is a certified organic cleaning company, this is a subject very close to my heart! The founder of Greenscents , Christina Hawkes, has written a very detailed report about how to adopt strict hygiene methods but still have respect for the environment and human health – you can read it here . Based on the fact that I have campaigned for years against cleaning products like bleach (sodium hypochlorite), I could not bring myself to start using it liberally around our villa. I have done a lot of research into natural alternatives often cited, such as tea tree oil, vinegar and lemon juice. These work really well for a number of household jobs and are effective against some pathogens but they are not proven to work against the current coronavirus.

We know from the World Health Organisation that washing hands with soap and water is actually more effective than using hand sanitizer. The coronavirus has an outer coating that is dissolved by soap and this breaks up the virus. As featured in a recent Which report into hygiene and COVID-19, Dr Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester explains: ‘COVID-19 is an enveloped RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus, meaning that proteins and lipids are part of its structure. Therefore, detergents by themselves – such as soap and even washing-up liquid – work very well at disrupting the virus structure by dissolving the lipids, which in turn inactivates the virus by stopping it binding to our cells’.

For this reason, we have decided not to reach for the bleach and to clean our apartment using Greenscents Organic Castile Soap together with water and reusable cloths made from old sheets, followed by an organic spray cleaner containing 75% alcohol by Nivel, which is less damaging than bleach and still adheres to the government guidelines. Obviously, we will be taking more time than usual to ensure that every surface is cleaned thoroughly and we will have to take more care ourselves by wearing masks and gloves at all times.

We will continue to clean all the laundry using certified organic products by my client, Greenscents, washing at higher temperatures and line drying to benefit from UV light. We buy these laundry products in large sizes for refilling the smaller containers.

As a holiday home with private pool, we actually offer our guests a healthier alternative to chlorine to keep the pool pristine. The pool is kept clean using an environmental copper ionization system. This provides unique advantages over traditional "chemical only" water treatment providing a stable, measurable disinfecting residual that is unaffected by water quality, heat or evaporation. No stinging eyes or nasty chlorine smell - it't like swimming in bottled water.

Conscious luxury for our guests

At Villa in the Vineyard we offer a new kind of luxury. It's not about bling or being showy. It's about experiencing the natural world at its most unspoilt and enjoying the purest and most authentic pleasures. This approach offers our guests a unique, memorable experience where they can enjoy the simple pleasures in life which we have all come to appreciate during the past few months. A walk through the vineyards on our land, an oasis of biodiversity with wild flowers and grasses. Swimming in our chlorine-free pool with 360 degree views over the rolling hills dotted with hilltop villages and a patchwork of fields in shades of gold and green. Tasting the wines from the vines on our land at Casale Vitali up the road. Enjoying the authentic, top quality food of this region - from a simple take-away pizza to eat at the Villa to a fine dining experience a local restaurant.

The coronavirus pandemic has seen a rise in single use plastic, which is not good news for the planet. We provide complementary organic liquid hands soaps and shower gels, containing natural ingredients with gorgeous fragrances from organic essential oils. These are made by an organic Italian brand called Biolu and we buy large 10 litre containers and refill the reusable bottles, having enough so that no one will have the container from the party of guests before them to allay any fears about hygiene from reuse.

A holiday home with private pool for your safe, eco retreat

Now is the time that people are searching for a holiday home with private pool but they are also aware that we must protect the environment and take this opportunity to create a new normal which has sustainability embedded into a better world order.

Villa in the Vineyard ticks the boxes at all these levels.

Why we have a Green Tourism Gold Award | Villa in the Vineyard

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 17:41:48 GMT

A Green Tourism Gold Award

Green Tourism runs an award certification programme to recognise tourism businesses which are actively working to become more sustainable. Their Bronze/Silver/Gold awards are acknowledged worldwide as an indicator of good environmentally-friendly practice. They act as a hallmark of ‘green quality’, making it easier for the growing numbers of eco-minded visitors to find the right places to stay. In Booking.com's sustainability research in 2019, it was identified that over half (55%) of travellers want to make more sustainable travel choices but the biggest barrier was knowing how to identify the greenest places to visit and stay.

At Villa in the Vineyard we were committed from the outset to have sustainability and green practices at the heart of our business. This is why we were awarded Green Tourism Silver immediately on application in May 2019 and progressed quickly to Green Tourism Gold in December 2019. We are proud to be the only property certified by Green Tourism in the Le Marche region.

We are not doing this for CSR purposes or to jump on a green bandwagon. We have been determined to live our lives more sustainably for over 15 years and finding Villa in the Vineyard, probably the most eco-home in Le Marche, was the most exciting opportunity for us.

Green Tourism award criteria

Green Tourism undertakes a Green Check for all businesses wanting to be rated for their sustainable practices. The Check covers the following areas:

Reducing energy use
Saving water
Efficient & eco-friendly waste disposal
Ethical buying
Staying local & seasonal
Minimising food miles
Promoting biodiversity
Adopting a smart, sustainable outlook from top to bottom

You can read below how we achieved our Green Tourism Gold Award.

An eco-building

Villa in the Vineyard was constructed 10 years ago to the highest eco standards. The original farmhouse was rebuilt to a traditional style, using all the existing materials combined with the state-of-the-art renewables and eco priorities, such as thick walls insulated with woodchip, non-toxic materials and paints, double glazed windows with internal shutters and insect screens, dual flush toilets, water-saving taps and showers, a ventilated roof and enclosed wood burning stoves.

Energy efficiency

Villa in the Vineyard is run on renewable energy making it probably the most eco holiday home in Le Marche. Our hot water is provided by solar panels on the roof. Our electricity is generated by photovoltaic panels on the house roof and one of the outbuildings. Our underfloor heating in the winter and cooling in the summer is run using a highly efficient heat exchange pump, avoiding the need for energy-intensive gas central heating or air conditioning.

All the appliances we have in the villa are highly efficient, including the pump which powers the swimming pool. The water in the pool is kept clean using a copper ionisation system instead of chlorine or salt water, both of which can be irritants and corrosive.

The natural environment

Villa in the Vineyard sits in the middle of 7.5 hectares of sustainably managed vineyards and farmland. There is a large garden surrounding the villa with around 40 olive trees, fruit trees, mature trees and an organic kitchen garden.

The vines and crops are managed by the Vitali family, who have been farming this land for 50 years. Their main ethos is focused on minimum intervention to the vines and crops as well as during the production process. They harness the power of nature as they always have: using sheep to keep the grass short in the winter and to fertilise the soil naturally; allowing grasses and wild flowers to grow between the vines to encourage wildlife as well as feed the soil; avoiding the use of chemicals on the crops as well as in the production of their award winning wines.

We encourage our guests to interact with nature while they are with us: they are free to walk through the vineyards and enjoy being outside in the fresh air. At night, due to the lack of pollution, they can also try to spot different constellations in the clear skies. We provide a nature guide of different flora and fauna they might see whilst they are with us, from butterflies, birds, lizards and even porcupine!

Italy is one of the most wooded countries in Europe and we want to keep it this way. For 2020 we have decided to plant a tree on our land for every group who book with us. We would encourage guests to visit in a few years' time (particularly if they have children) to see how their tree has grown!

Social responsibility

Villa in the Vineyard is run by just us, Roberto and Nikki. We are both committed to protecting the environment and collaborating with local people. We always strive to recommend local businesses and use suppliers that we know personally who have the same principles as we do.

Zero miles and local food

At Villa in the Vineyard our guests will find it easy to enjoy zero miles food and drink. Guests are free to sample the figs, pears, and cherries when in season as well as organic vegetables from our kitchen garden. They can also try our organic olive oil and jams as part of the Welcome Pack.

The Vitali winery just a short walk up the road has a variety of award-winning wines to be sampled at a wine tasting, which also features local quality cold meats and cheeses.

We always encourage our guests to shop at local food retailers for pasta, meats and cheeses, breads and pastries, pizza, icecream etc. We provide a full list in our Information Guide. We also recommend a wide choice of local restaurants, all of excellent quality featuring local, traditional dishes at very affordable prices.

Enjoying an organic lifestyle

Respect for the environment and concern for human health and wellbeing have been Nikki's passion for over 15 years and she continues to work in ethical marketing and campaigning. All the cleaning and laundry for the villa is done with Greenscents products, a certified organic range whose marketing is run by Nikki. The Castile soaps provided in the bathrooms and by the pool are also by Greenscents. All the products are bought in large containers for refilling the smaller bottles.

We encourage our guests to use DEET-free insect repellents, recommending award-winning brand Incognito .

Reducing waste and single use plastic

At Villa in the Vineyard we provide separate bins with instructions for separating waste and we compost vegetable and fruit waste for use in our kitchen garden.

The mains water is safe to drink in our area and we provide guests with large glass bottles to keep water cool in the fridge.

We refill the complementary Castile Soaps in the bathrooms and by the swimming pool The reusable containers are made of recyclable biopolymer made from sugar cane waste.

Could this be the most eco place to stay in Le Marche? | Villa in the Vineyard

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 09:57:41 GMT

Could this be the most eco place to stay in Le Marche?

Villa in the Vineyard is probably the most eco holiday property in Le Marche. It was built 10 years ago to the highest environmental standards and is run in the most sustainable way for the environment and its guests. The property holds a Silver Green Tourism certification and hopes to reach Gold for 2020.

If you are a traveller who is conscious of your carbon footprint and the health of the planet but you still want to stay in a comfortable holiday apartment with modern facilities, Villa in the Vineyard offers you the best of both worlds.

Built to the highest eco-standards

Villa in the Vineyard was completed in 2009 having been built to exacting environmental standards.

The original basic stone farmhouse was built in the traditional style with the animals on the ground floor and the living accommodation upstairs. These houses were not insulated nor designed for comfortable living. Consequently, the original house was taken down and all the stone was re-used to build the new home. The house has been built to a traditional Le Marche style to suit the rural setting but with the benefit of high environmental standards using non-toxic materials.

The house walls are extremely thick (over 60 cm) and are insulated with woodchip from forest clippings - this keeps the house cool in summer and warm in winter. They are painted in cool colours, using breathable paints.

Local craftsmen made the wooden windows, internal shutters and solid oak doors.. The house features traditional wood-beamed ceilings and tiled floors throughout.

The roof is a ventilated style which means that there is always fresh air circulating to keep the house at a comfortable temperature all year round.

Run on renewables

Villa in the Vineyard is run on renewable energy and also has invested in energy-efficient systems and appliances. The house benefits from a heat exchange pump to provide underfloor heating in winter and cooling in the summer months, which avoids the need for unenvironmental and unhealthy air conditioning. For every 4kw of output, the heat exchanger only uses 1 kw of energy.

Hot water is produced by solar panels on the main house roof (backed up when needed by an energy efficient boiler for the winter months) and then photovoltaic panels on the house and neighbouring outbuildings provide electricity.

The washing machine used for guests' bedding and towels is an LG steam turbo drive, which means that it has A+++ rating for energy use and the steam cleans more efficiently.

Eco-friendly swimming pool

Our swimming pool is run on a copper ionisation system so that we can avoid using chlorine. It is powered by a very energy efficient pump, which runs off our photovoltaic panels. This means that our guests can swim in crystal-clear water without the smell or irritation of chlorine.

The pool area is fully fenced for safety and enjoys spectacular views over the vineyards and surrounding countryside.

Water efficiency

We take the conservation of water seriously. All our toilets are dual-flush and the taps have aerators. Any rain water collected off the roof flows into a large underground rainwater harvesting tank. We also have a well so that we can water the vegetable plot and the plants in the garden with water which comes from the hills above.

Plastic reduction

We encourage our guests to reduce single-use plastic. We offer vegetables straight from our organic vegetable garden and fruit from the trees - truly zero miles food! We buy all the cleaning products we use in large recyclable containers and refill the bottles. The organic liquid soaps we provide are also in non-plastic, biopolymer containers which we refill.

We supply reusable shopping bags for our guests. Our tap water is drinkable so we advise guests not to buy bottled water during their stay. We also encourage our guests to buy fresh food from the local individual shops rather than supermarkets.

Recycling

Italy started to recycle before the UK and we separate all the different types of rubbish. We do not have a recycling centre in our area and so we have to take all the different types for roadside collection. We give clear instructions to our guests and we compost all organic matter for use in our vegetable garden.

We supply separate bins for paper, plastic, bottles and tins as well as a bin for vegetable peelings and anything that can be safely composted.

Organic living

The products used for cleaning the apartment and the laundry products for the bedding and towels are produced by Greenscents in rural Somerset in the UK and certified organic by The Soil Association. We also provide Greenscents organic liquid castile soap in the bathrooms and by the pool.

In our Welcome Pack we offer organic olive oil in a glass bottle from our 65 olive trees and a bottle of wine from the vines on our land, which are cultivated using traditional methods without the use of harmful pesticides . The Welcome Pack also contains a glass jar of our very own organic jam, organic milk, eggs and butter, local bread as well as organic fruit and veg from our garden.

Why Lonely Planet has voted Le Marche No 2 in the world

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 17:09:14 GMT

Le Marche is a perfect destination for Lonely Planet travellers

Le Marche has been voted No 2 by Lonely Planet in its Best Regions to visit in the world in 2020. With Lonely Planet's focus on sustainable travel experiences, it is no surprise that they have voted for Le Marche.

Enduring traditions

Although Le Marche has been lauded as the next Tuscany for many years, it still remains an area untouched by mass tourism. It is a well-loved secret of the Italians for their own holidays but less known outside Italy. It lies in Central Italy with the majestic Sibillini mountains to the west and the miles of sandy beaches of the Adriatic coast to the east.

It has managed to retain a character of authenticity and natural beauty. The soft rolling hills are a patchwork of small fields of sunflowers, barley, farro, olive groves and vineyards. All along the Val d'Aso valley they cultivate fruit orchards of peach, plum, apple and kiwi. In between there are large fields of vegetables irrigated from the Aso river that flows from the Sibillini mountains. Le Marche farms are still run as small family businesses using traditional farming methods. Nearly every home in the countryside has a vegetable garden (orto) and a neatly stacked woodpile. The locals stop for a couple of hours in the middle of the day and the primary school children come back from school to enjoy a freshly cooked family lunch before returning to the fields or school.

You will notice the medieval villages perched on top of so many of the hills, each with its own central cafes, often a theatre and at least one church, which, when entered, will reveal the most breathtaking architecture and frescoes .

The people of Le Marche (marchigiani) are hard working, naturally sustainable and care for the land with good crop rotation. For example on our land, the farmers leave the grass and clovers to grow high between the rows of vines and then mow late spring to give a natural feed of nitrogen. If the fields are covered in weed, they plough them in with their old Fiat tractors instead of using herbicides and sheep are used in the winter to keep the grass down.

The beauty of the natural world

Le Marche has been voted No 2 by Lonely Planet as it has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.

The rolling hills between the coast and the mountains are unique and we will never get tired of the views we are lucky to look out on every morning. You will often reach the top of a road and be rewarded with a view of the coast or the mountains. Every season is still distinct with the blossom of fruit trees in spring, vibrant wild flowers in summer, wonderful autumn colour and snow-capped mountains in winter. With enduring sunshine most of the year.

The Sibillini Mountains offer the most spectacular walks and hikes with legends and stories along every trail. You will experience some of the most breathtaking views to compete with any other mountain range in Italy or elsewhere only here with a lot less people.

Away from it all

Le Marche is still an area of Italy where you can find places which are silent except for the sound of a mountain stream or birdsong. You can look out on views which are untouched by the modern world and have stayed as wild as they were centuries ago. The Sibillini Mountains are a place where you can really experience the power of the great outdoors where nature rules not man. You may see golden eagles, wild boar, chamoix, black squirrels, porcupine and even wolves.

Whilst Le Marche has these remote, natural places, you are never far from small villages and the coast where you will find busy Italian life with shops, markets, cafes and restaurants when you are ready to see people again!

Simple, fresh food and wine

Italy is the home of the Slow Food Movement founded in 1986 and Le Marche is a shining example of this with the opportunity to experience authentic, traditional food. The region is often known as the larder of Italy with its fields of fruit, vegetables, grains and pulses, still a staple part of the Italian diet. The large fishing ports of San Benedetto and Porto San Giorgio on the Adriactic are well-known as providers of the best fish and seafood in Italy.

Wherever you choose to eat, from a rustic chalet serving mussles on the beach like Cozze Nero in Porto San Giorgio to fine dining cuisine at I Piceni in Ortezzano, you will enjoy high quality, freshly prepared food in unique surroundings. But without the price tag of areas like Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast.

If you choose to cook in your holiday apartment (we have a fully equipped kitchen here), then you can enjoy visiting the local markets to buy like an Italian as well as cook up the produce from our own veg garden. Food shopping here is like it used to be - you will buy meat from the butcher (we have a great one here in Valmir who is in organic conversion), bread and pastries from the bakers, fresh ravioli and gnocchi from the pasta maker and fish from the fishmonger - you can even buy fish straight off the boats at the harbour markets!

Throughout the year there are food festivals (sagre) where a village will celebrate a specific dish. It might be the Sagra of Maccheroncini in Campofilone (where they make pasta), black truffles in Amandola (the gateway to the Sibillini) or mussels in Pedaso. You can marvel at how they can cater for so many people and sit shoulder to shoulder with locals and holidaymakers on long trestle tables set up in the streets or piazzas. There may be stalls of local craftspeople and there will always be music and dancing! Entrance is free - you just pay for your food and drinks.

And, of couse, we must mention the wine as Villa in the Vineyard is surrounded by vines as you would expect! Wines here are high quality but reasonably priced. There may be varieties that you haven't tried before such as Pecorino, Passerino, Montepulciano, and Sangiovese. A wine tasting is a must where you can taste the wines but also see how they are produced with a combination of high-tech and traditional methods. You can always visit at harvest time.

Experience real Italian life

Lonely Planet travellers are usually looking for authentic, meaningful experiences which have a positive impact on the place they are visiting. The people of Le Marche are known in Italy to be hard workers. They are also extremely welcoming and generous. When you visit Le Marche, you can experience real Italian life which has been past down through the generations. Enjoy the simple pleasures which Italians choose every day: a coffee and croissant with a touch of people watching; a hike in the mountains to fill your lungs with fresh air; a visit to a local market with all the sounds of local life; supporting the individual shopkeepers; topping up the tan and swimming at one of the many blue-flag beaches; visiting the elegant and ancient city of Ascoli Piceno steeped in history and culture; dining at the best local restaurants who source meat, fish, pasta, grains, vegetables and wines locally.

You will be supporting the local economy and here you have the chance to experience real Italian life like a local.

Sewing organic seeds for the future

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 08:04:20 GMT

Choosing organic for future generations

On Sunday 13th October we spent a day at a wonderful organic farm in Le Marche near Urbino as part of an initiative here in Italy to draw attention to organic farming and the importance of protecting 'free seeds'. Gatherings took place in 25 organic and biodynamic farms all over Italy and have done for the past 9 years.

Let's sew the seeds of the future

The day was organised by the not-for-profit foundation 'Seminare il futuro' (sew the seeds of the future) and was supported by organic supermarket group, Naturasi, and Cuore Bio, the organisation for independent organic shops. The aim of 'Seminare il futuro' is that seeds should remain free of GM, free to be re-used by farmers and free of financial speculation. It is very important for organic farming that these type of seeds should be freely available and the foundation works on research into ancient grains and seeds suitable for organic and biodynamic agriculture. Before the days of intensive monoculture farming in Italy, there used to be 200 different varieties of rice. Now there are only 4.

Gino Girolomoni Cooperative

We were very lucky to be able to visit this farming cooperative in the hills of Montebello, close to the ancient city of Urbino, where we joined about 100 other organic supporters and their families to sew the seeds of the future. The event was supported by Naturasi who welcomed us with organic drinks and nibbles!

In 1971 Gino Girolomoni became mayor of Isola del Piano and started his life's work to promote the benefits of ancient and organic farming methods. He attracted interest from all over Italy and set up an agricultural co-op in 1977. He provided much-needed work for the local farmers and many came back to their abandoned homes to take up farming again. Younger people also became involved, helping to revive the local economy. Today the Gino Girolomini Co-op has 70 employees and although Gino himself died in 2012, his two sons and their wives are still involved. Gino is remembered as one of Italy's organic pioneers and the success of the Girolomoni and Montebello brands are proof of this today.

State-of-the-art pasta making

After we had sown our seeds for the future, we were taken on a tour of the pasta making factory. Even though these are organic pastas with many made from ancient grains, the sophistication and technical capabilities of the factory are certainly cutting edge. A staggering 80% of their pastas are exported with the number one country being France due to the significant rise in organic demand as well as the US. They even export to Japan!

The factory has its own wind turbine and runs entirely on renewable energy with a modern wood-chip boiler which provides all the hot water for manufacturing the pasta.

The Montebello Monastery

At the heart of the Girolomoni estate is an ancient monastery from the 11th century which has been lovingly restored by the family and now houses an agricultural museum with farming implements and information about traditional farming methods. We were also allowed to see the one room where Gino lived with his family when they first started out and today hosts various meetings and workshops. Lastly, we were taken to the very old church, which was built by the order of monks who first set up the monastery.

La Locanda restaurant

Further down the hills you will find the charming 'La Locanda' which is run by one of Gino's daughter-in-laws and offers delicious organic cuisine. Unfortunately, we tried to book too late so we had to eat our humble picnic in the garden with mouth-watering aromas emanating from the kitchens!

This was a special day for us - being part of the organic movement here in Italy. This is a country known for its agriculture and world-renowned food and Le Marche is still a very agricultural area with many farmers choosing to follow traditional, organic methods. Where we live, we see the farmers around us every day and the hard work they put into the small fields which are still abundant in this part of Le Marche.

Mountain walking in Italy in the undiscovered Sibillini | Villa in the Vineyard

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 08:56:23 GMT

For mountain walking in Italy, you must discover the Sibillini Mountains in Le Marche

The Sibillini National Park in the Appenines may be somewhere you have never heard of for mountain walking in Italy. Roberto has made several epic hikes with our guide Rodolfo and has been blown away by the wildlife, wild flowers, woodland, mountains and the most spectacular views. A photographer's paradise.

After you've read this blog, we hope you will know a little more and even be tempted to come and explore yourself. September to December or March to June are the perfect times to enjoy warm sunny days without the full heat of summer in this most unspoilt area of Le Marche.

The Sibillini Mountains have peaks of over 2000m

The Sibillini Mountains are part of the Appenine range which forms the 'spine' of Italy. The Sibillini Mountains National Park itself, which was established in 1993, extends from Umbria right through Le Marche and down into neighbouring region, Abruzzo, with most of the peaks being in Le Marche.

Most peaks are over 2,000 metres high with the tallest being Monte Vettore at 2,476 m. The moutains offer a variety of hikes for all abilities and ages so you don't have to walk to the top of every peak unless that's the type of challenge you like!

Whatever hike you choose, you will enjoy some of the best mountain walking in Italy. You will be blown away by the spectacular views, the lakes, wildlife such as Golden Eagle, Chamoix , Porcupine, and Wild Boar, as well as butterflies, wild flowers and orchids.

So much to discover ......

You will be amazed at the rich variety of places you can discover in the Sibillini Mountains. Here is just a small preview:

a 17th century medieval fortress - one of the largest in Europe
hidden gorges created by 50 metre high rock walls with crystal river water
red-coloured rocks rich in iron oxide formed in the Ecocene Age
mountain refuges for a break and sometimes something to eat!
the Cave of St Francis, home to pilgrims who used to travel from Rome to Loreto in the Middle Ages
hidden waterfalls
an ancient shepherds village
a wooded peninsula which plunges into the sea
a glacial valley with two lakes full of prehistoric shrimp

There are over 25 hikes with Woodpecker Hiking to choose from with every one offering something unique.

Walk with a qualifed English-speaking guide

As you've read, there are so many different walks to discover in the Sibillini and we highly recommend that you walk with an experienced guide. They will make sure you don't get lost but will also share old legends about the mountains, point out wildlife, flora and fauna and really make sure that you get the most out of your hike.

We work with Rodolfo Nasini of Woodpecker Hiking, who has a range of Very Easy, Easy and Demanding Hikes to suit all abilities and ages. He will meet you at the starting point of the hike with the Sibillini Mountains about a 40 minute drive from Villa in the Vineyard. We can also take small groups to meet him in our hybrid Toyota and pick you up afterwards.

If you would like to know more about the different hikes on offer by Rodolfo, please email us and we can send you more information.

Visit Le Marche for some of the best vineyards in Italy | Villa in the Vineyard

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 08:23:49 GMT

Visit Le Marche for some of the best vineyards in Italy

Le Marche is home to some of the best vineyards in Italy. In this sunny region on the east coast of Italy, you will find an abundance of small family-run wineries who farm using traditional and sustainable methods to protect the biodiversity of this fertile land. You will discover new varieties of grapes and taste wines of the highest quality. One of the oldest known wines is Rosso Piceno is from Le Marche. The Piceni or Picenes were an ancient tribe which dwelled here until the Romans conquered them around the second century B.C. Hannibal is said to have refreshed his troops on the wine.

Surrounded by vines

The view above is of the vineyards from the pool area of our holiday apartment at Villa in the Vineyard. Our eco-villa sits sympathetically in the landscape surrounded by 7.5 hectares (19 acres) of vineyards and farmland. The land is farmed by the Vitali family who run the winery, Casale Vitali, just up the road from us. Gabriele and Elisabetta are the energetic couple, who manage the wine production and the cantina for wine tastings. Gabriele's grandfather, Alfredo, set up the farm in 1970 with his son, Giuliano who still farms the land today and at first they managed livestock. They then moved on to fruit and vines, which they cultivated to sell on to other producers. Gabriele trained as a land surveyor and in 2003 took the brave decision to develop their own wines and grow vines for their own use using a low environmental impact practice. Today they now produce a collection of 10 wines (red, white and sparkling white and rose), with several holding the DOC accreditation for quality.

A tailor-made wine tour for our guests

With our location within the vineyards, we are able to offer our guests a very special wine tour. Firstly, you can walk through the vines on our land and see the varieties of grape the Vitalis grow here including Pecorino, Passerina for white wines and Sangiovese for reds. In the spring/early summer you will be able to see the way they allow the grass, clover, mint and wild flowers to grow up between the vines to encourage pollinators and then they cut the grass for a natural nitrogen fertilizer. If you are here in the summer, you will see the grapes as they begin to ripen and in the autumn from September to early November you will see the harvest (vendemmia in Italian). In December a local shepherd with the help of his dogs drive the sheep through the vines to eat the grass - they are our living lawnmowers.

Having seen the the vines, you will then be able to visit the Vitali Winery a short walk up our road where Elisabetta will give you a tour of the state-of-the-art winery. You will see how the wines are fermented, the ageing process in barrels for some of the reds as well as the bottling and labelling area. For the sparkling wines they still tie the string by hand to make sure you get the perfect 'pop'!

Finally, Elisabetta will escort you to the traditional vaulted ceiling cantina. On the walls there are numerous awards for their wines. Here you will be able to taste these fine sparkling, white and red wines accompanied by carefully chosen cold meats, salami and cheeses with fresh bread from local producers close by.

The Vitali's have collaborated with three other local wine producers to launch a new white Sangiovese wine for 2019 called Deviango which has had very positive reviews.

We are also working on a wine tour focused on sustainable and organic wines, where you will be able to visit a number of hand-picked wineries in our area and experience some of the best wines in Italy from the local Montepulciano, Pecorino, Passerina and Sangiovese vines. If you would like more information, just email us.

You can also find out more about the wonderful local food all around us to accompany those great wines on our Wine and Food page.

One of the best child-friendly holiday homes in Italy |Villa in the Vineyard

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 10:44:52 GMT

A safe haven for children - and relaxing for the parents!

Travelling with young children and babies can be challenging. We've experienced it ourselves when our two daughters were young. So we've thought about all the things that stressed us out and done everything we can to ensure that you enjoy a relaxing holiday here at Villa in the Vineyard with precious quality family time. You can read a couple of articles about family friendly holidays we've been featured in here

Everything you need for your children

When you are travelling with younger children, there is so much to take on holiday so we wanted to create a home from home enviroment so we have equipped your apartment with lots of baby and child equipment to make sure it is child friendly:

Full-size wooden cot with baby bedding
Highchairs - one for younger babies fully enclosed with tray and a wooden one for sitting at the table
Changing mat
Baby cutlery
All windows and doors have insect screens to keep unwanted wildlife out!
Stairgate
Loo seat and potty
Paddling pool
Inflatable ring for pool
Baby swimming aid
Garden games
Kiddy cars
Wooden childrens toys
Puzzles and books in English
Night lights

N.B. We shall check with you first which toys you feel are suitable.

Lots of space outside to run around and explore

Your apartment at Villa in the Vineyard is set in 17 acres of vineyards and farmland with a 2 acre fenced private garden. You have your own private terrace which runs the full width of the apartment with a covered loggia for shady alfresco dining.

Children are always interested in the natural world and being on holiday in a rural area gives you time to be outside together. To discover new butterflies, birds and small animals - Le Marche is the perfect place with its outstanding biodiversity. To introduce you to the rich variety of wildlife, flora and fauna in the area, we have created a Wildlife Guide for you and your children to use during your stay. Most of our younger guests have been really interested in the little lizards and the swallows which swoop to drink the pure water from our swimming pool most afternoons! There is even a sew-on badge as a prize (for children only though)!

Swimming pools can often be a hazard for little ones but ours is child-friendly being shallow and chlorine-free - so no stinging eyes or irritated skin. It is kept clean using a copper ionisation system. Most importantly, it is fully fenced with a gate that we insist is always kept closed. We have a swimming aid for babies and we can set up a paddling pool if needed.

Holidays are a great time to let children use their imagination and enjoy time outside. We have created a mini amphitheatre for those budding actors and actresses to perform in front of the family! For those less creative times we also have a box full of toys and inside the apartment there are games, books and puzzles.

For your health and wellbeing

At Villa in the Vineyard we pride ourselves on our eco credentials and our natural approach to health. We have been using organic products for our own family for two decades. We use organic cleaning and laundry products in the apartment and we also provide complementary organic toiletries in the bathroom and for showering at the pool.

This year we applied to Green Tourism and were delighted to awarded a Silver rating which recognizes our approach to the environment and sustainability.

We want to make sure you have the essentials so our Welcome Pack will include the following:

organic butter, milk, muesli and eggs
fresh loaf of local bread
jar of organic jam from our fruit trees
small bottle of organic olive oil from our own olive trees
bottle of Celestiale (Heavenly) wine from the vines grown organically on our land
selection of teas, and organic coffee

We can also recommend where to shop for local and organic food as well as our favorite restaurants. Le Marche is a region which is known for its high quality food so you should never be disappointed!

Ideas for stress-free days out

We remember those days on holiday where we'd arrive at an unknown town and spend time traipsing round in the heat looking for a good restaurant. Not to mention probably having got lost on the way and searching for a place to park!

So in our Information Guide you'll find some suggested child-friendly day trips with the best way to get there, where to park, where to have a good meal suitable for parents and their children (although all restaurants in Italy are child-friendly) and where to have an ice cream plus the places to see whilst you're there. So hopefully no more fractious children or husbands for that matter!

You can read testimonials from some of guests here - many of whom were families with young children.

Villa in the Vineyard

Villa in the Vineyard Declares a Climate Emergency | Villa in the Vineyard