Italian Bed and Breakfast, Piedmont, close to the town of Asti, Piemonte

This Italian Bed and Breakfast, Piedmont, lies close to the town of Asti, Piemonte. Villa Sampaguita is a bed and breakfast, located on a working vineyard and winery in the heart of Piedmont's wine country, with accommodating English owners.

Villa Sampaguita was built at the turn of last century as a Cascina or working farmhouse, which included house, stables and barns under one roof, with a large underground cantina (wine cellar) for making wine. The house was lovingly restored and modernised by its previous owners. The current owners have rebuilt the huge barn area into four deluxe suite-rooms each with its own bathroom and view of surrounding countryside, plus two self-contained apartments. In addition, guests have their own salone d'hospiti (guest lounge) complete with library and satellite TV.

Ten minutes' drive outside the historic town of Asti, the major centre for the Piemonte wine region, this Italian Bed and Breakfast, Piedmont is an ideal base for touring the vineyards and wineries, and sampling the world-famous wines and cuisine of north-eastern Italy.

Villa Sampaguita lies on top of a 'Bricco' (a ridge, literally a saddle in Piemonte dialect) surrounded by woods, orchards and vineyards, with panoramic views over the Monferatto hills and, on a clear day, of the Alpine mountains. The farm comprises 25 acres of vineyards, cultivated fields, orchards, woods, and a stream. It lies in the Val de Botto e Valleandona, a national park and protected fossil area. For guests who want to relax with nature, the farm is big enough to wander around, explore the woodland, look for fossils, and absorb the tranquil atmosphere.

This deluxe Bed and Breakfast in Piedmont offers two types of accommodation : double rooms and apartments. Room prices per night start at EURO 100, meanwhile apartment prices – 120. Weekly or group prices can be arranged and during summer months (July and August) there is a special cost for stays of 3 days and more. Tours of local attractions, wineries and festivals can be organised on request.

The B&B rooms are on the first floor and elegantly furnished with traditional Piedmont farmhouse carved wood and marble top furniture. Each room has a French window leading onto a private balcony with vistas of the surrounding woods and hills, and its own bathroom complete with bathtub/shower combination. Three rooms have double (queen size) beds, and one room has two singles. One set of rooms has an adjoining door for family use, and one of these beds can be used as a double or split into two singles. You can also order an additional single bed for the larger rooms.

B&B guests have their own large salon d'hospiti (guest lounge), with big picture windows facing the sun deck, perfect for relaxing, reading, watching TV, or enjoying a glass of vino. The salon has a library including local travel maps and information as well as a satellite TV set. For guests in early spring and late autumn, a wood stove provides a cosy and warm corner.

The apartments in this Italian Bed and Breakfast, Piedmont are on the ground floor with their own separate entrances in the back and a portico/verandah facing the vineyards and viewing deck. Each apartment has a kitchen and living room including complete cooking and dining utensils, a TV, a spacious bathroom with bathtub/shower and furnished in the same traditional Piedmont style as the rooms. One apartment has a bedroom with a queen-size bed and a twin sofa-bed in the living room; the other has two bedrooms, one with queen and one with a combo queen/two single beds and a divan in the living room.

Villa Sampaguita is about 2km from the main road to Asti, and there is a bus service. The house can arrange to drop and pick up guests to Asti, fitting in with the farm schedule, but having a rental car is a must for touring the area.

Villa Sampaguita does not have a formal restaurant, but Asti and other nearby towns have a wonderful selection. However guests are most welcome to share the owners' home-cooked meals of the farm's organically grown produce. Your hosts are Tim and Rina. Rina is a great cook and blends Asian and Italian cuisine expertly. Local wines are included of course.

Meals are served in the main banquet room of the original house adjoining the salon d'hospiti. Breakfast is a buffet continental style (cooked breakfast on request). Dinner (on request) is a four-course set menu and the house wine is included; there is a small selection of a la carte local wines.

Guests can use the main laundry room for their own washing and ironing, or there is a laundry service in Asti. Villa Sampaguita does not have individual guest phones, as most guests use their own mobile (cell) phones. Of course guests can use the house phone or fax or internet connection for a small charge.