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, and has four deluxe suites.

And for those with fashion on their minds, this Italian Bed and Breakfast, Piedmont is just an hour from Milan, with its designer boutiques, gorgeous Duomo, the incredible castle, Da Vinci's Last Supper mural and the stupendous art gallery.

Forget about your diet when you come to Piemonte! Nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean, with influences from the royal Savoy court combined with peasant fare, with a dash of the sea and blessed with a marvellous climate, Piedmont cuisine is Italian food at its best.

Piedmont is famous for the wide range of antipasti served both hot and cold before the main course. These will typically include salami, and a variety of local vegetable dishes, in which the chef shows off his skill, and a variety of dips.

For the primo (first course) you are as likely to find risotto as pasta. Piemonte is Europe's biggest rice producer (from the Po river valley), and risotto is a staple. Pasta dishes include a multitude of varieties of Agnolotti (stuffed pasta pillows) served with a variety of sauces. Another favourite is Gnocchi (potato dumplings), a Ligurian specialty. Try it with Pesto sauce, which originated in nearby Genoa. The secondo (main course) can be beef, lamb or pork cooked in wine, pollo (chicken) or fresh fish from nearby Liguria. These will be accompanied by fresh local verdure (vegetables) such as asparagus, artichokes or whatever is in season. Next comes cheese, local or from neighbouring regions. The lush alpine meadows of the Val D'Aosta and the Canavese region north of Torino produce an array of fine cheeses, the best known being Fontina and Robiola. Finally, no Italian feast is complete without dolci (dessert)! Piedmont boasts an almost infinite variety of desserts. Local favourites include Bonet (chocolate egg custard); Torta di Nocciola (hazelnut cake) and zabaglione.

Piedmont is also famous for Tartufi, the legendary white truffles found around the Monferato and Langhe hills in autumn and prized more than gold or their black French cousins; Grissine, the crisp breadsticks which originated in Turin; Amaretti, a delicious macaroon type biscuit, especially the ones from Mombarusso; and hazelnut chocolates from Turin (Gianduiotti) and Alba (Rocher & Ferrero).

The red wines of Piedmont have long been considered some of the best wines of Italy and among the best in the world. This Italian Bed and Breakfast, Piedmont, close to the town of Asti, puts you at the heart of the wine region.

Probably the best in Italy is Barolo, made from Nebbiolo grapes, in a small area of the Langhe hills just south of Alba, around 20 minutes drive from Asti. This is an intense wine with complex and deep flavours, taking many years to mature. Its equally famous neighbour Barbaresco, just to the north of Alba is marginally less intense. Nebbiolo D'Alba is a lighter, affordable cousin, which can be drunk young, and is produced in the Roero hills between Asti and Alba.

Barbera is rapidly gaining international fame and grows best in the Monferatto hills to the north and south of Asti. This wine is flavourful and zesty, and can be wondrously smooth. Other good red wines of the region include Grignolino D'Asti, a light pale and fragrant red; Freisa, sometimes fizzy, with a hint of raspberries; and Brachetto D'Aqui, a unique sparkling sweet red wine, tastes wonderful, especially with strawberries!

The best-known white wine from the region is Asti Spumante a sweet sparkling wine made from Moscato grapes and exported in millions of bottles by the big bottlers. Not as well known is the delicate and delicious Moscato D'Asti, made from the better grapes grown high in the Langhe hills, low in alcohol with natural fruit sweetness and a light fizz: absolutely delicious as an aperitif or light dessert wine, and the late-harvest Moscato Passito, which can hold its own against German or French late harvest desert wines.

This Italian Bed and Breakfast, Piedmont has many sporting activities nearby. There are stables on the neighbouring farm, good hiking, mountain biking and a number of local swimming pools, including a waterslide lido park five minutes away. There are the hot springs at Acqui Terme, some fine golf courses nearby, and tennis at Asti or nearby San Damiano.

There are plenty of other activities too, including grape picking and truffle hunting in season. Ask too about the wine and food tours; the Medieval Asti tour; the Holy Grail, Wine & Chocolate tour; Turin, the Royal City tour; nights at the opera ... there are many more tailored and custom tours on offer.

Villa Sampaguita is normally open from 1 March to 30 November and closed December-February. Your hosts can rent the apartments on a weekly basis in winter and can accept a group booking for the B&B with minimum of 3 nights - contact your hosts for rates.

The bed and breakfast rooms all have a balcony and a spacious bathroom with bath/shower. Breakfast is a continental style buffet with local cheeses, salamis, fresh baked pastries, organic fruit and fresh squeezed juice. Single occupancy for a single night is EURO €100, dropping to €90 for two or more nights and €565 for a week. Summer midweek nights are charged at €60. Double occupancy is €105, €95, €600 and €65 respectively. Each additional person is charged at €25, €25, €150 and €20 respectively.

Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen/living room and additional sofa bed in the living room. Breakfast is not included, but is available on request at €7.50 a person. Apartments, for three or more nights are as follows. One Bedroom (double bed + sofa twin bed), €115 a night, €725 a week, (€650 for selected weeks). Two Bedroom (2 double or 4 single beds plus sofa bed) , €155, €975 (€ 850). Rooms are non-smoking - smokers should use the balcony or outdoor spaces. Pets not allowed.

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