Piedmont Barolo 17th C. Villa, Pool, Wifi, Cooking Classes, Wine Tours

• Bliss in Alta Langhe

  Bliss in Alta Langhe

  • Guest Alice F.
  • Date of stay 04/11/13
  • Review Submitted 05/17/13
  I spent a long weekend at San Lorenzo to do work in the area with appointments all over the Langa, including nearby La Morra and Dogliani. It's off the beaten track, convenient, private and beautiful. What I loved most about it, besides the deep and comforting tub, water pressure, luxe linens, powerful wireless, and fully equipped kitchen was the silence, the air, the peace, the beauty of the outdoor spaces and the privacy, the ability to come and go without seeing the front desk. If I needed anything John, the manager/tour guide/translator/concierge/magician is there to provide and deliver. He met me in the nearby town and guided me to San Lorenzo, very sweet of him and needed. So, I lacked for nothing in the way of assistance. All of the help of a four-star hotel without the fawning. This suits me perfectly. This most suits the independent-minded. But if you're not, just know that. Pinca can arrange for what you need when you need. The one thing that I kept yearning for was out of Pinca's hands. If only I had a group of friends with me to use that fantastic kitchen and be able to buy the fantastic wines of the region and drink without having to drive--to be there in truffle season and really indulge with friends, this would have been amazing. As it is, I couldn't have been in a better spot for thinking and writing--oh, and in Bossolasco, you will find the most amazing gelato you ever had. Admittedly, I was very sad to leave the place. It became home (or the one I would want.)

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Wonderful villa stay

  Wonderful villa stay

  • Guest Lisa S.
  • Date of stay 11/17/12
  • Review Submitted 02/09/13
  We were a group of 4 couples staying at VSL for a week in November. The group consisted mostly of restaurant and wine professionals from San Francisco. Our intention was to have a holiday filled with exploring by car during the day and cooking, entertaining and enjoying meals and leisurely evenings. VSL provided the perfect opportunity for this. Upon arriving, Jon met us and provided us with every detail we needed to know. The rooms were all lovely, complete with fluffy white bath robes and wonderful large white fluffy towels. Most of the rooms have clawfoot bathtubs and shower, as well as comfortable beds and flat screen TV (although we ended up rarely turning these on which is a good sign!). We spent most nights cooking either in the kitchen or making excellent use of the outdoor pizza oven. Even in the chill of November, we were able to be outside during the day to sit in the patio chairs and at night to cook. Most of our meals were held in the “hay loft” room where there is a wonderful long table that fits 8 nicely, and even 11 on one night. The room has an excellent stereo which you can play CDs from (of which the house comes with a large selection) or hook up your ipod/iphone and play music from that. On a warm day or evening, the doors of the hayloft open completely as well to provide a feeling of indoor/outdoor dining. The kitchen is open to the living room/dining room and we found it quite suitable for cooking for 8. A bit of a lack of countertop space for prep work, but rumor has it they are working on remodeling a section of the hayloft to be a large kitchen which will be very nice. Even so, we were able to make some great meals in the kitchen and found most all of the tools we needed. And when we were lacking something, Jon was just a phone call away, even bringing us pepper and garlic one night from his own kitchen when we realized we had none and the stores had closed nearby. There was also wonderful stock of wine glasses and decanters, as well as dishes and silverware. The living room area was comfortable and has a small balcony with two chairs which were a great place to read on a sunny morning (even in November!) The property itself also has other outdoor sitting areas and obviously a wonderful pool area that we would have definitely made use of during a warmer time of year. All in all, VSL is a great property and we would return again most definitely. Clay takes great pride in the property and the house, which is clear. And Jon

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• Autumn Wonderland

  Autumn Wonderland

  • Guest Jerrycan
  • Date of stay 11/04/12
  • Review Submitted 02/01/13
  Way beyond our expectations !!!! We were slightly hesitant before arriving, having originally booked based on the great reviews from past travelers, we weren't quite sure what to expect based on a recent very poor review not long before we were due to have arrived. Clay and Tamar assured us not to panic and that everything had been addressed and that we would find everything the same if not better than the other positive reviews. Easy for them to say!! But since we'd built up quite a rapport with them over the booking period we felt like we knew them well even though we'd never met, Gut feeling said to trust them. They weren't wrong, everything was way better than we originally had hoped for. John met us upon arrival and was a wealth of information throughout our stay, we think of ourselves as independent travelers, but with out his help we wouldn't have seen half the things this region has to offer. We'll definitely be back again in two years time with the rest of the family. Thanks Clay and Tamar for making it all happen.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• San Lorenzo Villa, near Dogliani, Piemonte Region

  San Lorenzo Villa, near Dogliani, Piemonte Region

  • Guest MarkD
  • Date of stay 10/20/12
  • Review Submitted 01/04/13
  John Pinca was very attentive and helpful vis a vis our needs and requests. We met his family too, and enjoy knowing them too! He has a flair for his work, and I regard him highly. He is fun to be around, knowledgable and entertaining. Better wireless service would be an improvement. The property was in excellent condition and a pleasure to be in. He was kind and thoughtful during our stay.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Antipodean

  Antipodean

  • Guest Papalui
  • Date of stay 10/13/12
  • Review Submitted 10/25/12
  Six adults and two children spent a lovely week in the tranquil setting of Villa San Lorenzo. John Pinca, our bilingual host provided invaluable "local knowledge" and saved a lot of potential heartache which can easily happen to unfamiliar newcomers. Highlights included a delicious dinner cooked in house by chef Francesco and a visit to Truffe, an artisan chocolate maker in nearby beautiful Bossolasco. All the great vineyards of Barolo and Barbaresco are easily reachable by car although if your visit is entirely wine focused then VSL could be a little out of the way. We were able to enjoy the great wines of Piedmont as well as enjoy the lovely location and the local area around Dogliani. The best of both worlds. Alba truffle fair was another highlight Standard of accommodation was very good. Lots of bathrooms and toilets to keep everyone happy. Swimming pool and pizza oven thrown in for good measure. I was also impressed with the excellent hifi system that made my iPod sound fantastic Overall a highly recommended accommodation, thoughtfully presented to a luxury standard

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Warm, breath-taking beautiful Italian Setting

  Warm, breath-taking beautiful Italian Setting

  • Guest gale
  • Date of stay 12/17/11
  • Review Submitted 10/22/12
  The villa embraces old world charm with modern amenities and commands a view of the area around that absolutely enriches the spirit. The family who owns and operates this villa has given thought to every possible need a guest might have. The complex is divided into separate units which allows for a family to have both privacy and intimacy as they choose. The surrounding country and the nearby towns gives one the opportunity to experience Italian life on a personal basis. There are small towns perched on hillsides where speciality chocolates are made, wonderful coffees and wines served always with a smile and welcoming phrase for the new traveler. And after a day seeing the Italian countryside whether on bicycle or by car or foot the villa is there to welcome you with comfortable beds, personal extensive kitchens, wi-fi hook-ups, family centered living areas and modern delux bathrooms for that luxurious bath at the end of the day. A very special place to be treasured by all who have the good fortune to book ahead.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway.

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• Dream Villa

  Dream Villa

  • Guest Jimmy
  • Date of stay 09/29/12
  • Review Submitted 10/09/12
  We were welcomed by John, Villa San Lorenzo's helpful manager, who gave us a tour of the stunning villa and answered all our questions about the property and the region. We could not have been more pleased by our beautiful, immaculate quarters, the lovely landscaping, and the view of the distant Alps was icing on the cake. This is a place to kick back in and truly savor. The region is a food and wine-lover's paradise, and the owners' restaurant and itinerary suggestions were absolutely terrific. Our group has traveled extensively throughout Italy; and our memories of Villa San Lorenzo are sure to be among our most treasured.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Villa San Lorenzo - Not a Villa

  Villa San Lorenzo - Not a Villa

  • Guest Sue
  • Date of stay 09/08/12
  • Review Submitted 10/01/12
  After staying two weeks at “Villa San Lorenzo” I must say this is not a villa at all, but simply a farmhouse sitting on a side hill … untended. The house is billed as much more than it is, and until it is cleaned, refitted and under new management with a new owner, it isn’t worth the fee. Our group of ten rented the house for two weeks in September of 2012. Wine lovers, cooks and foodies, we visited Piedmont to cook, eat and drink. Before we could cook anything we had to wash dishes. All of them! There weren’t 10 of any glass, and it was so odd to see our table set with three of one wine glass, four of another, none of them matching the photos on the website. There were no serving pieces and only white dishes and bowls that I saw at the Familia grocery store in the local town. It was a joke. While we did have the pots and pans we needed, we purchased water, champagne and wine glasses. We bought new kitchen knives as the others were dull and there was no sharpener. We bought a coffee grinder, ice cube trays, soap for our baths, kitchen towels, kitchen shears. The list continued and was ridiculous. The owner’s response was that it was a self catering rental. After a series of emails he offered to reimburse us. The bath towels were old, often of different shades of grey. My first towel was spotted with what looked to be rust. The sheets were of poor quality, the beds hard, and the pillows bits of torn foam. When we complained about the linens to the owner, the caretaker came by and locked the linen cabinets. The owner, Clay, told us how proud of the garden he was. We found weedy beds, weedy grass poorly tended, weeds in paths, dead branches and wild vines growing through untrimmed lavender. The pool, which is unheated, was said to be 82 degrees and was actually 70. The insulating pool cover, which would have kept the temperature up so we could use the pool, was too dirty to put on the pool. The caretaker, told us it was falling apart and Clay, the owner, wouldn’t spend the money to replace it. The pool furniture that was left from the photo shoot on the website was filthy and some had been replaced with cheap white plastic lounge chairs. They too needed a scrub. Some pieces were just gone. We repaired the vacuum cleaner, removing balls of filth from the floor brush. Disgusting. We scrubbed floors, the stove vent, and swept. We were told to keep the house very clean and not to leave food out because of the ants. Oh, and

  Owner response: Thank you very much for taking the time to write about your experience at Villa San Lorenzo. Our guests' experience and enjoyment of the property as well as the region is our number one priority and thus we were so disappointed to hear of your stay. We sincerely appreciate the specific details you have shared with us. We were last at the Villa 8 weeks prior to this visit and all of the photographs (except for the winter photo) were taken at that time. Since we had been away for a period of time, apparently conditions had slipped below our standards without our knowledge. Guests prior to your stay expressed that they were very pleased with their experience, so we were quite shocked to discover, upon your comments, that conditions were sub par. We sincerely apologize for your disappointing stay and, after hearing these comments we have replaced our property manager as of October 2012 as well as our cleaning crew. A new crew has done an intensive deep clean. The pool is heated by the sun and we have found the temperatures between 76 F and 84 F from the beginning of June through mid September. Thank you for pointing out the pool cover and upon recent inspection we have ordered a new cover that will be in place for Spring 2013. We do provide all kitchen supplies, and appreciate you calling to our attention any missing items. We have since replaced and restocked knives, wine glasses and water glasses. Our wonderful local Professional Chef who is available for guests upon request does not bring of his own equipment because of the well equipped kitchen at Villa San Lorenzo. The bath towels are new and were actually purchased gray in the Spring 2012; however, upon inspection the tinted color appeared lovely at first it doesn't portray the pristine white cleanliness that we want for guests so we have replaced all towels at the beginning of October 2012. As we expressed, we so truly apologize for your disappointing stay. The beds are all new, so we are surprised at your discomfort. Though, they do tend to be "firm" style mattresses, we chose these based on guests preferences. We have actually received rave reviews on the beds and linens, and are so sorry that you experienced any discomfort. The comment made by our previous property manager with regards to not wanting to spend money for Villa San Lorenzo could not be further from the truth. It our intention to continually invest in improvements to the property. Thanks again for these comments.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/6

• An incredible week at the Villa San Lorenzo

  An incredible week at the Villa San Lorenzo

  • Guest Suzanne R.
  • Date of stay 06/23/12
  • Review Submitted 07/31/12
  We recently spent one week at the Villa San Lorenzo. Our visit to Piemonte was made so more special by staying at the Villa San Lorenzo and the wonderful recommendations made by Clay, the owner. The Villa is located on a private and beautifully situated property – with stunning views across the valley and beyond to the Alps. Because of the way it is laid out, every ensuite bedroom is totally private; and the large living spaces provide the opportunity for all to enjoy time together. But, as we were visiting during the summer (late June), it was the pool area and outside "dining room” that we enjoyed the most. It was so wonderful to return from a day's outing, relax by the pool and enjoy dinner as the sun set over the valley and the mountains. We made arrangements with Clay to have three of our dinners prepared at the Villa. Franceso and Fabiana cooked delicious dinners for us. We loved the delicate zucchini blossoms and sage leaves - oh so lightly battered and fried, the tajarin pasta with different tasty sauces, the pizzas prepared in the outdoor wood fired oven and the homemade desserts. We also thoroughly enjoyed two of the osterias suggested on the website. On the day of our arrival, we ate lunch at Osteria dei Binelli, which is only a 10 minute drive from the Villa. We enjoyed our visit there so much that we returned another evening during the week.We also dined at Osteria Battaglino in Dogliani. Our dinner was just wonderful – highlighted with the porcini mushrooms the chef had harvested that day. For breakfast, we visited Pasticceria Truffa in Bossolasco. It is a wonderful walk from the Villa to the town – and by climbing the hill – we felt we had earned the delicious pudding like hot chocolate, cappuccinos and freshly made pastries. Of course, we couldn’t leave without some of the homemade chocolates. We made arrangements with Clay to visit some of the Barolo wineries. John Pinca, our driver and guide, picked us up at the Villa. We visited three wineries – all unique – throughout John entertained us with stories about the area and the wineries, making the day extra special. Massimo, is the manager of the Villa and took great care of us all week. And, when my sister was injured in a fall, he met her and her husband in Dogliani and took them first to the Emergency Clinic and then accompanied them to the hospital in Mondovi, staying to act as interpreter and facilitator. We are forever in his debt.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Fantastic spring adventure

  Fantastic spring adventure

  • Guest Geir G.
  • Date of stay 05/20/12
  • Review Submitted 06/25/12
  We stayed for 5 great sprig weeks in this wonderful home. The place is characterized by a combination of luxury, the middle of nature feel, and an authentic rustic character that we found irresistible. The pool area is spacious with a great view and children friendly. This kind of pool is a rare treat in Piemonte. As a great added value the friendly owner were also living there for part of our stay and made stunning pitza´s in the true “al forno” oven outside. He even threw a pitza party with some of the greatest wine growers of the area attending. I leave the rest of that occasion to your winey imagination. I highly recommend sitting out late by the big stone table. We nibbled to some old Barolo and local salami (There is a fantastic butcher in nearby Dogliani) and watched the heavends. The altitude and lack of background light from nearby cities makes the heaven laden with stars. Is a real romantic wonder. All this was of course supported by the occasional shooting stars and the always-present fireflies. We will be back – hungry for more! Geir & Khrystyna Gjerdrum + kids (Norway)

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Additional information about rental rates

Rates are based on a 4 bedroom - 4 bathroom rental which includes Suites 1, 2, 3, 4 and Main Level Kitchen/Dining/Living. There are an additional 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and Grand Salon for groups of 12 people, the rate for the ENTIRE villa is 7.000 EURO for 7 nights.

SAN LORENZO DI MCLACHLAN CLAY BRIAN

LOC SAN LORENZO 29

BONVICINO (CN) 12060

CF: MCLCYB71R04Z401Q

P.IVA: 03460390044

50% due upon booking, 50% due 60 days prior to arrival.

Additional Fees and Taxes:

Final Cleaning is included in rate. 10% IVA is included in all rates.