For wine lovers: at these places you can sleep among the vineyards

Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the gourmands at online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat it and what to cook. This time our cheffies serve you: At these addresses, you sleep among the vineyards.

As wine lovers, we want nothing more than to sleep in a wine barrel and bathing in red wine. Or well, a vacation at one of these holiday addresses, surrounded by vineyards, is also high on our list. It is incredibly beautiful here!

Angheli in Sicily, Italy
Angheli is a Greek name, which is not so strange in Sicily, as this island was part of the area of Magna Graecia, Greater Greece. But Angheli is also the name of one of the owners and the name of the wine from the Donnafugata winery, which is owned by Angheli's uncle and aunt. The wine is made from local Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and pairs wonderfully with a good spaghetti al ragù. The villa is just a few kilometers outside Menfi, a wine town surrounded by hills covered with vines and olive groves. It even has its own small vineyard where you can take lovely evening walks – with a glass of wine in hand, of course.

Artelia in Zakynthos, Greece
Artelia is located in a beautiful panoramic position in the southwest of Zakynthos and offers a captivating view over the national marine park of Zakynthos, the idyllic island of Marathonissi, and a 6-kilometer stretch of sandy beach where sea turtles lay their eggs. The villa is situated in the middle of a private estate of 250 hectares with stables, a riding school of rare horse breeds, and vineyards. So here you are at the source of the cultivation of the local white grape varieties pavlos and gustolidi. The sandy beaches, crystal-clear bays, welcoming tavernas, and characterful villages are within reach. Those who manage to tear themselves away from the dreamy villa at the top of the hill have more than enough to see and experience.

Linera in Sicily, Italy
In the east of Sicily stands Linera, a beautiful holiday villa in an old winery from 1860. The owner loves design and vintage, and you can see that everywhere. The modern accessories blend effortlessly with the antique family pieces and original mid-century art. The villa is beautifully located between Etna and the Ionian Sea, a few kilometers outside the village of Santa Venerina, and is the perfect starting point to explore the wineries around the volcano. In the area, high-quality Italian wines are made due to the unique terroir (a combination of location relative to the sun, the soil, and the winemaker's hand). Of course, you can visit producers like Barone di Villagrande or Planeta Sciaranuova on your own, but there are also tours and wine tastings available.

Villa Liccia in Corsica, France
Corsican viticulture dates back more than 2500 years, when Phoenician colonists planted the first vines. In the 1970s, not much good wine was made in Corsica, and there was overproduction. A thorn in the side of the government, which in the 1980s decided to close most of the wineries and destroy the vineyards. Subsequently, the wine industry was rebuilt from scratch, with quality being (and still being) controlled by the government. There are now nine wine regions in Corsica, with the Sartène area in the south, near Villa Liccia. Here you can find delicious bottles of wine to enjoy at the villa, which invites you to spend most of your days and evenings outside.

Katalania in Zakynthos, Greece
This villa is located on a hilltop in the tranquil landscape of the southeastern foothills of Zakynthos. Surrounded by dense forests that grow down to the coast and close to hidden sandy beaches and cozy tavernas. There’s a good chance you can order a verdea there. Verdea is a typical white island wine that has been made since 1800 from the local grape varieties skiadopoulo, katsakoulis, and pavlos. The table wine has a pleasant acidity and is a nice drinker. Another local grape variety is the avgoustiatis, which is used to make wines on Zakynthos with a deep red color, soft tannins, and a high acidity. There’s a good chance that the wine in your glass was made by a friend or family member of the tavern owner.

Rocca delle Tre Contrade in Sicily, Italy
Rocca delle Tre Contrade was once surrounded by vineyards. The aristocratic landowners built a house there in 1850 for the harvest. It has been empty since the 1960s until the current owners bought it and fully restored it sixteen years ago. The renovation was carried out using traditional methods and materials, such as lava stone, local sand-based plaster, and antique roof tiles. The luxury villa is located at the foot of Etna and is surrounded by vineyards and wineries. There are various options in the region for wine tours and tastings, but opening a bottle at home is just as easy; Rocca delle Tre Contrade has its own wine cellar.

Do you want more information about the villas? They are available for rent via www.thethinkingtraveller.com.