Sinio, Italy ~ Hotel Castello di Sinio

October 2022

Both of us have been big fans of the wines of Piemonte, particularly those crafted with the Nebbiolo grape, and we were looking for a place to stay in the Barolo wine region from where we could explore all the area had to offer. After much research, we chose Hotel Castello di Sinio, located in the small village of Sinio just outside the official boundary of Barolo proper. We knew we would need a rental car to fully experience the area, and Sinio was well-placed to put us close to all of the beautiful small towns and famous vineyards of Barolo.

Our travel plans had us flying from Amsterdam to Turin, at which point we picked up our rental car and headed south through Piemonte and toward the hills of the Langhe. As we drove deeper into the wine region, the flat agricultural land of the Po Valley gave way to rolling hills and vineyards. The scenery was spectacular, with historic hilltop villages poised above the vineyards cascading down the hillsides below.

We arrived at the hotel and were warmly greeted by the hotel staff. We had no sooner completed the brief check-in process when the proprietor, Denise Pardini, took us under her wing. Denise not only owns and operates the hotel but is also an expert in the culture, food, and wine of the region. She asked us about our plans and spent well over an hour giving us a primer on the wines of Barolo, the geology and soils, the characteristics of the many vineyard areas within Barolo, tips on travel, which towns to visit, where to eat, and much more. Denise and her team were incredibly helpful throughout our stay.

After our introduction to all things Barolo, we were led to our room. On the short walk across the courtyard area, we noted the beautiful hotel grounds, green and refreshing after our journey.

We’ve stayed in many unique places, but even by our standards, the room was a standout. Sleeping in the former chapel of the castello, complete with a stone arched ceiling in the bedroom, was — pun intended — heavenly. The castello’s history permeated our quarters, from our giant door key to the meter-thick walls. We had a spacious bedroom (the chapel), a sitting room with two sofas, and a bathroom, all of which had windows that opened to the autumn Piemontese breeze. The decor was a little over-the-top for our taste, but it felt true to the property, and the theme played out throughout the hotel. It was clear that all of the choices were intentional and showcased the owner’s design sense. One of our favorite touches was the turn-down service with a unique quote for each day.

We had one minor irritation: the hand-held shower head leaked badly, making bathing a challenge. B we reported this at the end of the stay, and we’re confident the problem has been remedied.

At check-in, when we asked about restaurants, Denise, the hotellier, pointed out that we probably wouldn’t need lunch after enjoying a breakfast at the hotel. She was right. Each morning, we sat outside under a vine-covered arbor and filled up on cappucino, expertly prepared egg goodies that varied by day, local produce, and pastries. If we didn’t have fun adventures ahead of us, it would have been quite hard to leave the table.

The hotel also featured a small pool with amazing views of Sinio and the Barolo hills; more than a few times we imbibed in a glass of Barolo poolside, while watching the hotel cats frolic — or, more often, nap — around the grounds. The weather was beautiful, so we spent most of our time at the hotel outside, but the property also featured a small but inviting lobby full of wine books and a tiny bar, a restaurant that serves up delicious Peimontese specialities, and a breakfast room. The hotel was once the castle — or manor house — for Sinio, standing at the very top of the hilltop village, so we also enjoyed exploring Sineo’s narrow, steep streets, its village church, and the local bocce court where locals congregated each evening.

Stay details:

• Hotel Castello di Sinio, vicolo del castello, 1, 12050 Sinio CN, Italy
• 4-night stay: October 5-9, 2022
• Chapel Suite: Room 16

What we did, where we ate:

Wine-related:

• Wine Class: Introduction to the wines and terrior of Barolo. This was an excellent intro taught by the Castello proprietor Denise.
• Wine Class: Intro to Wines of the Langhe. Taught by local wine expert Evan Byrnelah at the Castello.
• Wine Class: Barolo Master Class. Taught by Stefano Moiso at Enoteca La Vite Turchese in the town of Barolo. Highly recommended.
• Winery visit to Mazoni Giovanni in Monforte d’Alba. Graciously hosted by Mirella Manzone.

Eating and drinking:

• Pardini, Vini, & Cucina (Restaurant at the Castello)
• Le Torri in Castiglione Falletto
• Il GrecAle in Borgata Muratori/La Morra
• Trattoria La Coccinella in Serravalle

Outings and adventures:

• Truffle Hunt with Guiseppe, Giacomo and Luna the truffle-sniffing dog. Arranged by the Castello. The hunt took place off of Via Conforso near Valle Talloria. A wonderful experience.
• Gelato at La Regale Nocciole after a wrong turn.
• International Alba White Truffle Fair.
• Visits to the towns of Serralunga, Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Monforte, and Serravalle.

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