Lupaia Winery

The name Lupaia is derived from the Latin word lupus (wolf) and can be translated as ‘the hill of the wolves’. Today, the times when wolves roamed the hills of Tuscany have long passed, and Lupaia exists as an exclusive boutique hotel. With just 11 rooms and suites, a restaurant and a pool, Lupaia lies halfway between Florence and Rome, in the middle of the Tuscan countryside, in the world-renowned wine region of Montepulciano.

Lupaia lays on foundations more than a thousand years old, with the main house and annex dating back to 1622. The owners, an Austrian family who also manage the inn, have created an intimate and romantic hideaway with splendid views of medieval villages, vineyards and olive groves.

Laid out like a tiny village, there are a lot of hidden spots and angles to explore. Each of the 11 rooms and suites is unique, but all share the same attention to detail and the use of high-quality natural materials and furnishings. Every room has its private outside space with splendid views of the Tuscan countryside.

Privacy and tranquility are paramount, and the various inside and outside sitting areas provide ample space for each guest. The pool area, with its infinity pool and the separate heated jacuzzi tub, provides sweeping sunset views.

Restaurant

The restaurant with its beautiful open kitchen is located in the main building of the estate. It truly is the heart of the hotel and welcomes guests from the early morning until late at night. The open kitchen truly comes alive in the afternoon, when Chef Andrea starts preparing the dinner menu, and the smells of fresh herbs and roasted meat fill the air. Ingredients all come from local suppliers and Lupaia’s organic vegetable garden. In the warmer months, guests enjoy outside dinners on the romantic terrace with views towards the medieval village of Montefollonico.

Local area

Set in the province of Siena between Montepulciano and Pienza, Lupaia features a unique combination of nature and history. The hotel is an ideal base from which to explore the towns and villages of Tuscany, offering at the same time the unique experience of being on a tranquil country estate that offers the serenity and solitude that has become so rare in this busy world.

For wine enthusiasts, the options are ample, for Lupaia is in the middle of the ‘wine triangle’ of Chianti, Montepulciano and Montalcino.

Activities in the hotel

Guests can experience a host of individual, private activities to make their stay truly unforgettable: from cooking classes in the open kitchen, using only the freshest ingredients, to a picnic in the olive grove with a traditional picnic hamper filled with various delicacies; the more adventurous, a truffle hunt with a local truffle hunter and his dogs can be arranged. The highlight is the Sunset Negroni experience, in which guests are led to a secret pergola overlooking Montepulciano, where a private barman awaits to prepare Italy’s most famous cocktail in front of the magical scenery of Montepulciano in the fading daylight.

The owners

Abandoning their successful careers in Marketing and Communications for international corporations, Heidi und Christopher Mueller decided to realize their dream of running a small inn in rural Tuscany. Bringing their best experiences from their own travels, a meticulous attention to details and careful renovations of the old structures, they have created a romantic hideaway for guests looking for a unique travel experience.