WHERE TO STAY

Locanda La Raia Once an inn where wayfarers would stop for food and a good night’s sleep, this green mansion is now a lovely wine resort of 12 rooms, each individually and tastefully furnished with a mixture of local vintage items and contemporary designer pieces. Find traditional cuisine with a twist at the in-house restaurant, with a menu signed by Michelin-starred chef Tommaso Arrigoni. A spa, a swimming pool overlooking the hills and a peaceful garden complete the list of facilities. A 20-minute walk will take you to their biodynamic farm, where you can enjoy a wine tasting. Doubles from £245, including breakfast and access to the spa. Località Lomellina 26, Gavi, 00 39 0143 642860, la-raia.it

Villa La Bollina Set in the grounds of the Serravalle Golf Club, this fine example of 19th-century Liberty architecture offers eight rooms and four large suites. The interior is grand and as elegant as you’d expect from a former aristocratic residence (it was the summer house of the noble Figari family of Genoa) – think art nouveau style, Murano glass chandeliers and marble bathrooms. The park behind the property is the perfect location for an evening drink, followed by some typical Piedmontese dishes by chef Alessandro Scardina in the in-house restaurant Tracce. Doubles from

£165 including breakfast. Via Monterotondo 60, Serravalle Scrivia,

00 39 0143 302585, hotelvillalabollina.com

Villa Sparina Resort Surrounded by the vineyards of the eponymous, renowned estate, this former farmhouse is now home to a luxury hotel and restaurant La Gallina. In spacious rooms, vintage pieces and artworks from all over Europe are beautifully combined with contemporary furnishings. Among the facilities are a swimming pool, gym, Turkish bath and a massage room. The impeccable hospitality of the Moccagatta family is the icing on the cake. Doubles from £211. Frazione Monterotondo 56, Gavi, 00 39 0143 607801, villasparinaresort.it