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GELSOBELLO - Ginestra with Lavanda
BARBERINO VAL D'ELSA - Chianti region - Tuscany Property ID: 4483 |
Rating: 
Sleeps: 6-8 |
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I guess it makes sense to start at the beginning, and any trip to Italy should begin with Gira Travel! From my first contact with Gira Travel, I received an exceptional level of personalized customer service from your entire team. Throughout numerous emails and telephone calls, asking what must have only seemed like an endless stream of questions, Gira Travel promptly provided answers to every question and often times anticipated my follow-on questions by providing additional information without prompting. The booking process was fast and easy, but the two things I appreciated the most was their integrity and their candid recommendations based on their personal experience with various agriturismo offerings. I would encourage anyone interested in seeing Italy from a relaxed, self-paced setting (as opposed to most whirlwind tours), to leverage the experience, knowledge, and absolute professionalism from the team at Gira Travel. As for the Lavanda apartment and Gelsobello itself, I can best describe it as "The Heart of Tuscany". I say this not because of its geographic location, although it is nicely situated in the central Tuscany region, it is because of the people who own, manage, and make Gelsobello such a peaceful, relaxing, place in which to tour Italy from. The "heart" as I call it is found in the genuine caring that is evident in everyone associated with this wonderful destination. It is this caring that causes you to quickly fall in love with Italy, its history, and its people. From the first moment you are greeted at the main gate by the warm and friendly voice of Chiara, you instantly know that you are much more than a mere customer; you are a treasured guest. After a very simple check-in procedure, Chiara cheerfully hands you off to Dori ( who maintains a full-time residence at the estate) who shows you to your apartment and then invites you on a walking tour of the entire facility. As you listen to Dori describe the many amenities found at Gelsobello, you are struck by her devotion to ensuring your comfort and care while at the estate. As she speaks about the vineyards, olive groves, and the products derived from this working estate (Fattoria Vallachi), you begin to sense the immense love that everyone at Gelsobello has for the environment, their history, and the pride they take in making every bottle of wine, olive oil, or jar of jam. Together, Chiara and Dori excel in striving to meet every guest's needs and desires. The members of the Sinesi family, who have owned Fattoria Vallach (the farm, winery, and land) and Gelsobello (the agriturismo component) are often found at the estate and make you feel as though you are part of their extended family. Irene, who ably manages Gelsobello along with her mother, Stefania, make a point of meeting every guest and offering their services to help your holiday be everything it can be. Irene often arranges wine tastings for her guests and shares both the history of Tuscan wine making and the tradition of Chianti and other Tuscan favorites with her newly found friends. Stefania always joins in with Susanna (Gelsobello's head chef) for the pasta making class by sharing some of her favorite family recipes for pastas and desserts. Susanna also teaches the Tuscan Cooking Class, which is a "must do" item for every guest who has dreamed of learning to prepare healthy, well-balanced, and delicious Tuscan meals using the simple yet elegant methods of the traditional Tuscan people that have been passed down for generations. From gnocchi to arista and everything in between, Susanna's relaxed conversational style puts everyone in the class at ease instantly and allows even the most inexperienced cooks (like me) to learn how to successfully prepare mouth-watering Tuscan favorites. To summarize our experience with Gelsobello, I would have to say EXTRAORDINARY! I strongly encourage anyone looking to travel to Italy to consider Gelsobello as their base of operations because at the end of a long day of sightseeing, etc., you feel as though you just arrived at home the moment you turn into their drive. Very Respectfully, James W. 10/2011 |
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Gira! Italian Vacation Rentals
1003 South Madison Street
Denver, Colorado 80209 USA
info@italyrentals.com
1003 South Madison Street
Denver, Colorado 80209 USA
info@italyrentals.com