Scenes from some of the movie Letters to Juliet were filmed at Relais Borgo Scopeto and it’s easy to see why – the four-star superior Tuscan villa stay provides a picture-perfect setting.
But as the Best of Wine Tourism Florence awards prove, the luxury medieval hamlet hotel in the heart of Tuscany is a lot more than just a movie set.
Relais Borgo Scopeto provides top-notch service, exquisite Tuscan cuisine with the wines to match and a newly opened health spa for those wanting to be pampered while on their Tuscan wine tour.
The stop at the Relais is part of our visit to Chianti and the winners in the Great Wine Capitals Wine Tourism competition.
Without wanting to sound sycophantic, the Borgo Scopeto Relais is nothing less than an extremely good stop for a luxury Tuscan hotel.
Despite the four star sign out the front, the staff manage to provide a warm Tuscan welcome with a certain domesticity about their service which has none of the distant, “yes-sir” style of other luxury hotels.
The rooms are comfortable and modern and have been decorated to provide an elegant feel – you will find no rustic farmhouse furnishings here.
There are two swimming pools, one which has a view of Siena in the distance and was the reason the Letters to Juliet troupe was originally interested in Borgo Scopeto.
On discovering the place, with its warm, pink stone and impeccable restoration, they decided to film more scenes there and so stayed a total of 17 days.
The hotel is clearly happy with the result and after requests from guests, kept the changes made to the main bedroom which was redecorated for the film.
The restaurant service provides traditional Tuscan cuisine but with a modern touch and sophisticated presentation.
The menu is changed regularly for guests who stay longer, and often features themed nights.
All the dishes can be matched with Borgo Scopeto’s wine – an extensive selection which ranges from Vermentino from Tuscany’s Maremma region, to the more local Chianti Classico.
Our stay included a menu of homemade paté matched to a bottle of 2009 “Doga delle Clavule” Morellino di Scansano.
It was followed by pasta made from spelt flour with a duck ragù and grated orange rind sauce accompanied by a bottle of the 2008 “Borgo Scopeto” Chianti Classico.
The main course was a roasted pork loin with asparagus and apple sauce, with a 2004 bottle of “Borgo Scopeto” Borgonero.
We finished with a strawberry and mascarpone dessert, followed by a glass of Vin Santo del Chianti.
The following morning we had a tour of the Borgo Scopeto health spa and grounds.
The relais has invested in the health spa to provide a focus for their products and you can find wine therapy treatments, and beauty treatments using the local olive oil and honey products.
The traditional Italian products from Borgo Scopeto have become a cosmetic range as well, with various facial creams and body treatments in grape or olive oil selections.
A tour of the Borgo Scopeto grounds gives you a real sense of what this medieval hamlet would have been like when many families were living there and carrying on their daily lives.
The restoration has kept features such as the stable doors and old fireplace for making bread, but has made for various rooms from luxury suites to standard doubles.
See our Borgo Scopeto gallery for a glance at the lovely Tuscan setting, and go to the Relais website for bookings and more information.