Italy - Veneto

Villa Monteleone

A Karen Brown Recommended B & B

Host: Lucia Raimondi

Via Monteleone, 12
37015-Gargagnago (VR)
Italy

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Karen's Review Of This Property:

Situated in the heart of the Valpolicella wine country, equidistant from Verona and Lake Garda, Gargagnagno is a medieval village made up mostly of grape growers and wine producers. Signora Lucia, born in Colombia, and her late husband, a famous American neurosurgeon, settled here with the dream of producing fine wines. They bought the 300- year-old Villa Monteleone and began producing Valpolicella wines including Amarone and Recioto. Today, Lucia continues to produce wine and also offers hospitality in three very large bedrooms of her home. The San Vito Suite has direct access to the front courtyard, a mix of family furnishings and a bathroom with sauna. Upstairs the Santa Lena room has bright blue sponged walls and a terrace while the San Paolo has antique furniture. Both have their private bathrooms across the hall. An adjoining living room can be transformed into an additional bedroom for a family. Breakfast is served out in the wooded garden which for its variety of ancient trees and vegetation has been listed as a national monument, or within the dining room with its fireplace. The wine production and cellars are situated directly below the house, and wine tastings are offered. The informal ambiance is that of a home.

Vote for Villa Monteleone

Credit Cards Welcome: VISA MC
3 Rooms, Double Occupancy: €70.00 - €85.00*
Minimum Stay Required: 2 nights

Open: Mar to Oct

Phone: (045) 7704974 Fax: (045) 6800160

Directions: Exit at Verona Nord. Take the highway, north towards S. Ambrogio di Valpolicella and exit at Gargagnago. Follow the signs to Villa Monteleone and turn right. The villa is the first gate on the left.

Combined User Ratings:
Overall Rating: 5	Quality Rating: 5	Welcome Rating: 5	Charm Rating: 5

Traveler Reviews:
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My husband and I have never felt more welcome and well cared for than we did during our stay at Villa Monteleone. Lucia Raimondi is the warmest and most gracious hostess you could possibly ask for. She is also an extremely intelligent and talented business woman whose vineyards in the Valpolicella wine region produce excellent wines that we wish were easier to obtain in our part of the United States. We sampled the wine and toured the wine cellar and vineyards while we were staying at the villa. The villa itself is beautiful, and the gardens are lovely. Our breakfast was delicious and served on beautiful dishes with elegant matching linens. Our stay was perfect. We could not have asked for anything more. Please do not plan a visit to Villa Monteleone unless you are prepared to love both the people and the place. If we ever have the opportunity, we will definitely return.

-- Anonymous (May 22, 2008)

Overall Rating:
5

Quality Rating:
5

Welcome Rating:
5

Charm Rating:
5

My husband and I loved Villa Monteleone. Lucia is a warm and gracious host and could not do enough for us. We felt right at home and by the end of our stay felt we had known Lucia for many years. We enjoyed the special touches Lucia provided. When we mentioned a special interest, information would appear in our room later the same day. We had our breakfast in the lovely garden and the coffee kept on coming and the breakfast was delightful. It did not take Lucia long to find out that we were early risers and she made sure coffee was ready. The morning we left we had to leave early and she made sure we had coffee before we left. We really enjoyed a personal tour of her wine operation and ordered her wine when we we had the opportunity.

-- Judy White (July 1, 2008)

Overall Rating:
5

Quality Rating:
5

Welcome Rating:
5

Charm Rating:
5

Lucia Raimondi, the owner and proprietor, was absolutely the most incredible hostess that you could hope to have! When you pull up to the gate, you have to ring the bell to announce your arrival, then you are greeted by a wonderfully warm and sophisticated lady and her way too cute little dog, skoshie. Lucia speaks perfect English and has a very interesting history. We were very lucky that our trip corresponded with her time to bottle her wine (delicious!). She gave us a tour of her wine cellar and took us through the entire bottling process. She also recommended a wonderful restaurant for us to visit on our one night there, which was located on top of the hillside and overlooked the valley. Our room was the San Vito Suite and it was so comfortable and homey. Breakfast was served outside in the garden and her staff was exceptionally nice and accommodating. I only wish we could have spent our entire trip there. This Villa is located about 20 min. outside of Verona, but we enjoyed being there more than the trip into the city. Lucia even arranged our next hotel stay outside of Modena. I would recommend this experience to anyone and give her a definite two thumbs up!!!! Her wines and olive oil are amazing and worth experiencing.

-- Betty Daw (July 28, 2008)

Overall Rating:
5

Quality Rating:
5

Welcome Rating:
5

Charm Rating:
5

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