Overview
Cantine Virzì is a working winery producing high quality wines. The original building, dating back to the early 20th century, has been recently restored without harming its original charm, which shows intact. The spectacular panoramic view on the 180 hectares vineyards of the estate in the heart of western Sicily will literally take your breath away. Choose to spend your holiday in one of the most exclusive wineries in Sicily, relax next to the splendid swimming pool, float lazily on the water, read a good book, or listen to music in the touching embrace of green hills and azure sky, sip the excellent wines produced here, enjoy the good food prepared in the exclusive restaurant, soak up the healthy atmosphere of this place! Your body and spirit cannot but come out newly invigorated.
Property details
Cantine Virzì estate consists of the cellar - with stainless steel tanks, barriques, and a technologically advanced wine-making equipment - a large pool with solarium and Mediterranean gazebo, a beautiful private garden, an on-site restaurant with privè overlooking the lush vineyards, and 6 lovely independent apartments, all equipped with kitchen, bathroom and air conditioning. Heating is provided by a wood-burning stove.
The apartments are:
Pimpa - It's the most exclusive, and consists of a flat laying on a natural panoramic terrace overlooking the vines, with wide windows, open fire-place, double bed and 2 sofa beds. The kitchen is equipped with cooktop, oven, fridge and dishwasher. The bathroom was built to put up also disabled guests.
Janine - On the ground floor you can find the living room with open plan kitchen and a bathroom with shower. An internal staircase leads to the sleeping area, with queen-size bed.
Azzurra - Its interiors have summer tinges, white and two tones of blue. Here you can find a living room with open-plan kitchen, a bathroom. and a lovely double bedroom, which opens onto a private gazebo with stunning view on the vineyards.
Gialla - The interiors are white and terra cotta, with accents of blue. The wooden ceilings are fully insulated. The panoramic view from the double bedroom can be better appreciated from the slightly raised bed facing the window. At the back of the house there's a private gazebo with table and deck-chairs.
SoleLuna - The insulated ceiling is wooden like the furniture. The kitchen has cooktop, oven and fridge. The bathroom is equipped with shower. At the back of the house there's a lovely private gazebo overlooking the vineyards.
Sonja - It develops on 2 levels: on the ground floor you'll find the kitchen, the living area and a bathroom with shower. On the mezzanine, a double bed and a panoramic terrace overlooking the vineyards.
Area details
Cantine Virzì estate is located in the heart of western Sicily, surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, extensive vineyards and olive groves, between Segesta and Monreale. It is a perfect home-base to visit the beauties of this area of Sicily, such as the white sandy beaches in S. Vito Lo Capo and Castellammare del Golfo, the crystal-clar sea, rocky stacks and picturesque village in Scopello, the Zingaro Nature Reserve and its turquoise bays encircled by high rocky cliffs, the stunning Greek temple and theatre in Segesta, the grand archaeological site of Selinunte, the lovely Trapani with its famous salt plans, the fascinating medieval town of Erice, the historical centres of Marsala and Mazara, and their innumerable monuments dating back to different ages - from the Phoenicians' and Romans' times to 17th and 18th century Baroque - the little isle of Mothya, once a Phoenician fortress and today an interesting archaeological site with a rich Museum. Everywhere you will taste the tasty Sicilian fish, innumerable kinds of local wines - from Bianco d'Alcamo to Marsala - excellent tuna fish and botargo from the still working "tonnare" of this area, and the delicious local sweets and pastries made with fresh "ricotta" cheese or almonds.
Additional Information
Cantine Virzì organizes cooking classes, wine tastings and guided tours in the cellar. The on-site restaurant will offer meat and fish menus for € 25/€ 30 per person. If you wish, you can buy the excellent wines produced at the estate to make a nice present when you get back home. Cantine Virzì is one of the wineries listed in the popular Food & Wine route “Strade del Vino”, between Alcamo and Camporeale.
Releated Press Articles
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Zest of the West: Cantine Virzì - 15 September 2011
Zest of the West: Cantine Virzì - 15 September 2011
View Article
The Trapani province in western Sicily is rich in scenic landscapes
When Giuseppe Garibaldi landed in the port of Marsala, western Sicily, in 1860, he was in a hurry.
Coming ashore with just 1,000 men, the revolutionary leader fought his way across country to unite Italy as a new nation state.
Yet had he chosen to stay in this corner of the island a while longer he could have enjoyed some of its fine food and wine, beautiful rugged coastline and abundance of ancient sights. Of course, if he had then modern Italy would not be celebrating its 150th birthday this year.
Once king and country had been established, Garibaldi did return to Marsala, paying a visit to the town’s famous Florio winery in 1862 – as a plaque on the wall testifies. “Some people say this place is like a museum, I say it’s more like a cathedral,” says Florio tour guide Marcelo, as he gestures towards its lofty ceilings. Giant 100-year-old casks tower above us, giving off a mellow aroma of oak and ageing wine.
Marsala made its way onto the world stage in the 18th-century thanks to the ingenuity of British merchant John Woodhouse. A fortified wine similar to Port, its ability to withstand long ocean voyages made it ideal for export, and Marsala was soon being stocked on the ships of Nelson’s navy.[...]
TRAPANI AND BEYOND
Back in the city, Trapani offers a compact old town, with baroque facades and ancient churches to discover. It’s a town steeped in traditions, one of which can be observed at the Chiesa del Purgatorio. This church is filled with huge religious figures that are carried on the shoulders of the faithful during the city’s fervent Easter processions.
Once you’ve seen Trapani, investigate the nearby countryside. The landscapes here are ethereal, with mountains capped by whisps of cloud framing sweeping valleys of fertile farmland. It’s not normally advisable on any trip to leave the highway and attempt to get lost, but in western Sicily it’s well worth going off the beaten track – and you won’t find a car or soul in sight.
Various farmstays and villas offer a great way to wake up to this kind of vista each morning. Just off the main road between Trapani and Palermo we drop in at Cantine Virzì, a winery and boutique hotel run by the Spadafora family. Their former sharecroppers’ apartments overlook fields of vines, harvested each summer by hand. With space for just 14 guests and a location literally in the middle of nowhere, it’s a peaceful escape for a few days swimming in the pool and drinking the wines – they even leave a free bottle in your fridge!
Where to stay
CANTINE VIRZÌ
This working winery is one of several unique accommodation options from soloSicily, a company that off ers tailor-made holidays and expert local advice on Sicily. Cantine Virzì has a pool, on-site chef and wonderful remote location on sprawling farmland near Segesta. Among soloSicily’s other properties are a villa with a pool in Scopello and a period aristocratic residence in Marsala.
TEL: +44 (0)20 7193 0158, WWW.SOLOSICILY.COM
Read full article on the Ryanair Magazine website