Casa nel Bosco

A House in the Woods Above the Vines

Bringing Danish modern sensibilities to the rugged Piedmont region, this rustic-chic lodge sits at the edge of the woods with vineyards zigzagging across the neighboring hills. The fully updated residence was born from ancient stone that’s been given a neat facelift with sleek, clean Scandinavian styling. Original dark woods and saturated mountain stones give the property heft and recall its rustic, rural heritage, but the home’s Danish owners have serenely and smoothly modified the former farm and stable, taming its interiors.

This rough hewn, 200-year-old structure formerly housed farmers, whose beasts of burden were stabled on its lower level. Newly rebuilt but covered with the original Langhe stone, the pastoral outpost stands surrounded by thick woods silhouetted by Piemonte peaks, and vineyards extending in every direction in the valley below.

Once the dream home of a natural outdoorsman, it was passed on to his family, an entrepreneurial Danish couple who completed the renovation, creating a tranquil refuge in a lovely clearing. Stables and communal workspaces now display smooth plasters and natural inlaid stones in soft hues. Radiant heat warms underfoot, and a modern, woodburning stove adds coziness to the living room. Simple wooden furnishings and natural textile accents soften the ebonized steel door jambs, stairwells and window frames, and a muted earthen décor palette feels right at home. Showers are open air and walk-in, simply appointed and spacious, and the kitchen has been redone with modern cooks in mind, in this region reputed to be a “larder of Europe”.

Outside the five-bedroom lodge, the terraces and poolscape have also undergone renovation. Flinty and masculine, the original grey mountain stones have been repurposed and reset, some walls featuring covered patio space or walkways. A covered dining room in the garden seats a dozen, and a 16ft swimming pool dominates the lawn space, with views across the cultivated fields and vineyards.

AROUND

Located in a clearing in the Piedmont woods, this villa for rent in Italy occupies a hilltop near the spa town and health resort Acqui Terme, a sought-out destination for rejuvenation since Roman times, with its mineral-rich, warm waters as well as its sparkling Dolcetto and Brachetto red wines. 

Lesser known than other celebrated Italian regions, the Piedmont feels remote and authentically rural, and offers abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation in its relatively unspoiled hills, forests, and mountains. Vintners, farmers and outdoorsy types call the gentle mountain region home, a place known for its mild climate and fertile, rolling foothills that give the area its agricultural-rich reputation. 

The home occupies some 50,000 square meters of private land—an intimate clearing—overlooking the undulating valleys below. It’s a destination in its own right, though winding country roads will connect the curious to small, historical towns and picturesque mountain villages, after passing through orchards, vineyards, and blonde fields of grain. The famed wine towns of Barolo and Alba are both less than an hour’s drive from the home, skiing is available within an hour’s drive into the mountains, and the beachfront at Savona is also only 45 minutes away.

LOCATION

Roccaverano, Asti, Piedmont, Italy. Nearest airport: Torino

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April and May are wonderful months to visit, with June to September for warm weather pursuits.