Latest news with #Siena
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - Democrats could lose New York in 2026, thanks to Kathy Hochul
One year from now, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is likely to be entering the final stretch of a hotly contested Democratic primary. If recent polling and political developments are any indication, she won't be doing so from a position of strength. Despite the built-in advantages of incumbency and her party's sizable enrollment edge, Hochul appears to be one of the most politically vulnerable governors in the country. The fundamentals should favor her. New York is, by any measure, a Democratic state — no Republican has won statewide since George Pataki won his third term as governor in 2002. But the data tell another story. A recent Siena College poll shows that a majority of New Yorkers would prefer someone else in the governor's office. Among independents, Hochul's favorability remains underwater. Even among Democrats, her standing is underwhelming. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who recently announced he would challenge Hochul in 2026, and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D), another potential 2026 contender, already post stronger favorable-to-unfavorable numbers than the incumbent. In a three-way primary with Delgado and Torres, the Siena poll suggests that although Hochul leads her rivals, she would fall short of 50 percent. This is not the profile of a governor cruising toward an easy reelection. Hochul's problem is not ideological incoherence but institutional weakness. She occupies what is arguably the most powerful state executive office in the country. The New York Constitution grants the governor sweeping authority over the budget, including the power to insert policy changes and force the legislature's hand through extender bills that allow the state to continue functioning while budget negotiations continue. And yet, in the spring of 2025, Hochul's budget was delayed by more than five weeks — not because Republicans stood in her way, but because her fellow Democrats did. Rather than use the tools of her office to shape the process, Hochul appeared to shrink from conflict with Democratic state legislators. Legislative leaders extracted key concessions, and the final budget satisfied few. Seasoned Albany observers were left marveling at how thoroughly the governor had been rolled by legislators in her own party. Such ineffectiveness would have been unthinkable under Hochul's predecessor, Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo, a master political operator, understood how to wield the tools of executive power to achieve his goals. Hochul, by contrast, has projected indecision and incompetence. Democratic insiders, including state legislators, labor leaders and other elected officials, have taken note. There is even open discussion in Albany of amending the state constitution to rein in the governor's budgetary powers. That such a proposal is even being entertained by members of her own party signals how little authority Hochul commands within New York's Democratic political establishment. The deterioration is not merely procedural — it is also philosophical. The 2025 budget battle exposed growing rifts between Hochul and progressive Democrats in the state legislature. Her push for a 'bell-to-bell' cellphone ban in schools and a rollback of the state's 2019 criminal discovery reforms were framed as commonsense responses to real problems. But to the legislature's increasingly progressive membership, they looked like symbolic, regressive intrusions on hard-won reforms. Hochul ultimately secured partial, but costly, victories: key political players in her own party no longer view her as a reliable or competent leader. There is also the matter of her repeated and consistent electoral underperformance. In 2014, running for lieutenant governor alongside Andrew Cuomo, Hochul, while ultimately victorious, lost key Democratic counties — including Manhattan, Albany and Schenectady — to her little-known opponent, Tim Wu. Four years later, she barely fended off Jumaane Williams, then a member of the New York City Council, in the lieutenant governor's primary, even as Cuomo coasted to victory over actress and activist Cynthia Nixon. And in 2022, Hochul won a full term as governor by a mere 6-point margin over Long Island's Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) — the narrowest victory for a Democrat running for governor of New York in four decades. In more than a decade on the statewide political stage, Hochul has never shown the capacity to excite her base, grow her party or expand her coalition. The numbers don't lie: Hochul wins, but always by a much closer margin than seasoned political observers would expect. Her weakness offers Republicans an opportunity. If the GOP can field a credible, well-funded candidate in 2026 — particularly one who can energize the Republican base, speak to concerns about crime and affordability, and exploit Democratic dissatisfaction with Hochul — the party could make a real play for the governorship. The road is steep but not implausible. New York remains, by the numbers, one of the bluest states in the nation. But even in the bluest of states, governors must perform. Kathy Hochul has yet to prove she can lead her own party, let alone the state. These ongoing political problems might cause her political career to come to an abrupt end in 2026. Joe Burns is a partner with the Holtzman Vogel law firm, with a focus on election cases in New York State. He previously served as deputy director of election operations at the New York State Board of Elections. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Democrats could lose New York in 2026, thanks to Kathy Hochul
One year from now, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is likely to be entering the final stretch of a hotly contested Democratic primary. If recent polling and political developments are any indication, she won't be doing so from a position of strength. Despite the built-in advantages of incumbency and her party's sizable enrollment edge, Hochul appears to be one of the most politically vulnerable governors in the country. The fundamentals should favor her. New York is, by any measure, a Democratic state — no Republican has won statewide since George Pataki won his third term as governor in 2002. But the data tell another story. A recent Siena College poll shows that a majority of New Yorkers would prefer someone else in the governor's office. Among independents, Hochul's favorability remains underwater. Even among Democrats, her standing is underwhelming. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who recently announced he would challenge Hochul in 2026, and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D), another potential 2026 contender, already post stronger favorable-to-unfavorable numbers than the incumbent. In a three-way primary with Delgado and Torres, the Siena poll suggests that although Hochul leads her rivals, she would fall short of 50 percent. This is not the profile of a governor cruising toward an easy reelection. Hochul's problem is not ideological incoherence but institutional weakness. She occupies what is arguably the most powerful state executive office in the country. The New York Constitution grants the governor sweeping authority over the budget, including the power to insert policy changes and force the legislature's hand through extender bills that allow the state to continue functioning while budget negotiations continue. And yet, in the spring of 2025, Hochul's budget was delayed by more than five weeks — not because Republicans stood in her way, but because her fellow Democrats did. Rather than use the tools of her office to shape the process, Hochul appeared to shrink from conflict with Democratic state legislators. Legislative leaders extracted key concessions, and the final budget satisfied few. Seasoned Albany observers were left marveling at how thoroughly the governor had been rolled by legislators in her own party. Such ineffectiveness would have been unthinkable under Hochul's predecessor, Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo, a master political operator, understood how to wield the tools of executive power to achieve his goals. Hochul, by contrast, has projected indecision and incompetence. Democratic insiders, including state legislators, labor leaders and other elected officials, have taken note. There is even open discussion in Albany of amending the state constitution to rein in the governor's budgetary powers. That such a proposal is even being entertained by members of her own party signals how little authority Hochul commands within New York's Democratic political establishment. The deterioration is not merely procedural — it is also philosophical. The 2025 budget battle exposed growing rifts between Hochul and progressive Democrats in the state legislature. Her push for a 'bell-to-bell' cellphone ban in schools and a rollback of the state's 2019 criminal discovery reforms were framed as commonsense responses to real problems. But to the legislature's increasingly progressive membership, they looked like symbolic, regressive intrusions on hard-won reforms. Hochul ultimately secured partial, but costly, victories: key political players in her own party no longer view her as a reliable or competent leader. There is also the matter of her repeated and consistent electoral underperformance. In 2014, running for lieutenant governor alongside Andrew Cuomo, Hochul, while ultimately victorious, lost key Democratic counties — including Manhattan, Albany and Schenectady — to her little-known opponent, Tim Wu. Four years later, she barely fended off Jumaane Williams, then a member of the New York City Council, in the lieutenant governor's primary, even as Cuomo coasted to victory over actress and activist Cynthia Nixon. And in 2022, Hochul won a full term as governor by a mere 6-point margin over Long Island's Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) — the narrowest victory for a Democrat running for governor of New York in four decades. In more than a decade on the statewide political stage, Hochul has never shown the capacity to excite her base, grow her party or expand her coalition. The numbers don't lie: Hochul wins, but always by a much closer margin than seasoned political observers would expect. Her weakness offers Republicans an opportunity. If the GOP can field a credible, well-funded candidate in 2026 — particularly one who can energize the Republican base, speak to concerns about crime and affordability, and exploit Democratic dissatisfaction with Hochul — the party could make a real play for the governorship. The road is steep but not implausible. New York remains, by the numbers, one of the bluest states in the nation. But even in the bluest of states, governors must perform. Kathy Hochul has yet to prove she can lead her own party, let alone the state. These ongoing political problems might cause her political career to come to an abrupt end in 2026. Joe Burns is a partner with the Holtzman Vogel law firm, with a focus on election cases in New York State. He previously served as deputy director of election operations at the New York State Board of Elections.
Web Release
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
SAVOUR A REFRESHING SUMMER AT GROSVENOR HOUSE, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, DUBAI
Escape the heat this summer and step into a culinary adventure at Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai. This season, the exceptional chefs from the iconic hotel's food and beverage venues including, Buddha-Bar, Siena, Indego by Vineet, Toro Toro, Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar, Rhodes W1, and City Social, have each exclusively crafted a unique three-course set menu starting from AED 150, available from the 1st June to the 31st August 2025. Siena Enjoy a taste of Italy at Siena, with a three-course set menu that blends authentic Italian cuisine with exceptional service and a serene ambience. Start with antipasti such as Frittura in Mare Aperto, Crocché di Parmigiana, refreshing Panzanella Salad and more. To follow, delve into loved Italian classics like Spaghetto cacio e pepe, Salmone Total Green, or Pizza Margherita. Finish your evening looking over the Dubai Marina skyline, while tasting a range of sweet desserts such as Tiramisu, A Tutto Pesca: Cheesecake (peach cheesecake in five consistencies), or a refreshing Melon Sorbet. Venue: Siena, Grosvenor House Dubai Price: Starting from AED 150 Date: Available until August 31st Time: Daily from 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar Situated in the heart of the Dubai Marina, Siddharta Lounge offers a unique summer dining experience where international cuisine in a contemporary setting. Begin your culinary adventure with a delightful Crunchy Chicken Gochujang, Shrimp Tempura, or Bi-Colour Quinoa Salad. For the main course, indulge in a choice of Pan Seared Salmon, Green Asparagus Risotto, or Yakisoba Noodles with Portobello Mushroom Steak. Complete an unforgettable dining experience with a choice of delightful desserts, such as the Cappuccino Cappuccino Mousse, Baked Chocolate & Banana, or a selection of ice cream and sorbet. Venue: Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar, Grosvenor House Dubai Price: Starting AED 150 Date: Available until August 31st Time: Sun – Thurs 6:00 PM until 1:00 AM, Fri – Sat 6:00 PM until 2:00 AM Rhodes W1 Experience culinary sophistication at Rhodes W1, where culinary artistry blends with classic flavours. Beginning with an enticing selection of starters: the velvety Tomato Soup paired with Garlic Croutes the classic yet elevated Prawn Cocktail, or the vibrant Warm Poached Egg, with melted Swiss cheese. For your main course, indulge in the rich flavours of the Salmon Fishcake, complemented by a warm poached hen's-egg and buttered spinach. Alternatively, you can opt for the tender Pan-Roasted Chicken Breast served with sweetcorn mash and mushroom sauce, or delight in the Mushroom Risotto, perfectly topped with Parmesan crisp. For the finale, choose from the Vanilla Rice Pudding, Tiramisu Sunday, and sorbet and ice cream selection. Venue: Rhodes W1, Grosvenor House Dubai Price: Starting AED 150 Date: Available until August 31st Time: Tues – Sat 6:00 PM until 11:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM until 7:30 PM Diners that are seeking to elevate their experience can visit the following restaurants offering a 3-course set menu priced at AED 250 per person, available from the 1st June to the 31st August. Indego by Vineet At Indego by Vineet, an extensive selection of menu items s has been curated to suit every palate. The menu boasts an enticing selection of starters, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian options such as Lattice Samosa Chickpea Chaat or Chicken Maharani, and Lamb Seekh Malai. For the mains, Lemongrass Chilli Coconut Prawns, Tadka Dal, Lacha Butter Naan, Saffron Pulao, and Butter Chicken. End the dinner with a Kulfilicious dessert in the flavours of rose, mango, Chikki Choco Mousse. Venue: Indego by Vineet, Grosvenor House Dubai Price: Starting from AED 250? (non-vegetarian and vegetarian menu available) Date: Available until August 31st Time: 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM Buddha-Bar Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere and enchanting beats played by the resident DJs at Buddha-Bar this summer. Begin the journey with a refreshing cold starter selection, featuring the famous Buddha-Bar Chicken Salad and Prawn Hargao. For the main course, indulge in the delicious Thai Green Chicken Curry, Wok Seared Cantonese Beef, or Indonesian Nasi Goreng. Tuck into a delicious treat to satisfy your dessert cravings with the irresistible Mango Pudding to end the evening on a sweet note. Venue: Buddha-Bar, Grosvenor House Dubai Price: Starting from AED 250 Date: Available until August 31st Time: Sunday – Thursday 7:00 PM to 2:00 AM, Friday 7:00 PM to 3:00 AM, Saturday 8:00 PM to 3:00 AM Toro Toro In this uber-chic venue, Toro Toro offers a carefully curated set-menu from South America. Begin with Smoked Guacamole while choosing your starters for the evening. Pick from Kampachi, Crispy Prawns or Corn Croquettes to begin, and follow with a choice of mains, Encocado, black cod, prawns, squid, coconut, aji mirasol, rice, an Argentinian Beef Rib Eye Steak or Barely Risotto. For dessert choose from the famous Tres Leches, the irresistible Tsunami , or the refreshing Frutas. Venue: Toro Toro, Grosvenor House Dubai Price: Starting AED 250 Date: Available until August 31st Time: Daily from 7:00 PM until 1:00 AM City Social Experience the essence of the traditional Woodfire Kitchen with City Social's summer set menu, curated by Chef Jason Atherton. Begin your dining experience with refreshing starters like the Aged Beef Tartare with BBQ red pepper and the Wood-Fired Hokkaido Scallop with yuzu kosho butter and seaweed crumb. Indulge with hearty mains such as the Chargrilled Satay Baby Chicken, Koshihikari Rice or Tempura Katsu Cod. End on a sweet note with the White Chocolate & Tonka Bean Crémeaux with fresh raspberry sorbet or the 'rum' Baba. Venue: City Social, Grosvenor House Dubai Price: AED 250 for a three-course set menu Date: Available until August 31st Timing: Mon – Thurs: 6:00PM – 11:00PM, Friday: 6:00PM – 11:30PM, Saturday: 7:00PM – 11:30PM
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Presale buyers left in limbo after Burnaby development goes bust
Had things gone according to plan, Joe Racanelli and his wife would have long been settled in their new fifth floor condo in Burnaby and enjoying beautiful views of the North Shore mountains, in a building called Siena at the Heights. Instead, the retired couple and former painting business owners can only look at the big hole in the ground on Hastings Street that's now up for sale and wonder when they'll get their presale deposit of $170,000 back, after the Siena at the Heights failed to get off the ground. "It was a great location for us. We like that area," said Racanelli. "The only problem is we've waited for four years and we've been promised every year that things were very close to being taken care of." The Racanelli's downpayment was for a two bedroom, two bathroom top floor unit in November of 2021, and it was equal to 15 per cent of the purchase price. According to their agreement with the developer, the completion date would be sometime between April 1 to July 1 of 2024, with an absolute latest completion date — or "outside date" — of Dec. 31, 2024. Marketed as "classic in character, uncompromising in design," the Siena was supposed to be a five-storey mixed-use development with 38 condos above street level strata retail. But things started going sideways almost as soon as construction began, and the project stopped completely after only a portion of the underground parking had been built. 'Dead in the water' "[The developer] said there were labour disputes with the original contractor," Racanelli said. "They extended the outside date to September 16, 2026. We kept waiting on that because we really wanted it to succeed. But now it's dead in the water." In November of last year, lender Desjardins Group filed to put Siena at the Heights into receivership, claiming the developers had defaulted on payments and conditions attached to almost $30 million in loans. The response filed by I4 Property Group Inc., its president Myron Calof, I4PG Hastings Street Inc. and Hastings Street Limited Partnership claims that another company, Kerkhoff Construction (2022) Ltd., was the problem. Kerkhoff had been hired as general contractor for the project. "As events transpired, the fact that [Kerkhoff] was as [a] single purpose corporation incorporated for purposes of this project cause the project considerable difficulties," it reads. The response goes on to say that Kerkhoff "had difficulty with the excavation, and by June 2023 the project was in financial difficulties." It says Kerkhoff could not provide "required statutory declaration that its sub-trades had been paid." Kerkhoff was fired in Sept. 2023. In an attempt to stave off receivership, the response also laid out a plan to reorganize the project's financing and debts, stating the building could be easily restarted, as "... it is not suffering any damage or waste ... while construction has been halted." However on Valentine's Day of this year, Deloitte Restructuring Inc. was appointed receiver and the Siena lands at 4437 Hastings Street were ordered sold. CBC reached out to Calof for comment. In a text he wrote: "The matter is before the courts and I do not feel I am at liberty to say anything." The Siena property is now on the market for $16 million in the court ordered sale. The assessed value of the .16 hectare site was $12.269 million as of July 1, 2024. According to documents posted by Deloitte, Dejardins Group is owed $14,546,000 on a first-ranking mortgage, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada owed an "unknown amount" on a second-ranking mortgage, while Longthorn Holdings Ltd. holds a third-ranking mortgage of $700,000. In addition there are nine builders' liens against the property amounting to $2.48 million. Fifty-nine "other creditors" are owed a cumulative $1.64 million from the failed project. Smoke Signals Flagging of Chilliwack, B.C., is one of those creditors, out $31,507 after being hired by Kerkhoff and spending months at the site. One-woman protest "I had a truck and two people on the job. What [Kerkhoff] owed me was piling up and piling up. And then they told me they went bankrupt," said company owner Danita Leon. Leon even went so far as to stage a one-woman sit-in at Kerkhoff's office in Chilliwack, demanding what she was owed. "I was so mad. I marched in there and told them 'I'm just a small little Native company. I pay my bills and you should too.'" Kerkhoff coughed up a bit of money, according to Leon. As for the remaining $31,507, she's come to terms with having to eat the loss and doubts she'll ever see a penny from the receiver. "I cried about it but now my tears have now dried up," she said. The 31 parties who put down presale deposits amounting to over $5.336 million should fare better. That's because the Real Estate Development Marketing Act compels developers to hold presale funds in trust. Racanelli said he's been assured by the receiver that his deposit money is secure, but is still awaiting confirmation on the conditions of a refund. Making matters worse is the math. Racanelli calculates had his $170,000 sat in a bank account rather than being tied up in the dead asset of the Siena for almost four years, he could have earned upwards of $30,000 in interest. "It's been frustrating and worrying," he said. "What if it takes another two or three years for this to be sold? I mean, the property is definitely not going ahead. We should get our money back." Contamination claim Separate court documents shine a light into a contamination issue at the site, which the developer raised a few years prior to construction. In a 2019 notice of civil claim, I4PG Hastings alleged a number of dry cleaning businesses — some going back decades — that had operated in the same block as the Siena project, leaked chemicals that contaminated the site and caused "contaminated vapour plumes." The claim was seeking compensation for site remediation, removal of contaminated soil and groundwater and "construction of an impermeable barrier to prevent ongoing contamination," however the action was abandoned in January of last year. CBC News asked Calof if the site contamination was related to the demise of the Siena development, but he did not answer the question in his reply, nor was site contamination mentioned in the developer's response to the receivership filing.
Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- Times
Tuscany's lesser-known wine region with a stylish new stay
Carving up the Montepulciano countryside in a Fiat Punto — unofficial vehicle of Tuscany — the fields are so resoundingly green that I have to squint to protect my eyes from the sting. Around every bend is an enchanting panorama, and I find myself snapping photos of the same composition many times over: an elegant ruin on an olive grove; a cupola-topped neoclassical manor; a vineyard with rows so meticulous, they seem groomed by a wide-tooth comb. The ancient landscape never gets old — it's what has kept discerning travellers coming here since the Grand Tour. I've come to this bijou region south of Siena in part to stay at the new vineyard resort Poggio alla Sala, a regal ochre-coloured villa built in the 1800s on a gentle rise near the Umbrian border, overlooking a valley once occupied by Romans. It has been refurbished, brightened and stuffed with lush greenery that houseplant-shames me at every turn. An enfilade of winter garden, lounge and vaulted dining room exhibits intricate ceiling frescoes, restored to their original splendour with Sistine Chapel-calibre precision. From the foyer you can see straight through the rear doors, flung open to the old winery. Rooms upstairs and in the former orangery and stables have been fitted with deep mosaic-tile baths and massive pivoting windows that take in the dramatic vineyard views. Guests have been checking in to Poggio alla Sala lately for its three pools, whose edges are lined with cypress trees and sumptuous loungers to offset the silk caftans and Orlebar Brown trunks. And of course it has all of Tuscany at its feet: the rollercoaster roads of the Val d'Orcia run right outside, swinging past the 100-year-old gardens of La Foce, which fan out from a flaxen-yellow manor (from £8; And if you carry on past Montepulciano proper, you can taste Tuscany's famous Chianina beef at La Toraia in view — for better or worse — of the farm's cattle (mains from £12; But even during colder months the resort will draw visitors with its historic wine cellar, open for free tastings twice a week. The Montepulciano wines may not be as popular worldwide as chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, the region's other deep, fruity, head-buzzing reds, but they are as dear to Tuscan farmers as the small-batch extra virgin 'green gold' oil that never seems to taste as good outside this ancient, mineral-rich terroir, or terreno. Drinking these wines is close to a religion around here — although for me, a lifetime fan, it's something far more carnal. As a devotee of reds, I've always gravitated toward their rich, tannic sharpness when I can afford it. I may have dabbled in whites in my youth, but once I went red, I never looked back. Until recently, the finest Montepulcianos were called thevino nobiles and were produced with the native prugnolo gentile grape. Nobiles were the reserve of clerics and kings going back to the first fermentations in the 14th century, and served as currency when dealing with the aristocrats of Florence. Today's winemakers, however, are hard at work preparing for a new chapter in vino nobile history, which brings me to the second reason I've come for a visit. • Read our full guide to Tuscany This year, in an effort to showcase the nuanced terroir, the consortium of vintners introduced a new classification of top-of-the-line nobiles called pieve. They remapped the region according to 12 medieval pievi, or parishes, bordered by ancient roads and rivers, and invited winemakers within each to make small batches tied exclusively to their specific soil, aspect, elevation and weather, using no less than 85 per cent of prugnolo gentile (the threshold for a regular nobile is 75 per cent). The first bottles finally matured this winter, meaning wine-lovers like me can start tasting Montepulciano in literally a dozen new ways — including at Poggio alla Sala, which will carry the new Pieve Sant'Albino from the autumn. As the vintner Marco Castignani tells me: 'This is a renaissance of the wine. For the first time we can finally map the taste profile of our different terroir.' And because the batch is relatively small, it won't be exported. 'You will have to enjoy it here, at our special tastings for customers.' Castignani's wine estate, Fattoria del Cerro, unfurls along one of the most breathtaking roads in the region: an undulating single lane marked out by the Etruscans about five miles east of Montepulciano town. With labrador-puppy energy, he takes me around the Cerro vineyards in his Fiat, from the hilltop villa hotel, obscured by stone pines, across 600 hectares bordered by olive groves and peach trees. Once upon a time the land was covered with forest, then in about 1100 the noble families here donated much of the woodland to the church. Gradually farmers moved in and now Cerro's steely new winery produces more than a million bottles of Montepulciano reds annually. In August Castignani will debut 3,000 bottles of Pieve Sant'Ilario to showcase the silty, calcium-rich soil (cellar visit and tasting from £50; Other wineries — about half a dozen — are also releasing their pieves this summer, but during my visit in spring, bottles are scarce. • 29 of the best hotels in Tuscany The new designation is a back-to-basics move for a product inextricably tied to church, religion and the earth. 'The first mention of wine here was in an ancient story from 1377,' Castignani says. 'It was written that a person from one pieve sent a litre of wine each month to another pieve. So the pieve is tied to our original winemaking story.' And while the French are known to share a bottle of wine at dinner with a school-age child, here in Montepulciano the idea is absurd: 'In school? Ten years old? This is too late! You will put the wine to their lips at the baptism.' To truly appreciate the micro-differences in the pieve it helps to be a wine aficionado, but Cerro is preparing for a revolution anyway, adding a contemporary guesthouse and renovating dozens of historic winemakers' cottages. The idea is that visitors can use the new pieve map as a guide through Montepulciano and spend the night near the source of their favourite wines. Adapting bygone infrastructure is essential in this dearly protected yet heavily visited destination to draw people away from the busy hilltop town of Montepulciano proper and into the old-world surroundings. The town is a prize attraction for the region, a crescendo of honeyed stucco with a cobbled square at its pinnacle designed by the Medicis' architect. When I climb up on a March afternoon after my visit to Cerro, the steep lanes are almost eerily quiet. I turn back every few metres to enjoy views to the crenellated clock tower and over the city gates to the bulbous Madonna di San Biagio church without having to will away a sea of tourists. But I know how crowds and heat can kill the vibe in August. By the time I reach Talosa, a 16th-century winery built on an Etruscan foundation between two historic palaces, I feel I've earned a glass of Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva in the cellar. I drink it with a plate of bruschetta doused with virgin olive oil from Talosa's groves and inhale the thick, ripe air like one might the pheromones of a lover (tour and tasting from £25; In a stroke of good timing, I see only one couple my entire visit. • 11 of the best things to do in Tuscany By my last afternoon in the area, I've nearly lost hope that a bottle of the elusive pieve will materialise this early in the year. Driving up a cliffside road towards lunch in the old frontier town of Torrita di Siena, I turn off to try my luck at Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano, a co-operative winery with a sweeping new shop ( — and I don't get a definitive no. While I explore the barrels in the cellar and the vino nobiles on the shelves, a phone call is made and a breathless manager called Tiziana Mazzetti runs in with a bottle of Pieve Cervognano by Redi, sourced from an 18-year-old vineyard in the eastern Cervognano region, about three miles east of where we are. It'll be the first pieve on the market in a few weeks' time. At a sunny table by the full-height windows, Mazzetti pours me a taster, then pours more when I attack it like a thirsty poodle. I'm being completely honest when I say how easy it is on the tongue; how soft and smooth it feels, leaving behind a fruity tingle. Compared with the sharper nobile Mazzetti uncorks for contrast, it's like rich red velvet. 'Some wines, like this, are elegant and soft,' she says, passing me a slice of pecorino from Pienza, the town down the road. 'Others have a 'big shoulder' — more presence. You'll see. It's not only about age. It's about the differences between soil and history.' I'm surprised my untrained palate is able to detect the subtle distinctions — this is wine-tasting at a granular level. But it does, which is why I believe wine-lovers might do well to put down the chianti and rediscover this well-trod region in a biblical sense. • 16 of the best vineyard hotels in Tuscany 'Vino nobile didn't have much identity,' Mazzetti says. 'But in our little terroir we have 12 types of soil; 12 histories. What was our weakness is now our strength.'Ellen Himelfarb was a guest of Poggio alla Sala, which has room-only doubles from £303 ( and of Valdichiana Living, which offers six-hour winery tours around Montepulciano from £200pp ( Fly to Florence This dramatic turreted hilltop castle towers over Monferrato's Po Valley and has views towards the Alps in northwest Italy. The 260-hectare estate dates from the 8th century and spans two DOCs, Gabiano and Rubino di Cantavenna. Suites are dotted throughout the grounds and all have castle views and classic decor, with cream plastered walls, exposed ceiling beams, oak shutters and modern four-posters. There's a pool and private lake for fishing, bikes to borrow and cooking classes, while guests can sample homegrown wines in the tasting room overlooking the vineyards. The restaurant's set menus feature fruit and vegetables grown in the castle's Room-only doubles from £151 ( Fly to Turin Perched on a plateau 210m above sea level and surrounded by 170 hectares of vineyards, olive trees and dry-stone walls, Masseria Amastuola is a low-rise whitewashed farmhouse with 18 rooms near Italy's south coast. All are in earthy neutral shades with antique furniture but a modern, streamlined look. There's also a restaurant serving typical Puglian dishes, a barrel room and two tasting rooms to try the estate's own organic wines, including primitivo and negroamaro. Guests can join yoga classes, borrow bikes or explore the local area, with the Unesco-listed city of Matera and the coastal town of Polignano a Mare both about an hour's drive B&B doubles from £142 ( Fly to Bari There's fizz aplenty at this hotel in the Prosecco region, an hour's drive north of Venice. The grand neoclassical building was built in the 18th century as the summer home for a noble family, then was later used as headquarters by German armed forces in the Second World War. The restored boutique hotel has since hosted such stars as Sophia Loren and has 39 individually designed rooms overlooking parkland, all with exposed beams, glossy wooden floors and contemporary styling. There's an outdoor swimming pool, spa, ebikes and a restaurant. The village marks the start of La Strada del Prosecco, a wine route that traces the sparkling wine's history via wineries for Room-onlydoubles from £121 ( Fly to Treviso
