top of page
About
ABOUT
History
Podere Sole is a Tuscan estate with a rich cultural and agricultural history that dates back to the 1600s. As the "estate of the sun", the farmhouse is perched on a hill and faces south, towards the medieval town of Trequanda.
All around, it gazes onto gentle Tuscan hills, lined with rows of cypresses, with views of castles, farms, and medieval villages in the distance. Some of the roads in its surrounding are among the most beautiful in Italy.
The estate was one of several farmhouses in the area that followed the ancient mezzadria system (metayage, sharecropping). From the 1950s onwards, when the mezzadria was abolished in Italy, the farmhouse lay abandoned for more than 30 years. At the end of the 1980s, it was bought and slowly and carefully renovated until 2005, using the existent materials of the ruin and adding onto it strictly in ways respectful of traditional Tuscan craft.
A large part of the olive grove was exchanged for an elegant vineyard on steep slopes, facing south and south-west, protected by dense native holm oak forests.
Holding mostly Sangiovese vines, the classic Tuscan variety for strong reds, it incorporates small sections of Pinot Nero, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The highest and windiest part of the vineyard, granting a view over the beautiful soft hills of the Crete Senesi and all the way to Siena, is reserved for our Foglia Tonda vines, an ancient Tuscan grape variety that was considered extinct for many centuries. It was only recently rediscovered and, being cultivated by only a handful of grape growers in the region, with a particular commitment to traditional practices, is one of the rarest varieties in the world.
Today
Podere Sole is an entirely organic farm consisting of carefully cultivated vineyards, olive groves, and orchards, as well as more than sixty hectares of native forest. It is nestled between the famous Tuscan regions of the Crete Senesi and the Val d'Orcia, a UNESCO world heritage site, exemplifying "the beauty of well-managed Renaissance agricultural landscapes"
(UNESCO, 2004).
The estate is family-owned and family-run. We specialize in the production of ecological grapes and wine, as well as pure, traditional, cold-pressed olive oil.
We offer three guest rooms as well as farm-to-table breakfasts sourced as much as possible from our own organic vegetable garden and orchard as well as from neighbouring organic farms.
Our sun terraces and rustic Tuscan gardens are the perfect place to experience the unique depth of a Tuscan sunset. Enjoy an aperitivo under a sun-drenched olive tree and watch the light blue sky transform slowly into shades of soft pink and orange. Begin your mornings with sunrise yoga on our Wisteria-shaded sun terrace. Explore the hiking trails around the estate, breathing the clean, fresh air whilst walking through dense, natural forests and by medieval Tuscan villages.
About us
We are a family and Podere Sole is our home.
Cecilia & Sabrina, mother & daughter, manage the business & tend to the guests' well-being. Cecilia is originally from Chile but lived in Germany and the U.S. for many years, where she worked as a translator & interpreter.
Sabrina, half-Chilean & half-Italian, was born & raised in Germany and studied in the Netherlands, the U.S. & the UK. After five years of working in the development cooperation sector, she decided to take a break to build up Podere Sole. Joe grew up on a farm in the U.S. but lived in Germany for many years. Slowly leaving his office job in sales management behind, you'll most likely see him around the estate fixing things or driving the tractor.
Our dogs Bodhi & Pepe are friendly and roam the estate freely. They sometimes get a little excited when greeting new acquaintances but usually can be found sleeping somewhere around the house.
bottom of page