One of the great joys of living in the Monferrato region of Piemonte is that the rich soil and copious amounts of sun can give lavish life to the garden. What is difficult, however is keeping a fledgling garden alive as we battle the relentless and unforgivingly fierce heat.  

Meet English Perry and Italian Pipi - an integral part of our lives, and probably of your stay too at some point.

If, in the midst of a cold snap, and at the weary tail end of winter, your mind is turning to trips abroad, sunshine and stunning vistas, and glorious food and wine experiences, then Piedmont – a sometimes overlooked northern region of Italy - has a lot to offer. Come and discover Glorious Piedmont - Tuscany without the tourists.

Whilst March can be the bearer of the last touches of winter weather, with April comes the winds which seem to herald in the change of seasons, almost as if nature wants to blow winter back to where it came from.

It’s true that you can’t swing a cat in Italy without coming across a food market somewhere each day here. Watch any of the travel or cooking shows promoting Italy to overseas audiences from the likes of Stanley Tucci, Rick Stein, Nigella Lawson or the wonderful Alex Polizzi, and you’ll be sure to find them all at some stage effervescing about the draw of the weekly ritual of a market visit, with all the accompanying explosions of colour, hunger-inducing smells and inspiring array of fresh produce.

Piedmont is not one of Italy’s best-known regions. It has always been known best amongst oenophiles and foodies for its magnificent wines, white truffles and gastronomy, but perhaps not thought of as a ‘destination’ in its own right.

Every season in Piedmont has something unique to offer, some different set of sensory pleasures, foods and culture. In winter the surrounding hills and fields are magically transformed by mists creeping up the valley and frost and snow creating the most breath-taking storybook views.