Staying in an agriturismo can be a happy alternative to booking into a hotel and the one we booked into couldn’t have made us happier. Agriturismo Orlandi proved to be a very good choice indeed, due mainly to the constant attention to detail demonstrated by the owner, Walter Orlandi.

Walter used to be a baker in Liguria until he moved further north to the rolling hills of the Monferrato. Restoring the old farmhouse to its present day glory must have been a labour of love, but one well worth the effort. Fine quality fixtures and fittings, beautiful surroundings looking out onto Walter’s vineyard and vegetable garden, together with spotlessly clean rooms, made the stay delightful.

Sitting on the covered porch in the evenings and eating the food carefully prepared by Walter was pure heaven. Walter’s love of food is evident in the dishes he serves.

It is worth mentioning that all agriturismos must, under Italian law, grow and produce a certain percentage of the ingredients they use. Other produce must also be local to the area, which means you don’t have to worry about the air miles clocked up by those ingredients!

Walter uses fresh vegetables grown in his own garden, fruit from his own trees and produces a certain quantity of his own wine. Even the meat he uses is bought from the farmer just down the road.

An agriturismo is the next best thing to staying in someone else’s house, or at least it should be. I can highly recommend a stay at Agriturismo Orlandi and would not hesitate to take another group of cookery students back again.