Borgo San Vincenzo

Tuscany, Italy

San Vincenzo is the patron saint of wine. What a perfect name for this newish hotel located in Tuscany, as it’s surrounded by vineyards. It’s a few minutes from the historic hill town of Montepulciano.

Why this logo? It is said that the Saint’s donkey nibbled on some vines and they grew stronger the following season. Pruning! Hoteliers Shannon and Scott Kirchner own the fantastic and popular Frangipani hotel in Anguilla, in the Eastern Caribbean. Their hotel is consistently ranked as one of the best boutique hotels in the Caribbean. They’re also our neighbors on Meads Bay. I was in Anguilla finishing work on The Cottage when they mentioned that they were looking at properties in Italy.

I cannot tell you how times people tell me they’re buying a place in Italy or moving to Italy. A few months later they called me to tell me that they found a place. The main building dates back to 1700s and the space was a previously marketed as a self-catering agritourismo. There are twenty-one rooms total.. Ten in the main building and are spread out in four outbuildings.

It needed to be renovated and updated and we had a short window. The brief was to create a space that was relaxed and chic. Nothing too precious or the opposite extreme, too rustic. We wanted to keep the wonderful character and take advantage of the unique and beautiful surroundings.

Inspired by the topography and Tuscan artists, our palette was shades of green, creamy neutrals, silvery grey blues, and accent colors of yellow and orange. We wanted to bring the outdoors in and brighten up rooms that didn’t receive a lot of light. We were able to keep some of the armoires and other furniture, repainting and repairing. The space needed to feel comfortable and layered which is hard to do if everything is brand new. It was very important to me that we sourced from multiple sources, including vintage and antique pieces. We also worked with local craftspeople to make custom furniture, draperies, etc. etc.

We had to keep the kitchenettes per the zoning laws. We updated them. Each room is unique. Some rooms have their own patios and pergolas.

Of course, I’m biased but the team at the Borgo is fantastic and so friendly. I’m thrilled when I read the positive press.

Hospitality isn’t just about the building. It’s about the people too. Scott and Shannon set the tone and staying at the Borgo is a treat. It’s a perfect place to relax and sit by the pool all day or if you’re sporty you can bike in the vineyards. There’s also a concierge if you want to get out and explore the area. You’re close to hills towns such as, Pienza, Cortona, Montalcino and some of the finest vineyards in Italy. It was a great experience to work on this project. My first hotel. And it happens to be in one of my favorite areas in Italy.