We stayed at Chiusarella in August and could not have been more pleased with the entire experience. Besides the house and grounds being impeccably maintained and appointed, the property itself is situated in the spectacular Villa Arceno, an historic 2,000 acre wine estate filled with Cyprus alleys, grape and olive vineyards and miles of "strada bianchi" (white roads) perfect for walking, running and biking.
From the moment we were met upon arrival by the house manager to the last day of our month-long residency, we were impressed by the responsiveness and professionalism of the staff. Every request was met with a smile, and they helped us arrange winery tours, dinners, bocce outings, transportation...and even an apartment rental on the main square in Siena for viewing the Palio horse race.
The house itself is charming and comfortable for 8 people, with countless amenities including a large fully-equipped kitchen, an exquisite terrace for al fresco dining, reliable wifi, air conditioners (in bedrooms), two great outdoor barbecue grills and unlimited supply of local wine. The bedrooms all have comfortable king beds (including one that can be separated into twins) and adequate clothing storage. Bathrooms are spacious, furnished with hair dryers and bath products, and there was enough hot water for everyone to shower. Although getting there requires a short uphill hike on gravel path, the pool area offers spectacular vistas, an annex with full kitchen and bathroom as well as ample seating for sunbathing, lounging and eating. Simply stated, no detail was missed when the owners furnished this property.
While we spent much of our time in and around the house and the idyllic Arceno estate, we also got to know Castelnuovo Berardenga, a charming nearby (10 minute drive) town of decent size with several restaurants, a bike shop, two supermarkets, a pharmacy and of course a gelato shop. Also, a short but steep walking trail from the house through the forest leads to San Gusme, a hilltop hamlet that has a post office, a few trattorias, a small charcuterie and looks just like a movie set. Overall, the location of the property offers close access to great restaurants, excellent wineries and authentic medieval towns...but at the same time is off the beaten path, tucked deeply away among the vineyards.
We have rented many houses in Tuscany over the years and I would say this property combines the best of all of them.