Arborina Relais

La Morra, in the Piedmontese countryside, is Barolo territory, home to some of Italy’s most desirable wines. And where there’s fine wine, there’s wine tourism, and correspondingly fine hospitality. Arborina Relais is a boutique-style resort overlooking the timeless spectacle of these Barolo hillsides, adorned on the outside with warm traditional materials like brick and pine, and decorated on the inside with the sober neutrals and grays of contemporary Italian luxury design.

Junior suites come with substantial Simmons mattresses as well as mini-kitchens and spa-like bathrooms; some suites add gardens, patios, or balconies overlooking the valley and the hills. And while the look is modern, it’s not incongruously so; in Italy, perhaps more than most places, there’s no contradiction between sophisticated style and pastoral surroundings.

A lovely little pool serves as something of an oasis, and is accompanied by a dark and dramatic stone-clad spa. Osteria Arborina serves highly refined Piedmontese fare under the direction of chef Enrico Marmo, and In Terrazza, the hotel’s bistro, serves as a more casual option. Meanwhile the wine bar and the restaurants’ cellars focus on the six local producers of Arborina wines, along with Barolo wines more generally as well as a thoughful selection from farther afield.