Baglio Occhipinti

In the Sicilian countryside outside of Ragusa, on a 25-acre wine-making estate, is Baglio Occhipinti, a family-owned agriturismo beautifully updated by Fausta Occhipinti, a Parisian-trained landscape architect who returned home to oversee the Baglio’s transformation from farmhouse to hotel — and, now that it’s complete, to manage its operations and welcome its guests.

From the exterior view, it’s an absolutely classic Sicilian agricultural estate, its rambling, rough-hewn stone buildings surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. Its interiors show signs of contemporary design, but never lose touch with the farmhouse’s 17th-century origins. Entirely absent are hotel-style diversions like televisions and minibars; the comforts that remain are first-rate, but they’re the comforts of a country home, not a typical hotel.

And the cuisine, naturally, is central to Baglio Occhipinti’s appeal — agri-tourism isn’t just about watching the plants grow, but sampling their fruits as well. Breakfast features local eggs and baked goods as well as fruit from the estate’s trees; lunch can be arranged on site or as a picnic; dinner, reserved ahead of time, is a six-course feast. An aperitif by the poolside or on the terrace is a highlight of the day, and the wine list draws from Occhipinti’s production as well as other makers from Sicily and the rest of Italy.