Review Author

Mariangela Rossi

HOTEL SNAPSHOT

Nestled in the UNESCO-listed heart of Langhe and Monferrato, Le Marne Relais is a charming hideaway with a poetic, artistic vibe, set across 30 hectares of vineyards and orchards. It was dreamed up by entrepreneur Guido Martinetti, co-founder of the high-end gelato chain GROM. But his true passion, alongside his wife Martina, is right here—in the three 19th-century houses of Le Marne Relais, turned into stylish guesthouses, with their farm, Mura Mura mantra: “to live slowly and wisely.” A philosophy we could all use a little more often.

Design & Character

The Relais is set in old brick farmhouses with rustic echoes and the interiors are full of surprises. There aren’t many design or vintage pieces—except for the Molletta bench by Riva 1920 (by Baldessari & Baldessari) in cedar wood, with a playful nod to Pop Art scale, a few land art installations, a modernist-style lounge perfect for sipping a tea by the indoor pool, and the Camaleonda sofa by B&B Italia, designed by Mario Bellini. All the furniture is custom-made, crafted by skilled Italian artisans. There could be more cozy nooks to relax into, but life here is really meant to be lived outdoors. It’s no wonder then that this is the pad of choice for visiting athletes who choose The Relais as their go-to training ground for jogging, e-biking, and cyclocross. Here, movement is about harmony, breath, and reconnecting with the earth.

The Rooms

Each of the 13 rooms, the result of a restorative approach, has its own distinct personality. Five are in the Dimora dei Poeti, dedicated to great Piedmontese authors like Cesare Pavese and Natalia Ginzburg, with every detail designed to evoke their voices. My favorite is “La Bellezza Esiste,” a tribute to Gianmaria Testa: a suite that feels like an artist’s postcard, with a terrace and large windows framing the vineyards and rolling hills. The other 8 rooms are in the Dimora degli Artisti, like works of art you can actually live in, offering a visual and sensory journey. But the crown jewel is La Casa sospesa tra le Vigne, a wooden suite suspended five meters above the ground, particularly loved by couples. A tip: don’t draw the curtains—the soft pink light of dawn over the Monte Rosa, the largest mountain massif in the Alps, and the Monferrato vineyards is an unforgettable sight.

Food & Drink

At Radici Ristorante In Vigna, set beneath original late-19th-century barrel-vaulted ceilings, Chef Mykyta Bida crafts dishes using typical Piedmontese ingredients, reimagined with a modern twist and paired with wines from the estate—perhaps a 2019 Barbaresco, one of the finest vintages. Before dinner or after a stroll through the cherry grove, guests can gather in the cellar for a guided tasting by Giovanni Solo, featuring Barolo and Barbaresco (Rigore wines) or Barbera, Grignolino, and Moscato (Fantasia wines)—the latter, some say, rivals even a Château d’Yquem Sauternes.

Spa & Wellness

The wellness area features a 25-meter pool with three lanes and large windows overlooking the vineyards, a fully equipped Technogym fitness center, and a spa with a sauna, whirlpool, and cold plunge pool—perfect for recovering after an intense activity. In the treatment room, guests can unwind with a variety of rituals, including a body scrub made with cane sugar and Mura Mura millefiori honey, followed by a soothing grape seed oil massage.

Fast Facts

Location: Costigliole d’Asti (Asti, Piemonte)

Rating: As a farmhouse-style Relais, it doesn’t have an official star rating, but the level of service and attention to details are truly five-star. 

The vibe: A place of inspiration and harmony, where the air is filled with the culture of literature, fine wine, and Italian cuisine—now a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Dining: Among Chef’s specialties are hand-chopped raw veal, 30-yolk “tajarin” (thin egg pasta) with smoked butter, and “agnolotti della tasca” stuffed with veal cheek.

Amenities: Indoor pool, activities like truffle hunting with an expert “trifolao”, wine tastings, cooking classes, and bike rentals.

Our Hotel’s Favourite: Floor-to-ceiling windows invite nature and light inside, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors; Italian-style hospitality in all its forms—art, food, wine, culture, nature, and wellness; all the trails through the vineyards.

Starting Rate: From $470 USD per night, breakfast included.

What’s Nearby: The village of Barbaresco, where in the namesake Tower—offering 360° views over the Langhe region—a museum dedicated to winemaking has been set up, and where the famous wine was first born in 1894; and the city of Alba, just about half an hour away, renowned as the truffle capital.

Airport: Torino-Caselle (TRN) is 110 kilometers away, roughly a 1 hour and 15-minute drive.