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This comfortable, cosy villa nestles on a sheltered incline among gently rolling hills. These are covered in Brunello wine-producing vineyards, which border the lower pool-terrace. The San Giuseppe winery, from which the house takes its name, is situated nearby. Wonderful countryside views can be enjoyed from the front lawns. Designed by a Florentine architect of renown, the spacious interiors are uniquely stylish, featuring an impressive collection of original works of contemporary Italian art.
 Centrally heated throughout, this two-storey property, in honey-coloured ‘tufo’ stone, is characterised by attractive low-ceilings downstairs and sloping ceilings under the pitched roof upstairs. The decision not to fit blinds or shutters, but instead to hang elegant cream curtains inside, makes the living spaces bright and warmly welcoming. Many of the original Tuscan structural elements were conserved in the renovation work including the terracotta-tiled floors, terracotta-tiled/beamed ceilings, exposed stonework walls, internal brick archways, and the large wood-burning fireplaces.
The additional materials used are of exceptional quality, such as travertine marble, wrought-iron, natural wood parquet and large, modern glass doors to the gardens. These are complemented by some striking examples of contemporary hand-crafted lighting and by the many modern artworks on display, which include two giant books fashioned in polished marble.
ACCOMMODATION: An electronic  security-key system unlocks the massive, old, woodenentrance doors at ground-floor level and lets you into the bright hallway.
From here you access a large day-room, divided informally into three spaces: two smaller brick archways open into a cosy little lounge on the right, while on the left a third, larger arch leads into a spacious living-room, with a big central fireplace. French doors take you outside on to a sunterrace, with its dining-table and gazebo-shade. At the far end of this room is a long, old-wood dining-table.
Close by, another small brick archway leads open-plan into the lovely, fully equipped kitchen, set under a pitched roof and elegantly tiled. Its round-arched glass door invites you out on to the front lawns, a tempting spot for al fresco dining.
Returning to the opposite end of the day-room, you step into an office/study, provided with phone; video-recorder; Sat.TV; and Internet connection for the use of all guests (though no broadband).
Issuing off the entrance hall is a laundry room, as well as a downstairs double bedroom, comprising darkwood furniture and a wrought-iron-framed ‘four-poster’-style bed.  The travertine-tiled ensuite bathroom has a corner shower (no cubicle).
From the hallway, a graceful travertine staircase with wrought-iron banister proceeds up to the top floor and the following bedrooms, all with parquet flooring:
Large double bedroom with fireplace, bookshelves, a second separate entrance from the garden via an external flight of stone stairs.
Bedroom with three-quarter-sized ‘French’ bed, white-washed and exposed stonework walls.
These two bedrooms share a travertine-tiled bathroom, with bathtub and hand-held shower.
Double bedroom with ceiling-fan, telescope, large adjoining dressing-room, travertine-tiled ensuite bathroom with corner shower (no cubicle).
Double bedroom, with ceiling-fan, spacious adjoining dressing-room/wardrobe/storage area, a lovely large ensuite bathroom with jacuzzi-shower, bathtub with hand-held shower and superb views towards Mount Amiata.
THE GARDEN AND SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT: Leading off the main  country road, a rough gravel track winds through vineyards and olive groves, terminating in the gravel driveway and informal parking area behind the villa. In this quietest of settings, olive trees and yellow-flowering broom dot the sheltering slope above, while in the raised beds rosemary and lavender bushes perfume the air.
To one side of the property, the outline of Mount Amiata, an extinct volcano and a popular winter skiing destination, is clearly visible on the horizon. High up in the background, two little hilltop villages dominate their surroundings.
The lawns to the front of the villa, graced by an ancient, covered well and shaded by olive trees and holm oaks, lie at an elevation and so look out over the spectacular countryside beyond. This superb natural backdrop is shared by the outdoor dining-patio, with gazebo-canopy, beside the house.
From the garden, steps descend to the lower pool-terrace, set in a suntrap location, well out-of-sight of the property. Surrounded by lawns dotted with olive trees, the pool commands lovely unimpeded views over wooded hills and vineyards, which extend right up to the grass.  A little stonework outbuilding nearby houses the BBQ, with its own sunshade and picnic-table alongside.
On request, cookery courses can be held at the villa and guided tours of the neighboring wine-cellars can be organised, also including wine-tasting.
LOCATION: With the convenient location of the villa, it is easy to reach the Abbey of Sant’Antimo and the historical centre of Montalcino while remaining immersed in the magnificent landscape and in absolute retreat from everyday life.
The nearest airport is Florence airport, under two hours. Pisa and Rome airports are equidistant, about 3 hours away.
Central Florence is a little more than 100 km (62 miles) and Rome less than 200 (125 miles). It is close to many very important sites of art, history andarchaeology. Siena, Pienza, San Gimignano, Volterra, Cortona, Arezzo, Perugia, Orvieto, Viterbo and a myriad of other fascinating sites and places are all with in easy reach for half day or day trips.
OTHER FACILITIES AVAILABLE NEAR BY: Both Rome and Florence can be reached in about 90 minutes by car or by train in one hour from Chiusi where there is free safe street parking.
The countryside between Sarteano and Radicofani is dotted with monasteries and castles, and the Val d'Orcia itself is a spectacular natural and cultural attraction, made famous by Iris Origo's book, "War in Val d'Orcia. A diary." (Cape, 1947 and reprinted many times since).
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