Tux
Our not so baby boy
Tux certainly does not look like this any more, but this was a photo we took of him, in his Tuxedo, on the first day we got him! He is still just as charming now and makes our family complete, giving us bundles of joy every day. Tux is a big part of our life and when you visit us, you will see him helping out around the farm and carrying things for us. He is also great at making videos... check them out below!
Fin
Our new baby boy
Fin is new to our family, but packs a punch. A huge personality, giving Tux a run for his money. Fin is settling in well, loves playing with his big brother and the water. He cant wait to meet you as he loves people.
Tux's First Birthday Video
Tux created this video to celebrate his 1st birthday! Check it out and let us know what you think! Not bad for his first one!
Tux's Second Birthday Video
Tux got a lot of positive feedback about his first video he made, so he created this second one, for his second birthday :-P
Tux & Fin Playing
Tux training up Fin to be a wrestling partner!
Meet Palino the cat & our squatter fox
Palino is a furry little bonus that came with our new home when we bought it. A very vocal cat, who definitely is not shy to tell you what he wants.
When we purchased the house, we also stumbled upon a fox peacefully sleeping inside on one of the beds, what we now call the Fox room!
We live among nature and enjoy their company all around us.
THE MAKING OF
La Torre
Abandoned Vineyard
With its crumbling concrete poles and vines that hadn't been pruned for years, we knew that we had a big project on our hands to reconstruct the vineyard. Along with the help of our agronomist, we decided to save about half of the total vineyard, and re-plant the other half with new vines.
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Our Hoopoe mosaic being installed on an 11th century old tower. It’s going to be a beautiful bathroom.
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Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Destroying & Rebuilding The House
Vineyard Reconstruction
When we took over the farm in 2020, the vineyard had been mostly abandoned. The bankrupt property was lent to a local farmer who took all the grapes without maintaining it, meaning it had no work done for over 8 years. The concrete trellis system had collapsed, a lot of vines had died, and even more were producing very low quality grapes. We knew reconstructing the vineyard would take a lot of time, so it was the first project we started.
The day we bought
In February 2020, we purchased this charming farmhouse and vineyard. The house was originally just a tower, dating back to the 11th century and over the years the tower has been wrapped with other buildings. We have undertaken extensive renovations, preserving some of the original walls, showcasing the original tower, while rebuilding a significant portion of the house.
before we started renovations
The farmhouse was used for tourist accommodation by the previous owner. At the time we bought it, it had been abandoned for 5 years, so the state of the house was devastating: many windows and door frames were broken and falling out; the window shutters were rotted; the grout on the outside wall was dirty and falling out; the eaves were broken and metal inside corroded; there was a foul smell inside the house when flushing the toilets; damp and mould on the walls; plants in the garden were overgrown, the wooden portico was shaking and the swimming pool was a snake pit!
The location and why we choose it
Even though the house was not in a good shape, we saw the great potential of it. It is a little gem that is situated in the middle of a Tuscan valley. We were always stunned with the magical view when passing the trees and turning the corner of the road to see the vineyard and house. We could see that it is a perfect location for visiting Tuscany, making a home away from home for our guests. On an active day, you can reach most of the major tourist cities or towns within an hour. On a quiet day, you can relax by the pool and read a book in a valley where you can hardly see another house.
That pink wasn't for us!
The previous decoration left a feeling of 80’s hostel. All the walls were plastered including the original inside wall of the tower, with crazy pink, yellow and purple colours! In addition inside, it was using a very old, heavy, wood pellet boiler to heat the water, which was inefficient and created a burning smell around the house.
Not quite the Reception we are planning
This is the old reception before we started demolition. We loved the arched windows, but one of the bureaucratic things in Italy is when you do a renovation, you must upgrade the energy efficiency of the building. So we had to line these walls with insulation. We had a way to keep the bricks in view, luckily. We are eager to show you what the new reception is like.
Acquiring the aged property
Scott & Angus
from Hong Kong to Tuscany
Our real journey begins in 2014, we exchanged vows and embarked on a shared adventure, we call 'Love Adventure'. We spent over 22 years working in the bustling city of Hong Kong - Scott as a pilot for Cathay Pacific Airways, and Angus as a civil servant. Our lives were fuelled by our passion for travel, exploration and scuba diving and together, we explored far-flung corners of the globe, seeking new horizons.
In 2015 we "discovered" Tuscany and that would change the course of our lives forever. The landscapes, cuisine, wines and weather coupled with warmth received from the residents. This is where our next chapter began with the purchase of our charming farmhouse and vineyard in 2020.
We have been working incredibly hard to renovate our home and farm since then and are super excited to welcome you when we open in April 2025!