Our group of 14 had such a wonderful time that I can't add anything that hasn't been said before. In Villa San Lorenzo, our host Clay McLachlan has shared his passion for this stunning corner of the world, his love for its wines, food and people, and his joy in sharing that with his guests. One brief anecdote exemplifies this. He had made dinner reservations for our group at a local Michelin Guide restaurant called Guido. The reservations were inexplicably messed up by the restaurant., which declared upon our arrival that there was no record of our booking (despite having reconfirmed just the day before). Though we were in the middle of nowhere late at night with no viable dining alternatives, complete disaster was averted because the restaurant fortunately happened to be affiliated with an osteria nearby which was able to accommodate us. Clay was so mortified about this that he drove a half-hour to the osteria, checked on our well-being, apologized for the mix-up and stated that he had comped our dinner. (We were so appreciative of his generous gesture that we declined.)

We had a wonderful week in this lovely house. It really exceeded our expectations. We had a family reunion with 8 adults and 5 children - and the house was just perfect for this purpose. And Clay and Erika are such nice and caring hosts. They organized a terrific in-house wine tasting evening for us and a great BBQ party with an excellent chef and outstanding food.. Everyone was really happy. Thank you again, Erika and Clay. Warmest regards Anna-Cornelia and Wolfgang

We had a wonderful week in this lovely house. It really exceeded our expectations. We had a family reunion with 8 adults and 5 children - and the house was just perfect for this purpose. And Clay and Erika are such nice and caring hosts. They organized a terrific in-house wine tasting evening for us and a great BBQ party with an excellent chef and outstanding food.. Everyone was really happy. Thank you again, Erika and Clay. Warmest regards Anna-Cornelia and Wolfgang

Perfect renter

Perfect renter

We were 7 adults and 7 kids to stay in Villa San Lorenzo during two weeks in August. The house is terrific, very convenient for large groups in the middle of a vineyard with breathtaking views and no neighborhood but close to Dogliani. Facilities are great, all rooms are different, fully equipped and well decorated. The kitchen allowed several cooking sessions for our large group. Kids enjoyed the pool. Clay and Erika have been perfect hosts and advised us on what to do in this beautiful region. We also highly recommend the pizza party. This was more than just pizza :) Would definitely stay again !

Another wonderful stay in the property with very good support from Clay and the team. I am very happy that we are able to run our events in this beautiful space.

Another wonderful stay in the property with very good support from Clay and the team. I am very happy that we are able to run our events in this beautiful space.

Villa San Lorenzo is a beautiful space with a thoughtful design and attention to detail ensuring a comfortable stay for anyone visiting. Clay and Erika have been excellent in terms of supporting us before and during our stay. Thank you very much Clay.

We were lucky enough to spend a week at Villa San Lorenza. Clay was a thorough and attentive host. He made our every wish come true. From chef dinners, to a winery visit, and truffle hunting outing. As well as a pizza night that Clay and Erica prepared, Which was our favorite of all our dinners. The villa is beautiful and accommodated 6 couples perfectly. This was the fourth trip to a villa overseas for our traveling group and in many ways I enjoyed it the most. Nine of us in our group rode bikes and Clay set up a connection to obtain and deliver the bikes directly to the villa. We all had a wonderful time and we made a new friend. Thank you Clay!!!

We were lucky enough to spend a week at Villa San Lorenza. Clay was a thorough and attentive host. He made our every wish come true. From chef dinners, to a winery visit, and truffle hunting outing. As well as a pizza night that Clay and Erica prepared, Which was our favorite of all our dinners. The villa is beautiful and accommodated 6 couples perfectly. This was the fourth trip to a villa overseas for our traveling group and in many ways I enjoyed it the most. Nine of us in our group rode bikes and Clay set up a connection to obtain and deliver the bikes directly to the villa. We all had a wonderful time and we made a new friend. Thank you Clay!!!

We were lucky enough to spend a week at Villa San Lorenza. Clay was a thorough and attentive host. He made our every wish come true. From chef dinners, to a winery visit, and truffle hunting outing. As well as a pizza night that Clay and Erica prepared, Which was our favorite of all our dinners. The villa is beautiful and accommodated 6 couples perfectly. This was the fourth trip to a villa overseas for our traveling group and in many ways I enjoyed it the most. Nine of us in our group rode bikes and Clay set up a connection to obtain and deliver the bikes directly to the villa.We all had a wonderful time and we made a new friend. Thank you Clay!!!

Villa San Lorenzo is a beautiful space with a thoughtful design and attention to detail ensuring a comfortable stay for anyone visiting. Clay and Erika have been excellent in terms of supporting us before and during our stay. Thank you very much Clay.

We had a fantastic stay here. The house is beautiful and Clay went out of his way to accommodate us (we were a big group with 2 young children). He organized an amazing lunch and wine tour. And also suggested an incredible restaurant for our last night The house was even more beautiful in person. Thanks for a.beautiful visit to an extraordinaary region.

We had a fantastic stay here. The house is beautiful and Clay went out of his way to accommodate us (we were a big group with 2 young children). He organized an amazing lunch and wine tour. And also suggested an incredible restaurant for our last night The house was even more beautiful in person. Thanks for a.beautiful visit to an extraordinaary region.

We had a fantastic stay here. The house is beautiful and Clay went out of his way to accommodate us (we were a big group with 2 young children). He organized an amazing lunch and wine tour. And also suggested an incredible restaurant for our last nightThe house was even more beautiful in person. Thanks for a.beautiful visit to an extraordinaary region.

We spent 4 weeks in July in Villa San Lorenzo with our family and friends and we were all very happy there. The villa is very private, surrounded by woods and a vineyard, no immediate neighbours. The only noise you can hear are the sounds of nature and the bells of small churches in and around Bonvicino. The views are amazing, including towers of Murazzano, high mountains far away and starry skies above at night. Despite its quiet surroundings, the villa is actually only a short drive away from the pearls of Langhe area - Barolo vineyards, Monforte d’Alba, Sierralunga d’Alba, La Morra, Bra, Alba etc. The villa itself is rustic and modern at the same time. It is an old farmhouse, sensitively renovated to maintain the rustic character and to meet the expectations of guests who are used to modern facilities. The rooms are furnished and decorated with great sense of style. Especially noteworthy are the huge and comfy lounge on the upper floor of the main building and the baths in the bedrooms! The kitchen meets all the needs you have when cooking to a crowd of 16 people - there is enough room, the stove is huge and all the facilities you might need for cooking are there. The pizza oven is a bonus - we tried it out and had the best pizza ever! The pool outside is wonderful, big and deep enough to enjoy, cleaned regularly. The garden offers fresh herbs for cooking and a beautiful sight. The hosts, Clay and Erica are just amazing - helpful, attentive and ready to offer solutions to any practical issues. Clay’s pizza-making skills guarantee an exceptional experience! Also, his knowledge of local food, wines and sights is extremely helpful. We would highly recommend the property to those who appreciate privacy and enjoy being in the middle of nature. The large property gives a perfect possibility to stay with a large family or a group of friends.

This is a lovely property. It is even more beautiful than the website pictures. The owner arranged for everything, including a pizza feast, wine storytelling and wine tasting. The cook's kitchen had everything you could ever need. We had a quiet and relaxing stay. There was something for everyone here - our kids loved the pool and looking for lizards and trying out all the local gelati places. The grown ups loved the wine and food, and the picturesque setting to imbibe. I would recommend all of the activities suggested by the owner. I hope to return someday soon!

Clay’s property is perfect for large groups. We were 5 couples of friends coming to Piedmont’s to eat and drink good wine and we were not disappointed. We also had our bicycles and we got our good shares of hills, the location of the house is perfect to leave on day trips and tour around Barolo’s many villages. Clay was very helpful if we had any questions or needed any recommandations. I can say without a doubt that we will be back to Clay’s house in the future. Thank you Clay!

Our hosts could not have been more accommodating, after a very delayed flight travelling with small children we’d missed our restaurant reservation. Clay and Erica could not have been more amazing. They went into the town, brought back food and cooked for us!!! Unreal! The property is heavenly, perched on a hilltop overlooking a hill town in Piedmont. The accommodation is stylish, sumptuous - faultless!

The villa is beautiful and comfortable. We were there in Nov, but I imagine it would be even better at times when you can use the outdoors. The bedrooms are separated in different areas making it ideal for several families. Kitchen is equipped for cooking classes, and has everything a chef could ask for. Beds are comfortable with high end sheets. Wifi is better than most. Owner is extremely helpful and responsive. He organized a fun truffle hunt for us, and gave multiple recommendations that enhanced out overall stay immensely. Highly recommend!

Villa San Lorenzo was our main accommodation for our wedding in this region. We also booked the nearby Villa Bracchi. Both villas are owned by the same individual. And both are absolutely world class. Where do we begin? We selected this region for our wedding because it's home to some of our favourite wines in the world. When we saw the pictures of some of those wines lined up in the villas, we knew we had made the right choice. Looking over the remote valley from the deck of the pool is one experience that cannot be captured in a picture. Seeing the fog crawling through the trees is something that can be captured, but not felt without being there. What I'm trying to say here is that the surroundings are breathtaking. Of the villa itself, it is spotless. Each room has it's own unique design and placement in the house. The beds and the amenities are five-star hotel quality. Truly luxurious. We had a few gatherings planned here over the course of the week and they went perfectly. Through a recommendation from Clay (the owner), we had the help of locals Salvatore and Rosaria. They were our HEROS for two events that we did. Pizza party and poolside brunch. We cooked meals together - the massive kitchen allowed 12 of us to be chopping, kneading, stirring, sautéeing, roasting, and drinking side by side. This is the heart of the villa and one of the places that we will never forget. To get the full value of this villa, you must love cooking. Here's some other things you need to know: - there is a wood fired pizza oven - the pool is magnificent - it is not easy to find ice - so you will need to make lots of your own. - there is a full culinary herb garden - you will not want to leave You will have your dream experience here, especially if you love food and wine.

The property is first class. Beautiful rooms and facilities especially the kitchen. Clay the owner was extrmely helpful and recommended things to see and do which we would have never been able to do without his expert local knowledge. His recomendations for wine tasting and restaurants was always spot on. He is well known locally and so we had a genuinely warm reception everywhere. The truffle hunt was great fun and we found two truffles which we enjoyed with our dinner.If you are booking San Lorenzo take advantage of his local knowlede in all things related to wine and food. You wont go wrong. I would highly recommend this place. No caveats.

Our experience at Villa San Lorenzo di Bonvicino was extraordinary in different ways, the aggragate of which I rate as the best villa rental experiences I’ve had in 15 trips to Italy spanning 28 years. As the organizer for the gathering of 4 couples for a one week and our first stay in the Piedmonte region, my goals were to achieve the following: 1) Become intimate with the food & wine of the region; 2) Gain insight to the region’s history; 3) Understand why the Borolo wine & region is so special; 4) Find a villa that was comfortably spacious with excellent cooking facilities and 5) Arrange for 2 cooking lessons focused on preparing dishes special to the Piedmonte Region that would provide “takeaways” to add to dishes I like to prepare at home. Each of the 5 Stars awarded with this review is well deserved for exceeding expectations in each of the five goals outlined above. All of this would not have been possible without the welcome and active engagement of our host Clay McLachlan. Simply put, Clay is magnificently plugged into the Piedemont community! His referrals to restaurants and wine merchants, etc. were spot on. I’d asked Clay if he could locate a “Storyteller” who would come in one evening for a maximum one hour presentation that would be reflective of the region. He responded amazingly with Sandro M. who provided a wonderful perspective of the history and nature of the Piedmont region as we sat around an open fire at sunset while sampling different wines and cheese. Goals 1, 2 & 3 were superbly accomplished when melding Sandro’s presentation with the knowledge and insight we gained while visiting various towns and vineyards of the region. Truly one of the highlights of our stay. The two cooking lesson experiences were special in their own way. Night #1 featured 3 fresh pasta dishes from scratch i.e. Ravioli, Tajarin and Gnochi. The session was interspersed with tastes of different wines coupled with local salami & cheeses. Most importantly night #1 provided two of the couples, who had not been to Italy, excellent “takeaways” to bring home to their family and friends. Night #2 featured Chef Marco (from Osteria Battaglino in Dogliani) showed us how to prepare amazing stuffed roasted onions (fortina cheese, sausage onion & herbs), slow roasted veal with herb & handmade mayonnaise dipping sauce, Uovo In Sfoglia (egg, pastry, fonduta cheese) and roasted rabbit on spit (prepared in kitchen’s stunning wood oven). Continued....

This villa is perfectly located near Dogliani and all the wine region has to offer. The chefs kitchen is incredible and certainly offers enough space and equipment to prepare a feast. The bedrooms are nicely furnished and offer privacy yet an intimate feel. The pool is nice and offers an outstanding view of the Piedmont region.

It's hard to imagine a more ideal setting for a group holiday that is both a bit off the beaten tourist track and yet so full of wondrous sites, food, people, music, and great wine. The villa itself rests in a quiet, mountainous region that provides quiet solitude amidst stunning views, and ample hiking opportunities through the surrounding hills to small villages, where you eat and drink with the locals. Yet, it is also a 10 minute drive away from the lively towns and expansive vineyards of Piedmont, with their unique Northern Italian culture, wine, and food. Villa owner Clay McLachan provides an intimate engagement with the local chefs and winemakers that completely immerses you in the region's unique culture, and makes you feel like a local.

Italian food, wine, and culture are on full display at this property. Big kitchen, big hearts, and perfectly appointed rooms. There’s a Nebbiolo vineyard and the views are breathtaking. I work in the wine industry and value learning about the surrounding culture. Clay’s delivery of this education worked very well for me. He’s flat out the best Barolo/Barbaresco educator out there.

This is a marvelous property, far more grand than we imagined. We loved the huge kitchen, the numerous bedrooms, the indoor and outdoor dining tables that accommodated our group of 11, and the wonderful locale. The villa is on a hillside and overlooks the valley, and neighbors are distant so it's very quiet. The pool was just as pictured - lovely - and the kids hung out in it all afternoon, while the parents lulled about from too much wine over lunch! We did a wine tour with Clay, who is really plugged into the food and wine scene in Piemonte, and had the pasta class, which was a lot of fun. We also did walking tours to nearby towns. Clay's restaurant recommendations in the area were great and we had several memorable meals. This was a gathering of old friends and it turned out to be the perfect location. I would recommend it highly for families, groups and friends. We expect to return!

We were a group of 15 people staying the house and enjoyed every moment of it. We started by have Clay and his friends to cook for us - great introduction to Piemonte food and wine. The rooms are excellent and all could be together and have some privacy. The kitchen is the best ever - just what we people who likes cooking dreaming of. The house is located relatively remotely but very beautifully. Clay and his friends were very friendly and helpful which made our trip even better. We are all dreaming about doing it again.

Our group of 11 people throughly enjoyed Clay's 17th century villa outside of Bonvicino. The villa is very comfortable, blending the old world charm with modern conveniences. The rooms were spacious and the bathrooms up to date, providing you with what you need while you are there. The large chefs kitchen and dinning area was perfect for a big group, everyone had plenty of space and you never felt cramped. The views from the rooms and from the patio were stunning and provided a great escape to enjoy a glass of wine and some antipasti. Clay was a wonderful host, truly made our vacation memorable. We would definitely recommend this place to any group and hope to come back again soon! Seth

The villa, the pool, the surrounding countryside really are as gorgeous as they appear in the photos—no filters needed! We were a group of 12 who were perfectly comfortable during our week at San Lorenzo, which can easily accommodate seven couples who want their own private bathrooms (two are across the hall from the bedrooms; the others are en suite). We made good use of the incredible kitchen since our routine was to be out and about in this amazing part of the world during the day, then reconvene in the evening to cook up the delicious ingredients we’d found—not to mention drink the fantastic wine. Clay was invaluable in making this happen: from the spread of gourmet groceries that awaited us on our arrival to the spot-on recommendations for places to have lunch. We were also incredibly glad we scheduled a full-day tour with Clay, who took us to two of the finest wineries in the region (which is saying something!) and arranged for lunch at a place with outstanding food, wine, and views. This was all thanks to his close relationships with the wine-makers and restaurateurs in the area. It was great to come “home” at the end of the day to a place removed from all the bustle of a tourist-filled town, where all you hear is the sound of the church bells from across the valley and the bees buzzing in the lavender. But we were still close to all the places we wanted to visit: La Morra, Barbaresco, Bra, Alba, etc. The relatively nearby town of Dogliani had plenty of places to stock up on basic groceries and other needs. Some of our group took a day trip to Torino; others went hiking in the Alps or visited the Ligurian seaside. It was warmer than usual during our July stay, so we picked up some fans to keep us cool at night (and some bug spray to keep away the critters)—but it was more than pleasant beneath the shade of the trellis or swimming in the fabulous pool. Our only regret was that we couldn’t stay longer!

Clay, our host, was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable about the area. He's very connected in the Barolo community. Clay is an award-winning photographer of food and wine and the flair with which he has chosen and decorated his home in the hills just outside Barolo are testament to his artistic eye, from the dramatic view of the valley that we enjoyed by the pool to the top floor living room. The setting was truly idyllic. There were 8 of us in the house and we felt that it was spacious and you could be private when needed and enjoy one another's company during more social periods. Bathrooms, showers, kitchen and bed were all very comfortable and functioned efficiently. Cleaning was done at request, which suited us perfectly (we tended to dine out at the many amazing restaurants in the area, all of which seem to know and like Clay, which makes sense given his profession). He left us a great and thoughtful welcome basket with specialties and produce of the region. We ended up dining with Clay a few times, which was great and I am sure we'll stay in touch. All in all, a very gratifying selection and a terrific vacation, esp for those who don't want to be in the hustle and flow (most of us were from NYC or London or DC and wanted a little quiet/solitude, which made this a perfect spot!).