Five Best Hotels With Vineyards

Hotel Palumbo, Ravello, Italy

Hotel Palumbo, Ravello, Italy

Set high above the Amalfi Coast in the hilltop town of Ravello is the luxurious Hotel Palumbo. The hotel's wine label, 'Episcopio', was established in 1860 and down the years has been quaffed by many illustrious guests, including the German composer Richard Wagner. The Episcopio range features velvety, earthy reds and fresh, grassy whites from blended grape varieties grown 350 metres above sea level. The Episcopio label is sold only in Italy, but owner Marco Vuilleumier wants to increase production from 40,000 bottles a year and reach a wider European audience. You can visit the recently renovated winery over the cobbled street from the hotel, or ask for a tour of the terraced vineyards across the valley. But for a truly unforgettable experience, sit on the terrace overlooking the Gulf of Salerno, with a glass of the hotel's own wine and savour the wonderful view.

Hotel Palumbo (0039 089 857 244; www.hotelpalumbo.it). Doubles from € 480 (£343) including breakfast

Tower Lodge Hunter Valley, Australia

Tower Lodge is a sumptuous country retreat in Australia's most celebrated wine-growing region, Hunter Valley. This Tuscan-style, twelve-bedroom boutique hotel is the last word in luxury, with each suite featuring double jacuzzi baths, sitting areas and dressing rooms. Five even have fireplaces, and are particularly cosy during the harvest in March. Guests can take tours around the cellar, or arrange wine tastings or trips to the vineyard. Possibly the most romantic way of exploring the grounds is by horse and carriage, finding a shady spot to enjoy a hotel picnic hamper.

Tower Lodge (0061 2 4998 7022; www.towerestate.com). Doubles from A$540 (£205) including breakfast, afternoon tea and a pre-dinner glass of estate wine

Lanzerac Manor Stellenbosch, South Africa

Lanzerac Manor, a Cape Dutch architectural gem, is surrounded by vineyards. This magnificent homestead, built in 1892, is now a 48-room hotel whose charming, old-world style bedrooms are all individually designed and decked out with antiques. Lanzerac sits in the serene Jonkershoek valley in Stellenbosch, and the 155-hectare estate produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Lanzerac Manor (0027 21 88 71132; www.lanzerac.co.za). Doubles from R1,680 (£141) including breakfast

Chateau Cordeillan-Bages Bordeaux, France

Lying on the outskirts of the quaint town of Pauillac near Bordeaux is a perfect hotel for wine lovers. Surrounded by vineyards, the Chateau Cordeillan-Bages is a honey-coloured 17th-century monastery with just 25 rooms. The Chateau produces delicious Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots. The wine benefits from the expertise of the same winemaker and cellar-master as the famous Chateau Lynch Bages nearby. You can visit Lynch Bages, just 500 meters away, for a free tour and wine tasting. Those who seek futher knowledge can arrange to attend the l'Ecole du Bordeaux, also at Lynch Bages, where a tasting tutorial costs €75 (£53.50) per person.

Chateau Cordeillan-Bages (0033 556 59 24 24; www.cordeillanbages.com). Doubles from € 178 (£127). Breakfast is an extra € 18 (£13)

Posada Salentein Mendoza, Argentina

At the foot of the Andes, the vineyard of Posada Salentein, 120km south-east of Mendoza, has awe-inspiring views of the mountain scenery. The posada is a rustic inn with just eight cosy rooms. The estate covers 340 hectares, and, at 1,700m above sea level, contains some of the highest vines in the world. Ten varieties of grape are grown here to produce fabulous wines, including a Malbec for which Argentina is renowned. If guests are not horse riding or walking in the vineyards, they can sample fruit and nuts from the hotel's orchard.

Posada Salentein (0054 11 4131 1100; www.bodegasalentein.com). Doubles from $210 (£131) on a half-board basis for two including wine with dinner and horse riding