Montalto

There's beauty everywhere you look. It's in the vines and orchards, the abundant vegetable gardens and, of course, the modern sculpture exhibition that grows every year as the annual acquisitive prize adds to the collection. And then there are the families who wander the gardens, take in the art and eat at the casual piazza. The restaurant, though, is all fine food and silver service. Each plate offers an artistic blend of flavour and technique such as scallop boudin graced by a gentle bacon and shiitake foam, or rich-flavoured rabbit terrine seasoned by pistachio butter and served with moreish house-made walnut bread. Velvety verjuice beurre blanc coats satiny confit salmon and accompanies potatoes too humbly described as crushed. Desserts make full use of the orchards, and a chocolate marquise with honeycomb and coffee icecream will make you swoon. And you can enjoy strolling it off on the estate's 'wetlands walk'.