Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1525926
Three extraordinary estates in three distinct European wine regions provide ample space and amenities for taking in the season's bounty. BY MARK ELLWOOD an oenophile's delight SANTORINI: CANAVES EPITOME The five-bedroom villa at Canaves Epitome, a recent addition to the hotel complex, is Maury's latest find. The family-run Canaves Collection has operated hotels and villas on the Greek island for almost four decades; this 8,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor property, which opened last summer, is one of the largest within easy reach of the picturesque cliffside village of Oia. "In the middle of the most beautiful gardens, you have a view out over the sea," says Maury. "The sunsets are unbeatable." The villa has an onsite gym, couples' massage room, and vast pool. The hotel's F&B is within easy access if you'd rather not have a private chef cook in the villa's well-appointed kitchen. Make sure to ask Canaves to help with private tastings of the island's superb, mineral-forward whites, such as Assyrtiko from Domaine Sigalas, and offerings from the sprawling modern complex of Estate Argyros. Jules Maury runs Scott Dunn Private, the ultra-high-end UK-based travel specialist whose clients spend at least six figures on every trip, from renting a private island to chartering a sail down the Nile. Maury is particularly picky when it comes to villas, which many request for major milestone celebrations or multigenerational trips. One newer trend she has noted among her clients: requests for villas that sit within a hotel's ecosystem—the best of both worlds. "You can be totally private, but have the option of dropping into the bar, or your children have access to other kids if they want to play," she says. For fall's harvest season, we asked Maury to offer her insider insights on villas in two major winemaking regions—and one in a less expected locale where the vintages are worth the detour. scottdunn.com The expansive pool deck offers many nooks for taking in the Aegean sunset. C O U R T E S Y O F C A N AV E S C O L L EC T I O N villas to book BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M