Top five wine hotels in the world

Boutique hotel Web site Mr & Mrs Smith (www.mrandmrssmith.com) lists the world's best hotels for wine lovers. This list is not endorsed by Reuters.

1. Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley, United States

California's Napa Valley is the heartland of U.S. winemaking: an easygoing, river-run pocket of rolling greenery that revels in a sun-kissed climate. Calistoga Ranch, a collection of 48 wooden lodges woven into a forest of pines and oaks, is a supremely romantic embodiment of the valley's welcoming, informal atmosphere. The ranch has its own vineyard, label and tasting cave. Visiting vintners from all around pop in with their wares throughout the year, and the wine list in the restaurant could take a week to read, let alone sample.

2. Hawksmoor House, Cape Winelands, South Africa

A one-of-a-kind guesthouse on the Matjieskuil wine farm half an hour outside Cape Town, Hawksmoor House allows you a nostalgic glimpse into South Africa's vintage Winelands world: lingering breakfasts on the veranda, vineyard walks, sundowners on the stoop and indulgent dinners in an 18th-century dining room. Don't expect five-star flourishes ─ this is about unpolished home-grown perfection washed down with a spectacular sunset.

3. Villa Bordoni, Tuscany, Italy

This 10-roomed restored villa may well be the best spot in the world to secret yourself if you've a taste for Chianti. Set amid the inimitable Tuscan countryside of cypress trees, olive groves and, of course, rolling vineyards, the rustic-luxe hideaway is perfectly positioned for strolling among the vines or exploring the wine towns of the region, such as Montepulciano and Montalcino, or gastronomic, cultural hotspots such as Siena and Florence.

4. Le Relais du Franc Mayne, Bordeaux, France

Surrounded by seven acres of lush St-Emilion vineyard, this 16th-century chateau is at the heart of southern France's wine country. This is a hip hybrid of working winery and boutique hotel, with barrel-loads of charm and style. Outside is classic 16th-century Girondine style; inside, the hotel's nine bedrooms share space with the trappings of viticulture, the eye-catching renovated vat room where guests can learn about wine-making from experts, and the underground caverns where barrel upon barrel of the lush liquid is stored.

5. The Louise, Barossa Valley, Australia

Rivaling Hunter Valley for the title of Australia's wine capital, Barossa is a place of pilgrimage for wine-lovers and foodies alike. The Louise is where the really discerning ones end up, a bastion of urban slickness in a profoundly rustic region, with 15 marvelous modern suites and an almost monastic sense of reverence when conversation moves wine-wards. With more than 100 wine-makers within spitting (and swilling) distance, you could easily spend your entire stay careening around the countryside sampling Barossa's bolshy reds.

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