Tuscany boutique hotel dream: How this couple swapped jobs for Lupaia. Photo / Lupaia Boutique Hotel
Meet the boutique hotel owners who ditched the rat race and moved to Tuscany.
In 2016, Christopher and Heidi Mueller, a couple originally from Salzburg in Austria, ditched their corporate careers and escaped to Tuscany to run Lupaia, a boutique hotel in Montepulciano. Ten years on, having transformed five farmhouses into a beautiful retreat, Heidi Mueller details what it’s really like to swap the boardroom for bellissimo.
When did you realise you wanted to leave your corporate jobs and move to Tuscany?
Running a small hotel in Italy had long been a dream of ours. In fact, on our second date 26 years ago, Christopher mentioned this dream. Then, 15 years later, after corporate careers, we decided to make the dream a reality.
Why Tuscany?
Italy has always been dear to us, but we weren’t set on Tuscany from the beginning. After more than two years of searching, and viewing over 60 properties in different regions of Italy, we found Lupaia in 2015. It was love at first sight with the location, the tranquillity, and the 1622 farmhouse. The location is perfect, in central Italy, halfway between Rome and Florence. The peace, panoramic views, and historical charm struck us immediately. Tuscany offered the perfect combination of extraordinary natural beauty, rich agricultural traditions, and a connection to highly skilled local artisans.
What’s unique to the region that makes it special?
Montepulciano is not only famous for wine – the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano hails from here – but it’s also an architectural marvel that has served as the backdrop for many movies and TV shows. Sitting between the Chiana and Orcia valleys, it’s a strategic position from which to explore the most beautiful places of Tuscany. The area offers a profound connection to skilled local artisans, from the coppersmith in Montepulciano to the ceramic artist Mariella in Montefollonico. The food sourcing is incredible, with neighbours like the Cugusi dairy farm in Pienza and the butcher Belli in Torrita di Siena. And of course, there is the breathtaking natural beauty – morning light over the olive groves and magical sunsets over Montepulciano. The light here is truly magical.
How do you ensure guests have an authentic Tuscan stay?
We treat guests like friends. There are no fixed meal times, and every experience is fully personalised. We use mainly local materials – terracotta, stone, and reclaimed wood – and furnish the rooms with antiques from local markets. Our wonderful team shares in the pride of our Tuscan heritage: Chef Luca builds menus around the garden and what local suppliers bring us daily. Daniel, our restaurant manager, spends his time off visiting little-known vineyards and discovering new wines for our wine list. And Silvio, our barman, creates cocktails using all-Tuscan ingredients. We also make our own extra-virgin olive oil from the 1500 olive trees that grow on the property. Guests can join truffle hunts, wine and olive oil tastings, garden and foraging tours, beekeeping experiences, and private cooking classes. Everything is rooted in place.
What are the small, everyday rituals in Tuscany that you enjoy the most?
Mornings start with breakfast at home, before we take our 6-year-old daughter to the local school in Montepulciano. Then we spend the morning on our property, check in with guests and our team. After lunch, we try to go for a walk on our gravel road, taking in the beautiful landscape. After an espresso in the open kitchen – the true heart of Lupaia – it’s back to work and meetings. Sometimes we cook at home, but mostly we have dinner on our little table in the kitchen. The Italian lifestyle is one of a kind. The pace is slow, meals are unhurried, music shifts throughout the day, and the scents and textures of the land are always present. It’s a life that feels grounded and real.
What are your favourite Tuscan flavours?
Everything seasonal and local. Our homemade pasta is an evergreen favourite – depending on the season, guests try different varieties of homemade pasta, fresh greens from our garden, or a vegetable risotto. We make everything in-house: breads, jams, pasta, croissants, and even homemade Nutella. The truffles in autumn are extraordinary. We also love our Negroni made with a local gin from San Quirico and a vermouth from Montepulciano – it perfectly captures this corner of Tuscany.
Does Tuscany live up to the postcard version we all romanticise?
Completely – and then some. The rolling hills, the cypress trees, the golden light at sunset over Montepulciano: it is every bit as beautiful as you imagine. Spring brings flowers and herbs, summer is rich and full of life, and autumn – our favourite season – has truffles, harvest warmth, and a quality of light that is simply magical. The colours and flavours of this landscape exceed anything a postcard can convey.
Is there anything about Italy, or living in Italy, that’s a misconception?
People often imagine that living in the Tuscan countryside is purely idyllic. Yes, the quality of life is great, the air is clean, and the landscape is beautiful – but it requires enormous dedication. Knowing the language is fundamental outside of the big cities. And the famous Italian bureaucracy extends to the everyday life of everyone, not just entrepreneurs. Simple things like picking up a registered letter at the post office take a lot of time, and have already cost us many nerves. Finally, anything related to renovations or modifications to the protected buildings is very complex, and sometimes the different laws are contradictory and not even Italians can give a clear answer – things are often up to interpretation and goodwill.