The description and photos of Serra Destri on the VRBO site are accurate: the grounds are beautiful, and the house is very comfortable. Elisabeth, the owner, greeted us when we first arrived (a little later than expected), and showed us around with a smile, after which we opened a nice bottle of red wine from Montepulciano that she had generously left for us. The four of us occupied Solaia (plus an additional bedroom) on the first floor and Ornallaia, which has its own entrance on the ground floor.There was more than enough space for us, and we cooked several meals in the large and very well-equipped kitchen upstairs in Solaia, which has spectacular views of Riparbella and other hill towns in the distance. After touring in the daytime, we spent leisurely hours in the evenings on the two covered terraces outside that were reserved for us. Because we were out so much of the time, we spent only a few hours total at the good-sized pool, which was very clean and inviting, complete with lounge chairs and umbrellas.
Elisabeth is knowledgeable of the region, and we visited the nearby towns and villages that she mapped out for us: Montescudaio, Bolgheri, Casale Marittimo, Bibbona and Guardistallo. (We also went swimming in the Golfo di Barratti and then "discovered" Popolonia, one of the only Etruscan sites on the coast of Tuscany--current population 23.)
The location of Serra Destri is excellent for touring. Since we had a full week, we went to Volterra (well worth a visit and often overlooked on conventional itineraries), Pisa, Lucca and Florence. As for eateries near Serra Destri, two restaurants stand out: "Osteria La Vecchia Pieve" (on the way to Riparbella) and "Bar Pizzaria Piazetta di Rossetti" in Riparbella. For food shopping, Elisabeth recommended Coop and Conad in nearby Cecina, and we preferred the Coop for the variety and quality of its products.
All in all, we had a memorable stay at Serra Destri and highly recommend it. We hope to stay there again, but longer next time. Thank you, Elisabeth, for your hospitality.