Some matches are just meant to be, all the more so when a romantic history turns into a venture that brings joy to others.

Such is the case with Mary Lou Ricci, a Scituate native, and her husband Tim Hall.

Ricci, who sold her large insurance firm at the start of the pandemic, found herself yearning for something new; a life that combined work with her love of food, wine, travel  and the Green Mountains.

She and Hall had dated and fallen in love at the Hermitage Inn (www.thehermitageinnvermont.com) in Vermont. So, during a pandemic that threatened to destroy the travel industry, she purchased the then-abandoned inn, gutted it and, on the bones of the place she and her husband love so much, created the inn of her dreams.

Now, it’s a hot spot for wine and food enthusiasts, as well as lovers of Vermont escapes.

It works. The Hermitage Inn sits at the foot of the posh and private Hermitage Club resort in quaint Dover. Once a part of that resort, it’s now its own entity, with rolling grounds, (where you’ll find ice skating, show shoeing and cross country skiing in winter; fishing, hiking, archery and more come summer months) and a design that embraces the past  but also pushes into the future with modern amenities, open space, incredible dining and best of all – a wine cellar that secured a Wine Spectator Best Of Award just a year into operation.

The Inn isn’t big – 15 guest rooms and suites, a tavern, dining room and that wine cellar round it out. But it’s spread out in way that feels both sprawling and intimate. Little nooks, like the blue-toned sitting area next to reception and the cozy library beside the tavern that Ricci modeled after one of her favorite spots at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland, give you spots in which to relax.

The rooms are light-drenched in the day and fabulously appointed. A Nespresso sits well stocked for you, and your own private wine selection awaits you in your room’s wine fridge.

There are carriage houses too, for a more intimate setting with a family or group.

We visited on a cold January weekend, planning to wrap our stay around some ski days.

Dining, as we’d heard, was inspired. Our first night we treated ourselves to an Inn innovation: a chef’s tasting meal served to us in a heated gondola complete with chandelier. The fondue, wine and other courses were the perfect match for the unique setting. It’s a must-do.

In the Tavern for an after-dinner drink, regulars flock and introduce themselves. By our second night, we felt like locals – our new friends greeting us upon arrival.

While Ricci and Hall insisted on modern, new and forward thinking, they blended in the old in just the right ways. Color palates read “pioneer chic,” and, best of all, in the dining areas, they pulled out the old gas fireplaces and replaced them with classic wood burning masterpieces.

The expansive wine cellar is perhaps the heart of it all. There, Ricci and Hall have already gathered an extensive collection — some 550 labels and 7,000 bottles of wine. You can book private events and tastings (as well as chef pairing dinners) down there.

The culinary team draws from local sources as much as possible, and leans on Vermont tradition with a flair for the new, like their own local take on the Croque Madame in the Tavern and the cider braised venison in the Birches dining room. Breakfast is included with your stay.

It was tough to leave – but here’s to summer, when the Inn opens the windows wide to the fresh Vermont air and offers plenty of roaming space in their lush fields, flower gardens and lovely woods. We’ll be back for more.

Two gondolas converted to mini posh dining rooms sit on the Inn grounds — multi course dinners are served there for up to four people. (Photo courtesy The Hermitage Inn)

Historic Inn Rooms are smaller and cozy, with wooden beams and warm, bright colors. (Photo courtesy The Hermitage Inn)