Wineries in Monferrato

This is the wine region in Piemonte that I like best. There is a lot of good wine made from the Barbera grape here, and producers with the Nizza D.O.C.G. classification have managed to produce very high-quality wines in relatively few years. 

These producers are located in 18 different municipalities bordering Nizza Monferrato. 

There is a unique microclimate here around the rolling hills, which sit 150 to 400 meters above sea level, and the area is known for having very little wind.

 Cascina Desderi, Asti

Just 10 minutes from Asti, Roald Noto and Trond Malmer have been involved in wine production, accommodation, and events since 2003. Here you can enjoy lazy days by the pool, join excursions they organize, and be served great food on-site.

Tenuta Tamburnin, Castelnuovo Don Bosco

After becoming a friend of the family, I was allowed to join the grape harvest.

You will find this winery in an idyllic area, roughly in the middle of Monferrato.

Piergiorgio Gaidano runs the winery with his three daughters Valeria, Claudia, and Elena; they have 14,000 square meters of land, of which 9,000 are set aside for grape production, while the rest is hazelnuts and forest. 

Neverland, Vigliano d'Asti

This is our own agriturismo where it is easy to find peace. Wine production and accommodation have been run here for many decades, but the Italian owner I met several times has now sold the place to a Norwegian. 

Here you can have a quiet break or celebrate a birthday or wedding, surrounded by vineyards and beautiful views.

Cascina La Barbatella, Nizza Monferrato

When I met Lorenzo Perego—the owner of Cascina La Barbatella—back in 2017, I quickly understood that he was passionate about making great wine!

And he has certainly succeeded! If you are in the area, this is exactly the winery you should stop by!

The farm has a great location on a hill with good soil and plenty of sun, which gives the grapes ideal growing conditions.

In some parts of the Monferrato wine district, there is a higher percentage of magnesium in the soil than in other areas.

Whether that applies here is unknown, but the farm is located not far from where the Barbera grape has its origins.

It is said that 70-80% of a wine's quality is about what happens in the vineyard. Without claiming to be a wine expert, I would like to highlight two favorites: Sonvico and La Vigna Dell’Angelo. 

Sonvico is a wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera grapes and is classified as D.O.C. (Denominazione di origine controllata), meaning the wine comes from a defined area. 

La Vigna Dell’Angelo is made from 100% Barbera grapes and is therefore also classified as Nizza Monferrato D.O.C.G.

D.O.C.G. (Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita) guarantees that the wine comes from a specific area with strict quality requirements.

Dell’Angelo is a real find of a wine—and it has won several awards!

It is lovely to be at Cascina La Barbatella on a late afternoon; they also have large areas for events like weddings and parties. You can follow their Facebook page for information about various events.

Le Langhe, which is famous for Barolo and Barbaresco

Franco Conterno, Monforte d’Alba

I have visited them many times and it is always pleasant; if you are lucky, they might offer homemade cured meats.

In the heart of Bussia, known as one of the best areas in Barolo, 3rd generation Daniele and his family reside.

In an unpretentious style and with traditions dating back to the 1800s, they create wines for both everyday life and celebrations.

Adriano Vini, San Rocco Seno D’Elvio

The farm, located 14 kilometers from Alba, has been run by the couples Luciana and Marco, Marco’s brother Vittorio (R.I.P. caro), and Grazia. 

They mainly grow grapes for Barbaresco wine. This friendly family (perhaps the friendliest I’ve met in all of Piemonte!) also has woods where you can join a truffle hunt.

If you stop by for a tasting, Michaela might be the one to present one of their good wines. The Basarin is good, but my tip: taste the Sanadaive (Barbaresco) and tell me what you think.