Monferrato wine and food tour
In Alto Monferrato, wine and food are sacred and part of the culture of the area. Full of flavors and aromas reminiscent of the hills covered with vineyards, woods, and hazelnut trees. Monferrato is the heart of Piedmont.
A wonderful place to visit at any time of year, whether you want to go truffle hunting for truffles and Piedmontese specialties or spend a weekend looking for excellent wines like Barbera, Ruchè, Grignolino, and the delectable Moscato.
In the spring, peach trees bloom throughout the landscape, which appears to have emerged from Van Gogh’s brush: the colors are dense and alive; you can almost touch them.
In September, one of the most important “food and wine events” in Monferrato is the Palio and the Festival delle Sagre, where the city of Asti comes alive for a great culinary event in which the cooks of the Asti Pro Loco challenge each other to the sound of the best recipes of the Monferrato tradition.
On the other hand, autumn is the most gluttonous time of the year. It is all about the king of the table, the white truffle, the mythical Tuber Magnatum Pico, for which many festivals are held, including the historic one in Moncalvo on the last two Sundays of October.
What we want to offer you is a food and wine itinerary that starts in the splendid city of Asti, in its precious historic center, and winds through the surrounding villages, including Moncalvo, Montemagno, Grazzano Badoglio, and Castagnole di Monferrato.
a land where it is sweet to wander without haste, immersed in the vineyards and history. Each hill hosts a delightful village with a Romanesque church, a tower, and a castle to visit, but above all, it will be the cellars of Monferrato that seduce you.
From one hill to another, the wine changes due to soils, microclimates, and conditions that differ just enough to make each visit unique. Seven hills in Ruchè, Castagnole Monferrato, can be explored by bike if you are fit.
Grignolino, one of the oldest and most valuable Piedmontese vines, and Barbera can also be found there.
The Asti area is the homeland of Barbera; not only was it born here, but in these hills, it reaches a subtlety and depth that you will struggle to find elsewhere.
Barbera del Monferrato is a great everyday wine that is easy to drink and simple. It goes well with the hearty food of Piedmont, which will be a big part of our food and wine itinerary.
Itinerary
Arrival and accommodation As a hotel, we have chosen the Relais San Desiderio, an elegant villa located in Calliano, in the heart of the Asti hills, a few kilometers from Asti.
The first stop at the winery is the historic Sant’Agata estate, which is surrounded by vineyards. Here, we will taste the typical wines of Asti with the Cavallero family: a splendid Ruchè and Grignolino, and we will understand why Luigi Veronelli called it “anarchic and rebel wine.”
Excellent Barbera, and the occasion is also good to taste Nebbiolo, which is very elegant. The Santisè restaurant will give us the first taste of Monferrato cuisine, exquisite agnolotti del plin, and heavenly peach and amaretti cake.
A walk through history in Asti
The next stop on our food and wine itinerary in Monferrato is dedicated to Asti and its splendid architectural heritage, one of the largest in Piedmont, which lends itself to numerous itineraries; just choose your favorite historical period. For the Romans, we recommend the Roman Domus, the remains of the Amphitheater.
For the Romanesque, do not miss the crypt of Sant’Anastasio. The Collegiate Church of San Secondo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Palace of the Podestà, and San Pietro in Consavia with its paleontological museum are all very interesting to people who like the Middle Ages.
The tour of Asti ends with a walk that touches Renaissance buildings, including Palazzo Malabaila and Palazzo Falletti. For a break, go to the Cicchetto, a unique restaurant with materials from the cellar and a large selection of wines and traditional dishes, like Vitello tonnato or Brillo Parlante if you want fish.
Moncalvo, on the road to the Sacro Monte di Crea
From Asti, we move to Moncalvo, a city of ancient origins founded by the Romans. The center is dominated by the remains of the mighty castle, but not to be missed are the beautiful Church of Sant’Antonio, San Francesco, and the Manacorda palace.
Visit the Iuli winery to taste Barbara’s great wines and a Pinot Noir that has found ideal conditions here. The most important event is the truffle festival, held in October, but the Fat Ox Fair is also worthwhile if you love meat.
It’s only a short drive to Serralunga di Crea, one of the world’s most evocative and mystical locations: the Natural Park of Sacro Monte di Crea, which Unesco has designated as a World Heritage Site.
The sanctuary is surrounded by 34 hectares of woods and is said to be touched by God. It is a place where you can not only see architectural and artistic works of great value but also find yourself again.
Montemagno: a splendid manor, the scabs of Casale, and the grand finale of grappa!
After this trip, we will be in the beautiful medieval village of Montemagno, which is dominated by its huge castle and a terraced garden surrounded by a wall with beautiful Ghibelline battlements.
The chance to visit Marco Canato’s winery is great. He makes typical and subtle wines, real wines made not to impress but to be drunk: Barbera, Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese, and a Moscato to go with crumiri di Casale, the traditional and delicious dry biscuits of the Monferrato region. If you like grappa, the Mazzetti distillery boasts an ancient tradition and very elegant bottles.
Grazzano Badoglio, traveling in the heart of Monferrato
Our wine tour in Monferrato continues with the pretty Grazzano Badoglio, famous for the house museum of Marshal Badoglio and the Abbey founded in the 10th century by Count Aleramo, later remodeled in the Baroque style.
The real surprises, however, are the wineries that can be found here. In Rosignano Monferrato, the Castello di Ualti, which is worth a visit on its own, makes a Barbera with a lot of depth and intensity and a Grignolino that is light but has a lot of personality.
A little further on, near San Giorgio in Monferrato, do not miss the organically run Daniele Saccoletto winery. The wines are the classic ones of Monferrato, Grignolino, Barbera, and Freisa, but of great purity, without compromise.