Visit Piedmont wineries in the Langhe: wine tastings at the wine cellar and much more!
Piedmont is a region dedicated to the production of many food & wine specialities. The most famous territory, which makes it one of the main Italian destinations for food tourism, is located in the provinces of Cuneo and Asti: they are the Langhe.
Let’s discover the Langhe together!
In 2014 the Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont – the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato – were officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The beauty of this landscape was shaped by the winemaking activities and, at the same time, the type of the territory gave the Piedmontese the opportunity to enhance its possibilities.
The characteristic mountainous and hilly territory of the Langhe has favoured the production of excellent foods such as the hazelnut and exceptional cheeses such as the Castelmagno. But in the Langhe wine is the undisputed protagonist: participating in a visit to Piedmont wineries is certainly one of the wine tours in Italy not to be missed.
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Immense vineyards distinguish the territory, valleys that are tinged with green, turn towards red in autumn. A dream landscape that only with a pinch will you realise it’s reality!
To do justice to this area, we find many historic Piedmont wineries that are an essential part of the area and welcome visitors for a visit to the wine cellar with wine tasting.
For these reasons, the Langhe area is an unmissable destination for wine tours of Italy in the name of beauty and (goodness!). With tastings in Piedmont wineries and walks through the vineyards.
The grape varieties of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato
The main wine grapes in the Langhe are Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera.
1. Black grape varieties
Nebbiolo is very important to obtain two of the most important Piedmontese and Langhe denominations, Barolo and Barbaresco, both DOCG wines (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin).
Dolcetto is a native grape variety that gives rise to the homonymous wine with an intense ruby red colour with violet reflections, aromas of cherry and red fruits. Suitable for young wines.
Barbera is the most popular grape variety in Piedmont: its grapes with a marked acidity can make wines prone to ageing. We remember Barbera d’Alba and Barbera d’Asti wines.
The Langhe denomination is used when at least 60% of the grapes are of the previously mentioned grape varieties.
1. White grape varieties
Important are the aromatic Moscato grapes used for sparkling wine (Asti Spumante DOCG) and for the production of sweet wine (Moscato d’Asti DOCG). They are both produced with the Martinotti-Charmat method in Piedmont wineries.
In the municipality of Novello and in the adjacent areas, a grape variety cultivated above all in the past has recently been rediscovered: the Nascetta (Nas-cetta) is used to produce the homonymous white wine which is quite successful during the visits to Piedmont wineries with wine tasting.
In the past, these grapes were consumed as table grapes or used as cut grapes together with Favorita (another traditional grape variety) to obtain fragrant wines, thanks to the semi-aromatic nature of this fruit.
In Alta Langa we find an important production of Chardonnay which, together with Pinot Noir, make up a famous Italian wine: the Alta Langa DOCG.
In the neighbouring territories, Monferrato and Roero, often united to the Langhe, we find the production of as many fine grapes as Bonarda, Brachetto and Cortese.
Not less important is the Arneis grape variety, present in both the Langhe and Roero areas, which gives rise to a full-bodied white wine that has nothing to envy to a red wine. Definitely to choose during a visit to Piedmont wineries.
These local wine grape varieties are only one of the reasons for visiting Piedmont wineries in the Langhe, thus carving out a relaxing food and wine break to participate in a wine tasting in the wine cellar.
Visit historic Piedmont wineries in the Langhe
1. Barolo
What are the best wine tours in Italy near Barolo? Among the most renowned Piedmont wineries in Barolo, we find the Marchesi di Barolo winery where Nebbiolo was able to fully express its potential.
In 1800 Juliette Corbert Marchesa di Barolo encouraged the creation of new wine cellars and she experimented innovative techniques at the time, which made Nebbiolo, by its nature quite simple, a structured and complex wine: Barolo.
The heirs of Cavalier Felice Abbona today manage a legendary winery in Barolo and they pass on this noble art in their Barolo wine cellars with guided tours, Barolo and Barbaresco wine tasting. In this winery it is possible to admire the ancient basements of the estate during the visit to the wine cellars.
2. Canale
Giacomo Vico’s winery in the Langhe is innovative but at the same time historic: dating back to 1800, it still has got an archive with documents and photos of the wine trade in demijohns in the twentieth century. In 2020 the winery was registered in the register of Italian Historic Companies (a honour conferred on Italian companies that have been working for at least 100 years in the same sector). Not to be missed if you are looking for the best places to visit in Piedmont with regard to winery tours in the Langhe and the history of the area.
3. Verduno
The wine cellars of Castello di Verduno are amazing: visiting these wine cellars means admiring the wine bottles that rest for refinement. This winery is considered among the best wine producers in Barolo and they offer winery tours to visit the wine cellar and taste Barolo, Barbaresco and Verduno wines.
4. Fontanafredda
Among the most beautiful Piedmont wineries in Barolo, we find Fontanafredda. Here you will not find only the ancestral places of Barolo production but a real village. In this area, Carlo Alberto Conte di Mirafiori, son of king Vittorio Emanuele II, converted this place into a main centre for the production of Barolo: he used several hundred hectares of vineyards for Nebbiolo cultivation, he built houses for the workers and all kind of services for their families, including a school and a church. Poetically he concentrated the life of Barolo and of those who worked there in Fontanafredda.
5. Monforte d’Alba
A very popular stop for those who want to visit Piedmont wineries in Barolo is Giacomo Coterno’s winery. This winery is famous all over the world: in 1912, when it was normal to sell wine in barrels or demijohns, they were bottled among the first bottles of Barolo. There are large bottles, daughters of a century-old experience, which are uncorked during the most exclusive Langhe wine tastings and which can cost thousands of euros, including the famous Barolo Monfortino Riserva.
The itineraries not to be missed in the Langhe
For a Langhe wine tasting you are in the right place!
This territory offers interesting itineraries where you can enjoy a spectacular panorama, visit wineries and juggle the alleys of magnificent villages that offer many interesting activities.
Town of Barolo
An example of all this is Barolo, one of the most famous places to visit in Piedmont: an enchanting Italian town in the province of Cuneo that gave its name to the world-famous wine. Here you can stroll through the historic streets of the town and stop at the WiMu, the wine museum situated in Barolo castle, which tells the story of the relationship between man and wine, an interesting vision in which to get lost and find yourself.
In Barolo you can also visit the corkscrew museum but, if your interest is mainly of a food and wine nature, consider that here you can taste the finest Langhe wines paired with a risotto with porcino mushrooms, cardoon cake, Piedmontese fritto misto and canestrelli cookies.
In the whole area you can taste many traditional Piedmontese dishes such as the magnificent Alba White Truffle, not to be missed during your Langhe wine tastings!
La Morra
Brightly coloured and immersed in the vineyards, the Cappella del Barolo, or rather Cappella del Brunante, is located halfway between Barolo and La Morra. It is a church dating back to 1914, never consecrated, which was used as a shelter for the workers of the vineyards. Later it was abandoned and only in 1970 the Ceretto winery took it over with several hectares of vineyards.
In 1999 it was restored by David Tremlett and Sol LeWitt, who gave contrast and harmony to this truly particular and very instagrammable structure not to be missed during a tour of Piedmont wineries around Barolo and La Morra!
The Ceretto family is accustomed to making an originally ancient space like the Ceretto winery into a modern design space, which can host exhibitions or installations by international artists.
The Ceretto winery, or rather the Tenuta Monsordo Bernardina in Alba (only one of the four wine cellars of the family!) is a space studied to perfection, a mix between ancient and profane which is ideal for visiting truly unforgettable Piedmont wineries.
Between the poetry of entering directly into the old wine cellar to a new concept of wine tasting, conceived with an architectural work called L’acino (in english, the grape). A space covered by a bubble that allows a view of the vast panorama over the vineyard landscape, a unique place where you can have wine tastings directly in the wine cellar and special events.
Are you looking for Piedmont wineries to visit in La Morra? An unmissable stop is Ratti winery, whose symbol is Renato Ratti: thanks to his documents and studies on the influence of the wine vintage, the obligation to report the vintage has been included on the label.
The “Renato Ratti” Museum of the wines of Alba was built in 1971 in the Abbey in honour of our Lady of the Annunciation. The latter was built in Romanesque style, around the year 1000, on the ruins of an ancient castle: the Abbey of San Martino di Marcenasco. Here the wine-making process has always belonged to the Benedictine monks, especially the “Nebiolum”. Famous people such as Pope Pius VII stayed there and only later in 1867 the Abbey passed to the municipality of La Morra where the museum was established.
Serralunga d’Alba
Even from afar in Serralunga d’Alba you will recognise Fontanafredda thanks to the castle overlooking the village. The ideal place to visit Piedmont wineries and participate in some of the best wine tours in Italy: the Langhe wine tastings. By now you know all about this place that we have already mentioned above and you just need to go there!
Monforte d’Alba
Your itinerary in the Langhe must also include Monforte d’Alba: in 2018 it was recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. A medieval village in the Langhe with a story to tell, which you can discover only by following its streets step by step. The natural amphitheatre Auditorium Horszowski is spectacular: it amiably intersects the village and it is home to shows, concerts and jazz festivals.
Barbaresco
Finally, in the Langhe, wine tasting also means stopping in Barbaresco, where there is a deconsecrated church used as a regional wine shop. Here, in the Barbaresco wine cellars, the tasting of Langhe wines is taken seriously: only in this wine shop, you can taste Barbaresco DOCG from 138 different Piedmont wineries!
As we have seen, in the Langhe there is a wide range of possibilities to visit the wine cellars and every year there are many periods when Piedmont wineries are open on the Barolo road.
There are several food experiences that can be done by visiting Piedmont wineries in the Langhe: guided tours of the vineyards, hiking in the best itineraries around Barolo, lingering in open wine cellars to taste the wines from Langhe.
For bike lovers, there are many routes; those who love to travel more comfortable instead will definitely prefer to rent a quad. Amateur wine courses will make you appreciate the landscape and history of this place even more.
For the most romantic travellers, it is also possible to fly in a hot air balloon; for the more eclectic or those who simply want to relax in this magical territory, it is possible to indulge in yoga lessons among the vineyards.
However, the wine harvest season is coming and you cannot miss the unique opportunity to visit Piedmont wineries and collect these fine grapes from the Langhe, becoming a protagonist in the history of this place.
Italia Delight offers different food experiences and wine tours, also customizable, that will enrich your holidays in the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato.
Some tips to visit Piedmont wineries:
If you are still thinking that visiting Piedmont wineries is a dream, well you are wrong. Open your eyes and get in the car: the Langhe are waiting for you for an unforgettable food and wine tour!
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