Pleasure in Monferrato: experiences of taste in Piedmont region, Italy

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If you ask a painter to paint a landscape like to think, very likely the artist would leave us with the delicate brush strokes that we would see emerging the sunny hills, large trees whose shade to sit and enjoy a glass of wine fresh winery, tasting of typical dishes. Sitting at a sturdy wooden table, the person depicted in the picture there would seem to lucky players of a film set between the long rows of vines, including the courtyards surrounded by a sea of flowers, where life runs along the banks of bright streams out of the water pure flowing down from the mountains: in short, a sort of earthly paradise.


Our trip took place just inside this beautiful painting called Monferrato. Tired of city life, with friends we decided on taking a mini vacation of three days. Our goal was to immerse ourselves in nature without going too far. So we found surfing the Internet "Nice, Monferrato, a new initiative of the Monferrato wine road. The Association brings together inside many wineries, farms, cottages, from the Asti Casale, Acqui Terme to Gavi from all over the vast territory of Monferrato. Territory that owes its size to Aleramo, a historical figure who had the gift from Monferrato in Otto I of Saxony, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, who had promised him a large estate that region Aleramo that he could ride in a circle three days.


Fortunately for us, Aleramo and his horse were not spared, so today, who is in Monferrato, are spoiled for choice with the new dynamic calendar of the Association Monferrato wine road, you can choose between several proposals for "pleasures." These experiences lasting a couple of hours each at wineries, farms, vineyards farms, but also in the distilleries of the area. Two hours long and will remember with pleasure, in fact: wine tastings, farm experience, stories, cooking classes ...


We arrived here on Tuesday, and we thought it would be if you like, what a pleasure it was: we are then thrown into a cooking class at Morston afternoon, hilly town about twelve miles from Ovada or Acqui Terme. At an old farmhouse in the countryside, in two hours we were able to learn different recipes from the area, starting from the buns, then get to the stuffed pasta and sweets Monferrato, a full immersion that has rewarded us with the pleasure of being able to also enjoy the our own culinary creations, washed down with local wines, which are also presented through a guided tasting.


To deepen our understanding of the local wines, the day after we participated in another "pleasure", a guided tasting, this time in Castelletto d'Orba. We visited one of the largest wineries in the country, located in the area Lavagello. A winemaker has speigato a number of aspects of their work, regarding storage, refining and bottling of wines. After these explanations we went to the pleasure of the practice, seeing a mini-course wine tasting with accompanying bread sticks, focaccia, cold cuts, cheeses and desserts.


We spent the rest of the day, long walks in the historic centers of Castelletto d'Orba, Silvano d'Orba and Grimalda Rocca, the next day while we meander even more in the pleasure of wine, through a real "farm experience ". A Tagliolo Monferrato, one of the towns bordering hilly Ovada, we have reached with unauthorized service agricultural farm. Here we have explained the starting stages of winemaking from the vineyard, that we could visit and observe how the works were carried out between the rows. We also learned exactly how we arrived at bottling, and last but not least, again not missing a guided tasting of wines produced in the company, combined with local products.


Besides the pleasure of tasting and had spent three days in contact with nature, in places rich in history and surrounded by greenery, this trip has enriched us also humanly. From now on we will see these landscapes reflected in every glass of wine, and we will remember the work and dedication that are needed to produce it. We'll be back here again later in the fall, to attend the farm experience during the harvest, but not limited to: In addition to wine, there is to know even grappa. In fact, Silvano d'Orba and Rocca Grimalda are some of the oldest distilleries in Piedmont. Back here, we are sure, will once again be a great pleasure.


Frances Bertha

For information:
www.monferratostradadelvino.it