{"id":37499,"date":"2024-09-09T17:23:52","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T15:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/monferrato-in-piedmont-a-gem-of-nature-and-wine\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:36:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:36:16","slug":"monferrato-in-piedmont-a-gem-of-nature-and-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/italy\/piedmont\/monferrato-in-piedmont-a-gem-of-nature-and-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Monferrato in Piedmont, a gem of nature and wine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Monferrato: The Most Beautiful Routes and an Authentic Experience<\/h1>\n\n

Monferrato? This region in Piedmont is much less well-known than the neighboring Langhe. The same goes for its wines. But it\u2019s no less beautiful, and the cuisine and wines are delicious. That\u2019s why this part of Piedmont is also considerably more affordable and pleasantly quiet. Read on to find out why you\u2019ll want to see and explore this lesser-known corner of Piedmont. <\/p>\n\n

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\"Monferrato<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Monferrato<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Monferrato<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Where is Monferrato? <\/h2>\n\n

The area is actually the lesser-known counterpart to the neighboring Langhe region in Piedmont<\/a><\/strong>. It lies southeast of Turin. <\/p>\n\n

The \u201cLanghe-Monferrato-Roero\u201d are not separate provinces of Piedmont, but are distinguished from one another only geologically. The Monferrato region is located in the provinces of Alessandria and Asti. Are you still following? The best way to distinguish them is actually by the different wines produced there. <\/p>\n\n

\"Monferrato<\/figure>\n\n

The rolling hills of the region, reminiscent of Tuscany, are every bit as beautiful as the more famous Langhe. Hills covered with vineyards, walnut trees, and forests alternate with medieval villages and castles steeped in centuries of history. <\/p>\n\n

Once a kingdom, the region became a county in the 11th century. You can still sense its noble atmosphere in the many villages and castles. The residents are proud of their land and are committed to preserving its heritage through annual events. <\/p>\n\n

Monferrato is a large region that\u2014along with the Langhe and Roero\u2014forms the heart of Piedmont. Its main city is Asti. Other major cities include Acqui Terme and Ovada. <\/p>\n\n

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\"Asti<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Asti<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Asti<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Main city: Asti <\/h2>\n\n

The city of the famous writer Vittorio Alfieri, singer Paolo Conte, and the Palio di Asti<\/a>. It\u2019s not as well-known a horse race as the one in Siena, but it is the oldest in Italy and a still very vibrant annual tradition. <\/p>\n\n

Asti is a charming medieval town that once had more than 100 towers, 12 of which still stand today. The taller the tower, the greater the family\u2019s wealth. The city has several city parks. With a Smart Ticket, you have access to all 8 museums in the city<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

Moncalvo and the Lower Monferrato <\/h2>\n\n

The smallest town in Italy and once the capital of the County of Monferrato. Moncalvo is surrounded by historic villages that served as the backdrop for battles against Asti, the House of Savoy, and the bishops. A beautiful region with hundreds of hills that slope down into the Vercelli Valley with its rice paddies. <\/p>\n\n

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\"Monferrato<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Monferrato<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Monferrato Wine Region <\/h2>\n\n

This wine region is an open secret in Piedmont, but it\u2019s not as well known among foreign tourists. They tend to opt for the better-known Langhe region, because of its famous wines like Barolo. Yet Monferrato is also a region for gourmets and wine lovers. All the more reason to discover its wines. <\/p>\n\n

The region produces several DOCG* wines. The best known are probably the Asti Spumante DOCG and the Moscato d\u2019Asti DOCG, made from 100% Moscato grapes. <\/p>\n\n

Among the red wines, the Barbera d\u2019Asti Superiore DOCG is the most important, but the Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG, Dolcetto d\u2019Ovada Superiore DOCG, and Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG are also well-known red wines. <\/p>\n\n

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TIP: Want to spend the night among the vineyards? At Monvirelais<\/a>, you can spend the night among the vineyards. This organic winemaker recently built a beautiful guesthouse on a hill in the middle of the vineyards. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Infernot of Monferrato, UNESCO Wine Cellars <\/h2>\n\n

Monferrato owes its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014 not only to its landscape but also to the \u201cInfernot\u201d: ancient underground cellars carved into sandstone (\u201cPietra da Cantoni\u201d). Here, wine bottles are stored at a constant temperature and humidity. The sandstone is a remnant of the seabed that characterized Monferrato between 5.5 and 3 million years ago. <\/p>\n\n

The tunnels, sometimes meters deep underground, are remarkable and functional works of art, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by local masons with no knowledge of architecture or science. They are all different and unique. You can find the Infernot in several villages, especially between Asti and Casale Monferrato. In fourteen villages in Monferrato, the Infernot can be visited (by appointment)<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

\"Monferrato<\/figure>\n\n

The Most Beautiful Route Through Monferrato, Past Ancient Borghi and the Strade del Vino<\/h2>\n\n

Actually, all the villages and small towns in the area are worth visiting. <\/p>\n\n

Just like in Tuscany, Piedmont also has its own \u201cStrade del Vino.\u201d<\/p>\n\n