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The Wild Woman of the Langhe and the grappa of Romano Levi

I went to see the 73 rd edition of the lighting of the furnace beneath the direct-fire still at the Levi distillery in
Neive, which elicited a whole host of emotions within me and enlivened all 5 of my senses!
This event had a bit of everything: a magical place, the ritualistic fire, the band, the poetry and design work
of Romano Levi, the grappa labels that he designed himself and often dedicated, the wonderful things to
taste …I hope that all of the many special people who read our blog enjoy learning about this extraordinary
place and its history.
Happy reading and a (virtual) toast with the grappa from the Levi distillery!
Giovanna

The Wild Woman of the Langhe and the grappa of Romano Levi

The Italian Comune of Neive is located at the centre of the Strada Romantica of Langa, and is the most
complex with 100 kilometres’ worth of pathways to explore a mesmerising and alluring landscape. This area
is home to ancient traditions, such as that of the legendary ‘Wild Woman’. This symbolic image, in which
the conflict between man and nature was reconciled within a female figure, once languished in the
background with mythology but was then made famous beyond the confines of the Langhe by labels
designed by the “Angel of Grappa”, Romano Levi of Neive.

The Wild Woman

An ancient tale about the Salige describes the Wild Women of the Langhe as “recurring figures in the sagas
of the Alps, which represent the deepest feminine, bodily and instinctual roots: the archetype of nature
wild and free, untouched by civilisation and its discontents”.
The Wild Woman is characterised in Langhe peasant society as the bearer of a culture deeply rooted in the
annals of time, in close contact with nature and its secrets, with trades linked to seasonality, with the
wisdom of elders interspersed with popular and superstitious religiosity.
Within the collective consciousness of the Langhe, the figure of the Wild Woman has always been bold and
forthright: a woman who does not easily adhere to dominant social conventions, one who pays no
attention to appearances and one who resists the conformity that pervades the countryside; an
independent woman who is proud, autonomous and able to fend for herself and, often, others as well; a
female archetype that embodies difficulty and joyfulness, material hardship and the spiritual riches of a
rural life unchanged over time.
Romano Levi, well known in Neive as an artisan grappa maker, poet and label designer, brought the myth of
the Wild Woman back to life and made it famous. For him, the Wild Women are visions, memories of the
past. When he walked to school through the streets, he would encounter “beautiful dishevelled women,
who were a little bit crazy, a little bit like witches and a little bit like fairies”.
Romano Levi recalls the ‘Wild Women’:
“As a kid, I would walk through vineyards on my way to school. Often, among the rows of vines, there were
so-called ‘ciabòt’, tiny shelters where winemakers and peasants took refuge … I used to pass by in the
morning and sometimes I saw these women coming out of the shelters, beautiful and dishevelled, a little bit crazy and lonely, often living on the fringes of peasant society. They were mysterious, had no constraints,
they disappeared and then came back. They were a little bit like witches and a little bit like fairies.
They were free, as all women should be to be able to enjoy the very best that life has to offer”.

The grappa of Lidia and Romano Levi

“I make grappa: the blood of fire, pangs of life and poetry are yours.”
Romano Levi

For more than sixty years, brothers Lidia and Romano Levi produced a truly unique grappa known as ‘The
Grappa of the Wild Woman’, continuing the traditions of their ancestors. It is not just the distilling of the
marc that made it unique, but Lidia’s skill in bringing together immersed herbs within the bottles, or
Romano’s poetic, hand-designed labels.

“The Wild Women climbs over the hills” – “The Wild Women surmounts all the confines.”
Romano Levi

The grappa is magnificent and he treats the labels that he painstakingly crafts by hand with the utmost
dedication and respect. The names are a timeless reminder of his great love for Women who are
respectable, unseemly, wild, influential and suppressed, Women who climb hills, who allow themselves to
be touched or not, who have silvery golden hair”. Luigi Veronelli (oenologist, chef, gastronome and writer)
http://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/storie/luoghi/luigi-veronelli-cucina-vino-olio-storia/

The home/distillery of the Levis is now a vibrant Museum where Grappa continues to be made. It is a truly
special place that occupies its own unique space in time, where the Genius Loci of Romano Levi continues
to be at the heart of the art, methods, working times, simple and essential objects, scents and serenity
involved in the making of the Grappa.
http://en.distilleriaromanolevi.com/romano-levi/#distillery
http://en.distilleriaromanolevi.com/romano-levi/
https://www.facebook.com/DistilleriaRomanoLevi

Baskets making Read More

History of a baskets maker

RENZO “The basket weaver from the Langhe region”

Foreword

In the past, all the peasants in the Langhe region used baskets for various purposes: for harvesting grain, vegetables and fruit: They held wood, eggs and so much more. Almost everybody would make them during those long and snow-capped winter months for the requirements of the family. Some of these baskets were expressions of the creativity of the weavers and featured an alternation of colours, shapes, decorations and trim but they always remained objects of practical daily use.

I have always loved baskets. I buy them and use them although I’m always sorry when they break or wear out. Then I go looking for more…
I have had the fortune of getting to know Renzo recently. I’ve bought a few items from him and invited him to the Cascina Bricchetto to give a demonstration to us and our guests.

Renzo

The Langhe baskets makerAs a child, Renzo would watch his grandfather create willow baskets for his family and wanted to become as good at it as him. But, as his grandfather always said, you needed to weave a lot of them and you also needed to have some kind of artistic inspiration.
Under the guidance of his grandfather, Renzo began to make baskets until a steady job came along that involved travelling around so he had to abandon his weaving. Every once in a while he would look back with some regret and then say to himself that he would hold willows in his hands again one day and resume his basket weaving.
The years flew by. His children grew up and went off on their own and when the time came for Renzo to retire at last, he decided to dedicate his time to basket making. Fortunately he was in excellent physical condition and his wife was willing to collaborate with him.

That next January Renzo and his wife Silvana started roaming through the Langhe region in search of willows in different shades of yellow, green and brown. Branches of different diameters were needed for the different parts of the basket. Likewise, different lengths were needed for baskets in different sizes.
The branches had to be conserved in a place that provided the appropriate moisture in order for them to work well. If they got too dry, they were no longer pliable and they had to be thrown out and a portion of the barks needed to be peeled to provide the colour white…
Our friends Renzo and Silvana loved their outdoor walks in the beautiful Langhe region. They would stop in local taverns to enjoy traditional dishes. At home they tried and tried again to conserve what they had gathered – the “raw material”. Renzo drew upon his childhood memories and tried to weave his first baskets after so many years but he wasn’t able to. He wondered if he had forgotten something or if his fingers were too stiff to weave those unmanageable willows. Perhaps he didn’t have the right tools…

After asking around, Renzo and Silvana found some elderly men who made baskets. They also thought that these old-timers would be happy to teach the “art of basket weaving” so that the tradition could be passed down to the younger generations instead of dying out. The initial contacts were disappointing. The men said “No”. But our friends didn’t give up. The experience made them more cautious so they would limit themselves to quietly watching the old artisans at their craft. Once they got home, they would try to duplicate what they had seen – over and over again. Sometimes the basket was completed and other times they would get stuck at some point so they would go back to the elderly artists and watch what needed to be done at that particular point very carefully. It was then that Silvana realized that a certain amount of strength was needed and that she wasn’t strong enough. She continued working with Renzo, though, and discovered a passion for nature photography which she cultivated every time they went out walking in search of willow branches.

Renzo and Silvana are still working together today. Now Renzo has both the artistic inspiration and the technique. Each basket is unique – as I tried to convey through the photographs I took during the session with him that we hosted here at Cascina Bricchetto.
Renzo would be happy to show you his creations here at our place.

Giovanna

Cordero di Montezemolo cellar Read More

Cordero di Montezemolo: Wine tasting

History

The Monfalletto Cordero di Montezemolo estate boasts many centuries of history. Its origins takes us back to 3rd April 1340, when Pietrino Falletti becomes the owner of the La Morra comune, thanks to a loan granted to the municipality of Alba. Over the centuries the Falletti property increases, is sold, dismantled, lost, inherited and so on, with the rise and fall of various branches of the family throughout the Piemonte region. Nevertheless, ownership of the land in La Morra although somewhat altered, continues for sixteen generations, from 1340 until the death of Countess Luigia Falletti di Rodello in 1941. The family line having died out, the property passed to the nearest descendant, Paolo Cordero di Montezemolo, the Countess’ nephew and father of the current owner Giovanni Cordero di Montezemolo, who still leads the firm alongside his children Elena and Alberto.

Farm Monfalletto

The cedar tree

At the top of the Monfalletto hill stands an impressive and majestic ancient cedar of Lebanon: it can be seen from any point on the perimeter surrounding the estate, which is covered with vineyards growing Nebbiolo grapes for the production of Barolo. From the tree’s hilltop position, in turn, the distinctive features of the entire area can be viewed; the shapes of valleys and hills as far as the borders of the land, giving an idea of its size. The tree is part of the history and tradition of this area: it was planted by Costanzo Falletti di Rodello and Eulalia della Chiesa di Cervignasco to mark their wedding in 1856, as a symbol of their love for the land.

The vineyards

The vineyards are laid out in a single block occupying 30 hectares, with the exception of the Enrico VI vineyard in Castiglione Falletto, and produce only DOCG and DOC wines. The Nebbiolo vines used for Barolo account for half the cultivated area, and this wine is the firm’s classic flagship product. Other important wines are Dolcetto d’Alba, Langhe Arneis, Barbera d’Alba and Langhe Chardonnay “Elioro”. The estate is located in a strategic position in the heart of the Barolo area, with excellent exposure and altitude for ripening of all the grape varieties. The winery was refurbished over ten years at the turn of the century, and today constitutes an example of the perfect integration of architecture within the surrounding landscape, a harmonious blend of modern and rural geometries.

The wines

  • Langhe Arneis
  • Langhe Chardonnay
  • Montezemolo brut
  • Dolcetto d’Alba
  • Langhe Nebbiolo
  • Barbera d’Alba
  • Barolo Monfalletto
  • Barolo Enrico VI
  • Barolo Gattera

The Langhe

The hilly Langhe region extends from the edge of the Roero area to the border with the province of Asti. Its distinctive characteristic is the parallel arrangement of crests and valleys which – in all likelihood – gave the area its name. (Langhe = langue = tongues of land). This has always been a land of great wines; indeed, in the hill country of the lower Langhe, vines are practically the only crop grown, resulting in an expanse of vineyards which is truly a spectacular sight. The main historical and geographical centre of the Langhe is the town of Alba, an important commercial and industrial hub in the province, but also the arrival and departure point for routes to the nearby towns.

Cooking class Read More

Slowing Down in The Piedmont

Introduction
Elizabeth is an American writer who stayed with us and afterwards sent me the following article; the accompanying photographs were taken by her and her friend Trish during their enjoyable experience of cooking traditional food together.
We immediately got on well with both Elizabeth and Trish; their appreciation for the place, the house, the food and wine was obvious and enthusiastic; and also for things that were unknown to them, such as several aromatic plants and certain fruits; the dedication shown by them and their husbands as they cooked using traditional utensils they were unfamiliar with will stay in my heart for a very long time!
Giovanna

Slowing Down in The Piedmont
In May, my husband and our two dear friends, found our way to the Langhe, in the Piedmont region of Italy. An Internet search led us to Agriturismo Cascina Bricchetto, owned and operated by Giovanna Oliveri. The Langhe is a spectacularly hilly area, one of UNESCO World Heritage destinations, known for its long history of wine making and cultivation. This is the fertile home of Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Moscato grape varieties and some of the greatest wines of the world.

tasting Piedmont productsThe Piedmont is also where the Slow Food Movement got its start 30 years ago. Slow Food (out of which I believe the concept of slow travel grew) promotes locally grown and sustainable food practices and aligns with the idea of local consumption, purchasing and cooking with fresh local products, supporting its producers, and celebrates what is fundamentally healthier about slowing down the pace of our modern industrialized lives.

While we were interested in learning about the wine and food of the region—lets face it, who isn’t interested in wine and food in Italy? – We were also drawn to the possibility of putting on the breaks a bit after a busy week in Venice and the Cinque Terre. A farmhouse vacation in a beautiful place resonated for our group and provided a base from which to explore.

Cascina Bricchetto, located high on a hill near the village of Trezzo Tinella was a most wonderful find. The property houses a series of connected buildings, the oldest stone farmhouse dating possibly to the 18th century. Restoration of the place has been an on-going labor of love since the mid 1990’s and it shows nearly everywhere you look.

walk in the vineyards

The gardens and fruit trees, lavender, roses, cherries and quince—all planted in the past twenty years, are flourishing under Giovanna’s care. In fact, as far as you can see, over hills sloped with neat vineyards, dotted here and there with clay-tile-roofed farmhouses, fields strewn with poppies, daisies, sweet peas spilling over stone walls, geraniums in wall niches, there perfect chaos and order. Everywhere is evidence of fastidious attention paid to the land, the vines, the hazelnut groves; a symmetry, and at the same time, a random sensuousness that, to those with an eye for beauty and a nose for jasmine and broom (ginestra), will not be disappointed. This is a place that FEELS settled, tended to over generations, naturally ordered, loved. It rightly deserves reverence. People live with and from the land here. Artists paint these landscapes. Visionaries, like Giovanna, seek to preserve what is very special about this place.

We woke in our immaculate two-bedroom rental to the sounds of the lonely Cuckoo bird. (Our accommodation was named the Bread Oven House, for the historic oven attached to the building that once served the women of the hillside in their weekly bread baking chores). Fragrant scents wafted in open windows with the soft rustling of wind in the trees. We watched clouds change shape daily in a baroque sky and a few times were gifted with stunning views of the still-snowy Alps in the distance We enjoyed the easy-going presence of the farm dogs, Pippo and Peppa, and ate (and ATE) throughout the week from a banquet of local delights provided us by our hostess: cheeses, bread, homemade hazelnut cake, and of course, local red and white wines.

Days unfolded with an easy balance of country walks, reading on the balcony or out in the sunny yard. We made forays by rental car to explore nearby towns (Alba, Neive, Bra, Barolo, Barbaresco, to name some) for wandering, market days, a wine tour, among other slow-paced adventures. We were a laid back foursome, following our whims and the mood of each day.

Cooking ClassEggsCooking Class - Work!

The most meaningful experience of our time in the Piedmont included two late afternoons spent in Giovanna’s warm kitchen. There we donned aprons, filled our wine glasses, and learned her recipes for homemade pasta, ragu, the patient work of ravioli-making (make the filling one day and let it rest overnight to maximize the meld of flavors), risotto al funghi, green sauce with anchovies and quail eggs. Every ingredient was either grown in Giovanna’s garden, or came from a producer nearbi. To watch Giovanna knead dough on a smooth,

table-sized wooden board, passed down to her through generations, or hand us a weighty granite mortar and pestle that belonged to her great grandmother…to hear stories, and slow down enough to learn to use a Mezzaluna, (no cuisinart in this cooking class!)…

Cooking Class - at Work!Cooking Class - Ragu Cooking Class - Teaching

to muddle through our language challenges (Giovanna’s English is so far superior to our non-existent Italian), fill our glasses again, and depart, not only with a bounty of soul-filling food we were never quite able to finish during our week stay, but a deeper sense of home, hospitality, tradition, a feeling for what is important to Giovanna. She shared with us the abundance and “taste” of the authentic, all of this an enrichment, a generosity, and a connection we did not anticipate and will treasure always.

Cooking Class - Eating!

Sifting through photos of our recent trip to Italy, I can of course appreciate the history, mystery and watery majesty of Venice, the sparkling hills of the Cinque Terre, the brilliant blue of the Ligurian Sea, but I will remember Giovanna’s hands at work, her hand-picked cherries, the view from the top of her hill, the bounty of a life committed to her Langhe property, and her extravagant generosity. I have the satisfaction and sense, that between the lines of communication stilted by our linguistic limitations, we received gifts of understanding, and a shared hope that more people might come to know the gifts of slowing down, opening the senses, loving the earth that holds,

inspires, and feeds us, and pausing long enough to recognize our part in stewarding and honoring those who also tend it, no matter where our travels take us.

Beth Lodge-Rigal   Bloomington, Indiana

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Barbaresco: famous wine and enchanting country.

Moccagatta_cole

The town of Barbaresco is easily recognizable from the lookout tower (XI sec.) With a square plan, the building probably belonged to a system of watch towers that had developed along the Tanaro river on the territory of the cities of Asti and Alba, heritage the Duchy of Monferrato.

From the top of the tower you can see all the surrounding countries, the course of the river Tanaro, Alba, Cherasco on the one hand, on the other Asti. The most famous of the wines produced in the municipal area is the Barbaresco who took the name from the country and made him famous.

Moccagatta Winery

Moccagatta_bric balinSergio and Francesco with their respective sons Martina and Stefano carry on the business of their father Mario that inherited in 1952 the cascina Moccagatta. In the 12 hectares of vine between Barbaresco and Neive grow Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Chardonnay for an average annual production of 65,000 bottles.

The search of a balanced production, a special care over the vines from pruning to green harvest in summer, and the use of modern facilities and equipment in the cellar have turned out to be fundamental to produce high quality wine.

Moccagatta_bric balin buschet

The soil characterizes the three single vineyards Barbaresco. Basarin from Neive with a sandier soil is more elegant and richer in perfume, Bric Balin inside the appellation Muncagota in Barbaresco is richer in clay that produces a powerful and fruity wine, Cole, closer to the center of the village of Barbaresco, is more complex, full-bodied and concentered thanks to the Sant’Agata marl.

WINES

Barbaresco                                                            moccagatta_degustazione

Barbaresco Basarin

Barbaresco Bric Balin

Barbaresco Cole

Langhe Nebbiolo

Barbera d’Alba

Dolcetto d’Alba

Langhe Chardonnay Buschet

Langhe Chardonnay

                                                  

                                                

VISIT AND TASTING ON APPOINTMENT                               moccagatta_cantina bottiglie

MOCCAGATTA

Strada Rabajà, 46 – 12050 Barbaresco (CN) Italia

Tel 0039 0173 635228 – Fax 0039 0173 635279

e-mail: info@moccagatta.eu – www.moccagatta.eu

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Langhe: Contemporary art and up cycled old things

Langhe: Art contemporary and up cycled old things

034My friend Ann is too modest, the truth is what she creates is art by recycling old things. in fact she did not want the title that I suggested but I will use it all the same.  This lady has an extraordinary strength ( also physically), she has even built dry stone walls at her house and has created a splendid garden.She uses her creative vision to transform things and materials, that  other people have judged  as useless, into artistic objects.

Giovanna

An english woman in Le langhe

Ann

Originally from the UK, in 2003 I began living permanently in Le Langhe. This has bought many new life experiences and has somehow released a creativity inside of me that must have been hidden away for years.

After first taking on the task of renovating our ruin ( in pre internet days) , I then turned to creating an anglicised Italian garden and finally my interests have now turned to an even more creative adventure.

In this throwaway society we live in today I have never been able to relate to the sheer waste of things. So when I saw so many abandoned houses here in Le Langhe with ; broken windows , shutters barely hanging , abandoned rusty farming equipment , relics of the past left for the mice to chew or wooden things just cast aside to be burnt, my mind started to think.

Many of these things from the past were skilfully hand crafted by someone with time and patience. They were made of good materials that have withstood the test of time as they were made to last or indeed to be mended.

The weathering by the passing of the years has, in my eyes, made them more beautiful. But if they were mended they would be of no use in their original form in today’s society.

A PASSION FOR OLD THINGS

My passion is therefore to give new life back to these pieces of rotting wood or rusty metal by transforming them with creativity and imagination into a contemporary, useable, unique object. It might be a simple candle holder made from a pair of rusty hooks or a photo frame from door hinges but it could be something bigger like a table or cupboard made from old doors, windows and shutters. It could even be a piece of art for a wall or the garden

P1020525-2Ceiling light made from a piece of a wooden cart and bed springs

011
Plate holder made from a wooden rake

075
Towel rail made from a bed warmer

014
Candle holder made from rusty bullhook

Since 2014 I have opened a display of my ideas in the Museo del Riciclo ( Recycle museum) in the small town hall of Camo near Santo Stefano Belbo.

www.cascinabricchetto.it/surroundings/open-air-contemporary-art-museum-and-recycle-museum/

It is open every morning but I would gladly show you around if you ring me in advance. Plus I have numerous larger pieces at home and a few exhibits in the restaurant Verderame in Castiglione Tinella

Ann Stefani

100-1Contact: call number + 39 3202698492 annstefani@tiscali.it

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LANGHE: rediscovery the five senses

LANGHE: rediscovery the five senses
IMG_1666
In Le Langhe one is able to rediscover the 5 senses by taking in the vineyards and breathtaking views.

Introduction

My young friend Gabriella is a special person who hates unnecessary words.  When I explain a concept I use 20 words whilst she would use less than 15 ..she expresses emotion and feelings with her eyes.
I helped her transform her love of our area  into a profession as a Nature guide, an activity that requires authentic and detailed knowledge of the area, plus competence and passion; qualities that not everyone has .
Many people know le Langhe for wine and food which requires the two senses of smell and taste.  During the walks with Gabriella all 5 senses can be stimulated , thus rediscovering forgotten or nearly forgotten experiences in our hectic daily lives.

Giovanna

Gabriella:
IMG_1665-1I was born in the Langhe region of Piemonte Italy
I have a passion for my homeland and nature.
Ever since I was young, nature gave me a feeling of Joy.
Today, more than ever, it balances my emotions so reducing the tensions of daily life.
I like to walk in the woods and along country paths, rediscovering my five senses through the scents of the plants and wild herbs around me. For this reason, in 2014, I qualified as a Nature Guide so that I can share these intense emotions I feel with nature.The excursions and the walks that I propose are tailor made to the needs of the participants , leaving enough time to enjoy the surronding environment for a real multi sensorial experience with nature.

With this approach my proposed walks are as follows:IMG_1669-1

  • The Moscato Trail
  • The little saint Elena Chapel walk
  • Tha Langa woods
  • Vineyards and rocks
  • Around Alba
  • The holy stairs at Cossano Belbo
  • The roads of water and wine
  • Circular tour Sinio and Serralunga d’Alba

Nature Guide
Gabriella
mob. +39  334 1908968
email g.fogliati@hotmail.com

Grapes Read More

Monferrato…

Monferrato wines
I present a beautiful-young-old company that produces excellent wines in the nearby Monferrato, knowledge comes from my great love for the Barbera d’Asti and initial encounter with Claudio exciting. Guests were from them for a tour and tasting were happy for both the rich tasting and for the warm welcome and again for the great expertise of Claudio.
Duilio Da Casto Winery

Our winery is a small family business that has been passed down for five generations. 

Our 7 hectares of vineyards are located in an area close to Agliano Terme. This area has  been identified as one of the most suitable terroir for the production of the Barbera grape.

Duilio My father takes care of the vineyards, the true heart of our winery, with the invaluable help of my mother Gabriella and my uncle Felice.

I have completed studies in Viticulture and Enology and now do my best to make and develop our wines.

The simplicity and the constant search for quality are the philosophy of our company, which produces wine that respect the land as well as the plants. Throughout the process we are inspired by the values that have been handed down by our ancestors. 

Claudio Dacasto

Wines

  • Monferrato Bianco Arneis “Vianus”
  • Vino Rosato “Vianus Rosè”
  • Piemonte Chardonnay “Bourg”
  • Barbera d’Asti
  • Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Camp Riond”
  • Monferrato Rosso “Forestiero”
  • Vino Spumante Metodo Classico Brut “Quattro”

Cellar, Vineyards and Tasting room – Fraz. Vianoce n.26, 14041 Agliano Terme

Vineyards and Tasting room – Fraz. Salere n.57, 14041 Agliano Terme

Tel. +393339828612
www.dacastoduilio.com
info@dacastoduilio.com

Between April and October every day from 5 to 7 pm , the rest of the year only with booking

It’s always well-accetped small notification before the tasting

Booking of the Tasting and tour of the winery: +393339828612 

Languages we speak

Italian, English, French

 IMG_3966IMG_3858IMG_3790
Winter and trees Read More

Welcome to Cascina Bricchetto Langhe blog!

 

Welcome to our blog!

I have decided to start up a quick and informal way to communicate with those of you who visit our website. I’ll be telling you about some of the things we do around here and the events that are hosted. I’ll share important facts about the area with you and write about those things that fascinate me. People we work with will also offer their contributions to this blog: winemakers, dairy farmers, people who produce cured meats, traditional local bakers, naturalistic excursion guides, “tartufau” (truffle hunters) etc….

We all love our region and are passionate about our jobs. We want to share our interests with you and if you come for a visit, we will make sure your holiday will be filled with unique and unforgettable experiences. So, please remember to let us know about everything you would like to do while you are here so we can guarantee that your expectations can be met…There is so much to see and do here and it’s not always easy for me to suggest places to visit or things to do without invading your privacy to some extent.

Our advantages

Quality Certification, helpfulness, courtesy and respect for your privacy and all the support you’ll need to make your dreams come true or …to solve any problems that could come up.

Documentation and maps for tourists.

Organization of wine-related events:

– tours of the areas where wines such as Barbaresco, Barolo, Arneis and Barbera d’Asti are made. Winemakers guide the tours and sample sessions while doing their best to convey their pride and passion;

– how to recognize and experiment with local wines – pairing foods and wines. (Winemakers participate in these events).

Organization of food-related events:

– information about and reservations at local restaurants ranging from family-run businesses to Michelin-starred restaurants…

– tours and sample sessions held at areas where cheese and cured meats are produced,

– tours and sample sessions held at small bakeries where traditional local sweets are made,

– outdoor markets featuring goods by local manufacturers and specialised stores,

– a day of typical seasonal cuisine – from breakfast to the “merenda sinoira” afternoon snack (the local tradition is to have a snack around 5:00 p.m.) that is gradually transformed into supper by virtue of the food served and the hour. The menu is to be chosen with guests and served with the appropriate wines.

Organization of excursions:

– discovering the area from a naturalistic point of view in the company of an expert guide. Duration of the tours ranges from two hours to the whole day. To be decided prior to the excursion. Particular focus upon the local flora and sensory experiences:

– tour of the castles in the Langhe-Roero region,

– tour of medieval villages nestled in the hilltops,

– Torino, Asti, Bra, Pollenzo – old town centres and museums,

– Venaria Royal Summer Castle and the Pralorrmo Castle.

Go to the page where people share their experiences and read what our guests have to say, especially Craig, Jenny, Gail and Jill

Please feel free to ask any questions. Tell us about your experience, exchange your impressions and share information.

 

winter and fog landscape Read More

New York Times: 52 Places to Go in 2016

nytlogo152x23

Travel – Jan. 7, 2016

Torino and the landscapes of wines Langhe – Roero – Monferrato are the only Italian goal cited by The New York Times as one of the 52 places to visit in 2016!

New York Time original post

Torino -Italy    Renewal in a former industrial capital.

A reopened Egyptian Museum isn’t the only draw in Turin, where projects like the warehouse district Docks Dora, home to galleries, ateliers and underground clubs; the street art initiative Arte in Barriera; and Lavazza’s new headquarters in Aurora near Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest open-air market, are softening an industrial face. Fresh exhibition spaces and museums…

http://www.turismotorino.org
http://www.museoauto.it/website/en/

Langhe-Roero and Monferrato  jumping-off point for the Unesco world heritage-designated wine regions.

http://www.langheroero.it/welcome
http://www.wimubarolo.it/en/
http://www.astiturismo.it/en

Photo by E. Monticelli

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The grape pergola house
The bread oven house

Our Address

Cascina Bricchetto Langhe
Via Naranzana 22, Trezzo Tinella (Cuneo)
Tel: +39 0173 630395
Mobile: +39 339 3932189
e-mail: info@cascinabricchetto.it
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Welcome

Every morning, when I open the shutters, I think: "how beautiful Monviso is in the sunshine, or how wonderful are the clouds in the sky , or how magical the misty landscape, or, even how fairy-like the snowfall is!" and, when closing them in the evening – when I see the lights of the small villages in the hills opposite (Diano d'Alba, La Morra ecc.), and the lights of the houses scattered among the hills – I thank heartily my lucky stars that led me here, where you are surrounded by such beauty. (Read on)

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