It is perhaps the most beautiful autumn destination in Italy: the Piedmont region, and in particular the landscapes of Monferrato, Langhe and Roero, which have also been on the Unesco World Heritage List since 2017.
Within these three regions, Monferrato is the most unknown. Even for many fervent Italy-goers, it is still a bit “fuori i sentieri battuti” – off the beaten track.
This hidden gem is a wonderful holiday destination in summer months, but the golden Indian Summer hides the true beauty of this diverse region.
Therefore, we reveal eight reasons why a holiday in the Monferrato in autumn is absolutely worthwhile!
La “vendemmia” – taste the most delicious wines
In Monferrato, the annual grape picking takes place in late August, early September. Wonderful Barberas are made there. With the Nizza DOCG, the Monferrato also has the youngest member of the Piedmontese DOCGs. Among the white wines, Moscato d’Asti, a sophisticated dessert wine, is the flagship.
Monferrato’s wineries are characterized by their great accessibility and hospitality. You can often even go there without an appointment to taste an exquisite selection of wines.
Many specific wine events are also organised in late summer, such as La Douja D’Or in Asti, 2 weeks in the mid of September. You can taste the new wines at some beautiful historical locations in the center of the medieval town of Asti.
The two-day wine festival Canelli Città del Vino takes place a little later in September. You will enjoy tastings, local gastronomy and musical entertainment.
Agliano Terme hosts the biannual Barbera Fish Festival. This is a fine gastronomic alliance between the Norwegian community that has settled in the hills of Monferrato and local producers of Barbera. This special festival will take place again in 2024.
The “Sagre” – slide to table at gastronomic Village Festivals
Monferrato has many “sagre”, gastronomic village festivals where a specific product or ingredient is highlighted. You can sit down at long tables among the locals, where you can taste these often simple but delicious dishes.
Often these “sagre”are the highlight of village life, looked forward to for a year.
One of the most famous “sagre” in the Monferrato region is the “Fiera del Rapulé” in the stunning village of Calosso, to be held somewhere mid October. “Rapulin” is Piedmontese for the harvesting of the smallest grapes left over from wine picking. You will taste the most delicious typical Piedmontese dishes in the so-called “crotin”, ancient wine cellars carved in tuff.
The “Fiera del Bue Grasso” will take place in Nizza Monferrato early december. This festival around the Piedmontese breed of cattle goes back to the historic cattle market that took place in Nizza Monferrato as early as the 15th century. Among other things, you will taste tender vitello tonnato.
Bagna Cauda Day takes place the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December in Asti. The focus in this event is the iconic Piedmontese dish “bagna cauda”, a dipping sauce of garlic and anchovies accompanied by hot or cold vegetables to dip in the ‘hot bath’.
Tartufo bianco – the white gold of the Monferrato
Alba’s white truffle is world-famous. Every year, thousands of visitors flock to the “Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco” held in Alba from the beginning of October to early December.
However, this ‘white gold’ cannot only be found in Alba. In the Monferrato too, you can go truffle hunting with a “tartufaio” – a truffle hunter – and his dog. Enrico, a member of our local team, for example, learned the trade from his father. He will gladly take you in tow in search of the precious white truffle.
You can also taste truffles in one of the many trattorias in the Monferrato and at the smaller truffle markets organised here and there. In the last weekends of October, for instance, the “Fiera del Tartufo di Moncalvo” takes place in beautiful Moncalvo.
Another famous and worth-visiting local truffle festival in October is the one of Mombercelli, a village between Asti and Nizza Monferrato.
Discover the wonderful wine landscape on foot or by e-bike
The Monferrato landscape has its charm in all seasons, but in autumn it is at its most beautiful. Although the evenings and nights are chilly, the daytime temperature is still very pleasant; 20 degrees is not uncommon in October.
The red-brown-gold-yellow tinged vineyards (this phenomena is called the “foliage”) that give the hills a unique splash of colour, create the perfect setting for a walk or bike ride ( including e-bikes). If you get tired, you can always take a rest on one of the colourful Big Benches.
Highly recommended is the “Percorso Panoramico del Bracchetto”, a beautiful 50-kilometre trail that traverses the wine villages southeast of Nizza Monferrato.
To hire a bike, e-bike or even vespa, we have a wide network on site. Several worked-out routes are available and the bike can be delivered to your holiday home.
Castelli & palazzi – immerse yourself in the culture of Monferrato
The Monferrato also has a lot of cultural heritage. You can visit numerous castles and palazzi and there are also beautiful museums with wonderful temporary or permanent collections.
Famous are the Castello di Moncalvo and the Castello di Razzano, with its Museo ArteVino. But also many small villages in the Monferrato have a beautiful castle, such as the Sleeping Beauty castle in Costigliole d’Asti, or the imposing castle in lovely Castelnuovo Calcea.
In terms of museums, the prestigious baroque Palazzo Mazzetti, with its Pinacoteca Civica, in Asti and the Museo Civico Archeologico in Acqui Terme are particularly recommended.
From agnolotti to bunet – gastronomic highlights
The Monferrato has an outstanding and rich culinary tradition. From a simple village trattoria where the cook and his wife are behind the cooker to more sophisticated gastronomic restaurants, there is something for everyone.
Taste delicious dishes like “agnolotti al plin”, “uova al tartufo”, “sformato al peperoni” and “bunet”, of course accompanied by a glass of matching wine.
Strolling through towns and markets
The three largest towns in the Monferrato – Nizza Monferrato, Canelli and Acqui Terme – each have their specific charm.
Nizza Monferrato is the centre of Barbera production and has an attractive historic centre with pretty portici and many gourmet shops. Every third Sunday of the month, an interesting antiques and Vintage market takes place on the main square.
Canelli is best known for the “Cattedrali Sotterranee”. These historic underground wine cellars owned by important families of local winemakers are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Acqui Terme is an elegant town with nice shops and good restaurants and of course also known from its thermal baths. The large weekly market on Tuesdays attracts many people from the surrounding villages, so it is always bustling.
Il dolce far niente – just relax and enjoy
Finally, the Monferrato is also a wonderful place to relax. After seeing so much beauty, settle down with a good book in your own garden or drink a delicious aperitivo on the terrace, waiting for the sunset.
A private holiday home with terrace and garden ensures plenty of space and comfort. Lieve from Viva! will be happy to advise you on choosing a fine base from which to explore the Monferrato.
Book your beautiful holiday villa in Monferrato through Viva! Villas in Vineyards
“Viva! Villas in vineyards” is a new project focusing on the rental of a unique selection of holiday villas with pool in the Monferrato region of Piedmont.
The project was born from the collaboration between Lieve Moors a seasoned travel professional who has had a second home in the region for several years and a local company Casa!, specialized in property management.
If you would like to book a nice holiday home in the Monferrato, for autumn, winter or already for next spring or summer, please contact Lieve at info@vivapiedmont.com or at 0032-473255500.
