Bricco dei Guazzi in the kaleidoscope

The history of some areas has already been written: for Monferrato it is wine.
Tasting, pairings, food and wine tours all start here. And if we say that, having been here for centuries, you can believe it.

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It is rare to find a biscuit covered by a patent.
The krumiri of Casale Monferrato have been patented since 1972.
Their shape is said to be a tribute to King Victor Emanuel II.
They have become famous all over the world: President Bill Clinton exclaimed “wonderful krumiri!” when he first tasted them.

Here in Monferrato many cheeses are made with goat’s milk:, Toma di Capra, and Robiola di Ponzone are just some of our excellent cheeses. Accompanying them with a glass of Barbera or Albarossa is the proper way to pay homage to them.

Who knows if the great botanist David Austin ever came to our region. We wonder because one of the most famous among the more than 250 cultivars of roses he created is called Monferrato. It has an intense crimson color and fruity fragrance: the floral version of our wines.

Gastronome, journalist, philosopher.
Luigi Veronelli’s personality is not easily defined.
He dedicated his life to the appreciation and promotion of Italy’s enological and gastronomic heritage. And he also visited our “bric”: he was the one who registered our cru vineyards.

A quick guide to the heraldry of the Bricco dei Guazzi logo, which is inspired by the old Candiani coat of arms. Each element tells a story. The silver crown with 9 pearls represents the noble title of counts, while the white and blue stripes - also called pales - indicate the family’s Ghibelline origin. And then there is the motto: “Alta Petit.”

Giorgio Gaber sang about “Barbera and Champagne.” So, after hors d’oeuvres accompanied by champagne, why not continue the meal by pairing it with Barbera. For us, it would be a great choice.

With us, there are no ordinary, dull stories. Take that of our name. It all started with the Guazzi family, the nobles who were the first owners of the hill, which the people call the “bric,” upon which stands our estate – hence “Bricco dei Guazzi.”

The Candiani Counts are genuine, esteemed people: noble in birth and in soul. They have done so much for our land and have given us a motto that resounds with all their pride: Alta Petit!

“The sun beats down on these hills, reverberating off the barren land and the tuff that I had forgotten. Here the heat comes not so much down from the sky, but up from below - from the earth, from the ground between the vines, so that it seems that all the green has been eaten up, leaving everything bare.” No, these aren’t our words – they are by the great Cesare Pavese.

Bareback, without a saddle. This is how the horses are ridden in the Palio of Asti. Just like in the first palio race, in the late 13th century. Proud and bold, like the region and our wines.

The Bricco dei Guazzi infernot is one of the oldest in Monferrato. It is still perfectly preserved and can be visited. And if that’s not enough, you should know that the infernot in the Monferrato area are the 50th Italian site registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Since the 17th century, every noble family in Monferrato had a hiding place in their villa where they could keep their “treasures.” These dark, silent, underground places are called the infernot: the perfect place to store the best bottles.

Albarossa is the child of Nebbiolo and Barbera. They were brought together by an ampelographer from Asti. Thus was born Albarossa, the most authentic expression of Monferrato. PS: for those who are wondering, an ampelographer is an expert on grape varieties.

Backpack on your shoulders, your feet on the pedals: this is our favorite way to get around Monferrato. Stopping here and there for a glass of wine and a chat with the locals.

There is one thing you should know. With Barbera, you don’t choose the perfect pairing: it decides. Anyone who knows how to listen to it knows that it loves salami, prosciutto and cold cuts, pasta with Bolognese sauce and red meat roasts.