30 September 2025

In Italy’s wine landscape, Piedmont plays a structural role: it’s a founding region, a laboratory of ideas, a land of historic denominations and contemporary visions. A region to be read vertically – like the rows of vines that shape the hills of the Langhe, Roero, Monferrato, and Alto Piemonte. Each territory has its own rhythm, its own voice, its own wine. Together, they form a complex yet coherent architecture: the architecture of wine in Piedmont.

Deep roots in quality 

Viticulture in Piedmont has ancient origins – the Romans were already cultivating vines in the Asti area and along the Via delle Gallie. But it was in the 18th century that Piedmont began to define its oenological identity. With the House of Savoy came more controlled winemaking methods, the adoption of French techniques, and a growing focus on quality. 
In the 19th century, the first great wineries were established, and the Barolo area underwent its first zoning. This was the time of figures such as Camillo Benso di Cavour, who experimented with Nebbiolo winemaking at the castle of Grinzane, and Giulio Cesare Falletti, who tasked General Staglieno with “civilizing” Barolo in the cellar. 

This aristocratic, agrarian, and technical legacy turned Piedmont into a benchmark for Italian wine as a whole. The modern concept of denominazione was born here, as was the cru model – and even wine tourism, long before it had a name. 

Beyond Nebbiolo: a geography of taste 

Piedmont is the cradle of Nebbiolo, one of the world’s most demanding and fascinating grape varieties. It produces wines of great power and longevity, yet capable of elegance and territorial clarity. Barolo and Barbaresco are the two flagship appellations: the former more austere and structured, the latter more graceful and agile – both shaped by a unique geography of marl, altitude, exposures, and microclimates.

But reducing Piedmont to Nebbiolo alone would be a mistake. This is a region of diverse, complementary identities: 

• Barbera, grown especially in Monferrato and the Asti area, is the true backbone of everyday Piedmontese wine. Through barrel aging and more careful vineyard selection, it has also become a great wine for aging – with Nizza DOCG as its most ambitious expression. 

• Dolcetto, traditionally the farmer’s wine, is lively and fragrant in the Langhe, more structured and tannic in areas like Dogliani and Ovada. 

• Grignolino, spicy and transparent, and Ruchè, aromatic and floral, tell the story of a different Piedmont – one of small-scale production and strong local identity. 

• Gavi, made from Cortese grapes in Alto Monferrato, is a white wine of marine salinity and mineral tension, capable of remarkable evolution in the bottle. 

• Moscato Bianco, which thrives in the southern Asti hills, gives life to the famed Moscato d’Asti DOCG – one of Italy’s most important sweet wine denominations, with refined technique and a strong sense of place. 

• And finally, Piedmont is also sparkling wine country. The standout here is Alta Langa DOCG, a traditional method wine made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown at high elevations. Designed expressly for long aging, it is carving out an important role in wine lists and cellars around the world. 

Piedmont and The Grand Wine Tour 

The Grand Wine Tour brings together some of the region’s most iconic producers: 

• Michele Chiarlo, a key interpreter of the great crus of Barolo (Cerequio, Cannubi) and Barbaresco, is also a champion of Nizza DOCG and of an immersive wine experience that blends art, landscape, and hospitality. 

• Coppo, a historic Canelli estate, pioneered high-quality Barbera. Its Underground Cathedrals – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – safeguard historic vintages and a winemaking vision that spans from prestigious reds to Alta Langa sparkling wines. 

• Tenuta Carretta, in the Roero, dates back to the 15th century and offers a complete range: from Roero Arneis to Barbaresco, Barolo to its proprietary crus – all with curated hospitality experiences. 

• Villa Sparina, based in Gavi, has redefined the Cortese grape and brought Gavi to the global stage. The estate also includes a wine resort, gourmet restaurant, and is a leading enotourism destination in Alto Monferrato. 

A complex, balanced system 

Piedmont’s strength lies not only in its wines but also in the coherence of its production model. Family-run estates, direct vineyard management, artisanal care, and strategic vision – this is a region where wine is still culture, not just a product. 
Wine tourism here is evolved but never invasive – it flows with the rhythm of the land and the spirit of the landscape.