📍 Monferrato
The hills of Asti and Alessandria, the realm of Barbera and Moscato.
Monferrato is a hilly area in Piedmont, north-western Italy, around the towns of Asti, Alessandria and Casale Monferrato. It lies north of the Langhe, on the other side of the Tanaro river. The vineyards of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato together were added to the UNESCO list in 2014.
The main grape is the red Barbera. It gives Barbera d'Asti, Barbera del Monferrato and Nizza. Dolcetto, Freisa, Grignolino, Brachetto and the white Cortese (for example Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato) are also grown. The nearby Asti zone is known for sweet sparkling wine from Moscato.
Soils are calcareous clays and sands, and the climate is continental with foggy autumns. Wines can be light and fresh, while the best plots give full-bodied, aged reds.
Monferrato is part of Piedmont but differs in character from Barolo and Barbaresco: more everyday wines here, served with local appetisers and pasta. These wines pair best with Piedmontese cooking: pasta with meat sauce, risotto and aged cheeses. The name Monferrato on a label shows that the grapes grew in this very area, which makes it easy to look for similar wines.
How it connects to Wine
📍 Monferrato ← grows in ← 🍇 Cortese → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 📍 Piedmont
- Related to
- Italy: 📜 Barbera d'Asti, 📜 Brachetto d'Acqui, 📜 Albugnano, 📜 Dolcetto d'Asti, 📜 Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore, 📜 Freisa d'Asti, 📜 Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese, 📜 Nizza, 📜 Strevi, 📜 Barbera del Monferrato
- Grapes
- 🍇 Barbera, 🍇 Grignolino, 🍇 Cortese
- Wines
- 🍷 Red wine, 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Still wine
Frequently asked questions
Where is Monferrato?
In Piedmont, around Asti, Alessandria and Casale Monferrato.
What is the main grape?
The red Barbera.
Is Monferrato on the UNESCO list?
Yes, together with Langhe-Roero since 2014.
What to read next
- 📜 Brachetto d'Acqui — A sweet, aromatic red sparkling wine from Brachetto near the town of Acqui Terme.
- 🍇 Cortese — A white grape of Piedmont used to make Gavi.
- 🍷 Still wine — Ordinary wine without carbon dioxide bubbles.
- 📜 Freisa d'Asti — Red wines from the local Freisa grape, still and lightly fizzy, from the hills of Asti.
- 📜 Malvasia di Casorzo d'Asti — A sweet, fragrant red wine from local Malvasia near Casorzo.
Similar
📍 Roero · 📍 Langhe · 📜 Colli Tortonesi · 📜 Canavese · 📜 Collina Torinese · 📜 Gavi / Cortese di Gavi
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- Wikipedia (en): Italian wine
- Wikipedia (it): Vini italiani
- Ministero dell'agricoltura (MASAF)
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register
- Wikipedia (en): Montferrat
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register