A tour between the Roero and Astigiano areas designed to take us to the origins of this seabed which still produces red gold and where we learn to enjoy life... slowly!
A big loop along the hills north of Alba, between the Astigiano and Roero areas, a full immersion into the hills and vineyards, often on secondary roads, to have time to enjoy the breathtaking views of nature such as the Rocche: some deep sandy wounds created in past geological eras in the former seabed and whose nutrients today are the secret behind the quality of DOCG wines such as Roero and Roero Arneis.
From Alba you start climbing up to Castagnole delle Lanze, first passing through one of the Borghi più Belli d’Italia (Italy’s most beautiful villages), Neive, and then along the Barbera vineyards and the castles of Costigliole d'Asti and San Martino Alfieri.
Please, take a little time out of your busy schedule to visit Govone: its castle, a Savoy residence, is a UNESCO site and will give you a warm welcome to Roero. Secondary roads and hairpin bends overlooking the magnificent Rocche allow you to explore a few villages which preserve their little "gems": San Damiano d'Asti and its Enoteca Regionale (Regional Wine Centre) Colline Alfieri, Cisterna d'Asti and the Museum of Arti e Mestieri di un tempo (Arts and Crafts of bygone days), Canale with its Enoteca Regionale (Regional Wine Centre) del Roero, Montà, which is home to the Ecomuseo delle Rocche del Roero, and Monteu Roero with its castle.
The route continues along the Rocche through Baldissero d'Alba, Sommariva Perno and Pocapaglia. Once you reach Bra, a city with a baroque heart and the Slow Food's capital of slow enogastrony, you end up in Santa Vittoria d'Alba, with its village and castle which could serve as the leitmotif for this exciting tour!
by Roberto Croci
