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Piedmont Wine trails.
Enotecas and wine shops, the cantine sociali (cellars and sales
premises shared by a number of producers from the same district),
museums of wine and winemaking, Grape growers Associations and
Associations promoting local culture and heritage: any and all of these
can become the ideal places to build up an itinerary for a wine loving
tourist, and create a wine trail across Piedmont.
Those responsible for the “distretti del vino ,“(recognized wine
districts) take on the task of promoting hospitality in their area, and
guide visitors onto these wine trails which lead inevitably from the
vineyard to the wine maker, distribution and degustations.
In the south
of the Monferrato hills the trail takes the tourist through low hills
and along the slopes of the Apennine mountains, linking Piedmont to
Liguria.
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Here are many delicious foods produced locally that must be
sampled: truffles, mushrooms and chestnuts; superb beef and pork,
including the inimitable ”filetto baciato” from Ponzone, a unique salami
with a core of pork fillet; and DOP cheeses like the creamy robiola from
Roccaverano.
Naturally, the wines to complement these delights are from
the nearby Gavi hills: Brachetto , Dolcetto d’Acqui and Cortese Alto
Monferrato.
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As you follow the Astesana Wine Trail, not far from
Asti, Canelli and Nizza Monferrato, through countryside dotted with
castles and old farm houses, the vineyards of Barbera and Moscato d’Asti
cover the hillsides as far as the eye can see.
Italian spumante was developed two centuries ago in Canelli, as was
Asti Spumante, which still today leads all other Italian wines in
worldwide sales. Food and wine festivals often take place in the
towns along the Wine Trails, especially at grape harvest time.
One
of these is the Douja d’Or (golden barrel), celebrated in Asti
during the month of September with a catalogue of hundreds of
Italian labels. Wine is center stage at the festival of the Cantine
Aperte (open cellars).
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Bacchus, god of wine, is celebrated with
music, dance and poetry readings, while tourists from Italy and
abroad toast him with the best wines the cantine sociali can offer,
accompanied by a buffet of succulent local dishes. Another
opportunity for indulgence in good wine is provided by the Vinum
festival in Alba.
The most prestigious wine fair in Piedmont, it is
dedicated to the finest quality wines “d’auteur”, allowing wine
professionals and aficionados to participate in seminars and guided
tastings.
Courtesy of
Piemontefeel.org
(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
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