Monferrato - Vinifera-Mundi,

16/10/202616/10/2026

Frasca La Guaragna
Giving Nizza Its Own Voice

In our earlier journey through Monferrato (link) – the beating heart of Piedmont’s viticultural soul – we found a landscape of quiet resistance, one where Barbera, Freisa, Grignolino and a constellation of local varieties still speak in their own voice, well outside the long shadow cast by Barolo and Barbaresco. (Read the full story here).

We return to the same hills today for a closer look at one of the region’s more interesting recent arrivals: Frasca La Guaragna (link), a young estate built on an unlikely partnership between Curt (Curtis) Frasca, an Italian-American former record producer who fell for Nizza almost by accident, and Matteo Gerbi, a Piedmontese winemaker who set out to give Barbera its most serious expression. What began as a chance meeting in 2018 has grown into a project that treats Nizza DOCG (link) not as a curiosity but as the region’s rightful flagship.

24/09/202624/09/2026

“Harvest Notes”:
Voices From the Wine Regions on the 2026 Grape Harvest

From Lombardy to Sicily, passing through Piedmont and Umbria, early assessments of the 2026 harvest point to strong quality prospects, while more definitive data on volumes are still awaited.

17/09/202617/09/2026

Gianni Doglia, 2026 Harvest: an Early Season Tests the Vineyards Equilibrium

In Castagnole delle Lanze, harvest began on August 11 with Moscato, followed by Barbera on September 1. Early indications point to an early season and to the vine’s growing ability to adapt to new climate conditions.

15/09/202617/09/2026

Harvest 2026: Consorzio Barbera d’Asti and Wines of Monferrato Call for a National Debate on the Future of the Wine Sector

Costigliole d’Asti (Piedmont), September 15^th 2026 – The 2026 harvest in the territory of the Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato (link) has begun with encouraging signs. Vineyards have responded well to a season marked by increasingly variable weather conditions, resulting in an overall very positive outlook for the harvest. Initial estimates indicate balanced production in line with the area’s potential, with promising prospects both in terms of quality and quantity.

26/08/202616/09/2026

Climate Change and Quality in the Glass:
Montalbera announces its 2026 red wines night harvest set to begin on 6 September

The Piedmont winery (link) combines ethical sustainability with winemaking precision: cooler nighttime temperatures help preserve the rich aromatic profile of its native grape varieties while ensuring safer working conditions for vineyard crews

Castagnole Monferrato (Asti), Italy, 25th August 2026 – Montalbera (link), one of Piedmont’s leading wine estates with vineyards across Monferrato and the Langhe, has officially announced that its 2026 red wines night harvest will begin on 6 September.

06/08/202614/08/2026

Montalbera “360 Experience”
A Luxury Hospitality Project In The Heart Of Monferato

Castagnole Monferrato (Asti) Italy, 6^th august 2026 – Montalbera 360° Experience is the ambitious hospitality project developed by Montalbera (link) in Castagnole Monferrato, conceived by owner Franco Morando to offer guests a fully immersive journey into the world of Ruchè and the unique landscape of Monferrato, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (link).

02/07/202602/07/2026

The Consorzio del Nizza DOCG is Officially Born
A new chapter begins for Monferrato’s winemaking excellence in Piedmont

June 30, 2026, Nizza Monferrato – A historic milestone for the Piedmontese and Italian wine scene: by decree of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, the Consorzio del Nizza DOCG (link) was officially recognized on June 22, 2026.

25/06/202628/06/2026

Bersano Nizza Cremosina 2023 among Piedmont’s four platinum medal winners at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards

Bersano’s flagship single-vineyard Nizza scores 97 points just days after the unveiling of the redesigned Icone collection

Nizza Monferrato, June 2026 – Bersano (link) has earned one of the most significant accolades at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards, one of the world’s leading wine competitions. Nizza DOCG Cremosina 2023 was awarded a Platinum Medal with 97 points, placing it among just four Piedmont wines to receive this distinction and among only 29 Italian wines to achieve Platinum in the 2026 edition.

24/06/202628/06/2026

Savouring Piedmont in Zurich
A memorable lunch with Davide Gasperini, Cascina Gilli, at Casa Ferlin

On the 26^th of May 2026, I had the pleasure of sharing a memorable lunch at Casa Ferlin (link) in Zurich – one of Switzerland’s finest Italian restaurants since 1907 (Gault-Millau even describes it as a century-old Italian institution in a glowing review (link)) – with Davide Gasperini, of Cascina Gilli (link), some wine journalists and Luca Bollati, the Swiss importer (link). This wasn’t just a meal; it was a celebration of Piedmontese winemaking excellence, exceptional cuisine, and the Italian art of far niente – the sweet, deliberate practice of doing nothing but fully savouring the present moment. We tasted some wines from the vintage 2024.

11/06/202628/06/2026

Bersano Reimagines its Icons

When heritage becomes design: the Piedmontese winery unveils a new visual identity for its most iconic winesNizza Monferrato, June 2026 – “We didn’t change the label; we made visible what Bersano has always been.” With these words, Federico Orione, the latest generation of the Bersano (link) family and today at the helm of the company’s sales and marketing activities, introduces the new design of Icons, the collection that brings together Bersano’s most representative wines. The project marks a new chapter in Bersano’s visual identity, bringing to the surface authentic elements of a story that spans almost 120 years.