The Wine, the Stone and the Sabaudity – Part II
…continued from part I.
The awards received as one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, the appreciation of UNESCO, and the conferment of many DOC wines to the wines of the area, would make any average person modestly proud, but here in Cella Monte, no. Here you will still find people who, while producing the best wines in Italy, will be surprised to be contacted for a visit to their cellar or for a wine tasting. In short, authentic human character from which my professor in “Destination Management” could get months of lessons!
It is not easy to enter the industrious lives of us Piedmontese, especially those of the beautiful hills who want to preserve the authenticity and perhaps even a little isolation. But if you insist: the Piedmontese are kind and very hospitable, if you overcome their initial embarrassment. Get help from Sistema Monferrato, which is doing a super job of destination management for the Monferrato region and more.
Thanks to them we discovered Cinque Quinti, a young wine production venture, even if with ancient roots. The five fifths that make up the whole, are five siblings, or better, three brothers and two sisters (and we are already starting with a “talented mother!”). All between 20 and 40 years old, who have resumed the activity of their grandfather’s viticulture, already a founder of the social cellar. Their father had dedicated himself to the production and sale of timber, while they, the grandchildren, some years ago, decided to return to focusing on the grapevine. But this time not only producing excellent wine grapes, but also following the whole process of production of excellent bottles of red and white wine. The boys are in continuous training, attending courses, growing their knowledge and refining their techniques. In particular, Mario, who bears the name of his grandfather and to whom the family’s Chardonnay Piemonte DOC (Mariulin) was dedicated. After a period of study in the United States, he is now learning in the field, indeed in the vineyards, of Australia.
The Cinque Quinti winery has a beautiful location on the main street of Cella Monte, in a former castle with a spectacular view of the hillside. Their infernot is a maze of tunnels with a double entrance: one from the inner courtyard and another from the street. Often, in fact, the infernots were enlarged in later times, trying to use as much space as possible.
But the reason for visiting the Arditi family is without a doubt their wine production. Welcomed in a gazebo with a splendid view, we tasted Mariulin, a Piedmont DOC Chardonnay Spumante. Obtained with the Martinotti method, it is fresh, fragrant and sparkling, ideal for summer aperitifs. Then we tried the Carisa, the Barbera Piemonte DOC. The Monferrato wine par excellence. The meal wine, young and full-bodied, that they make with 100% Barbera grapes (the specification requires at least 85%). But be careful! The alcohol content is 14.5% vol!!!! And finally, the excellent Roverò, a red wine from Barbera grapes aged 2 years in French oak tonneau (a container similar to barrique but larger, holding up to 900 liters of wine, 500l in the case of Roverò). We were struck by the bouquet of exceptional aromas, the structured body and well-balanced tannins. A very pleasant wine. We will definitely come back to taste Dedalo, their white Monferrato DOC, made from Arneis grapes!
And finally, to work off the tasting, we headed not far away, to Rosignano Monferrato, where a big bench (of which we have spoken here) awaited us in all its enormous hospitality. To enjoy the May sun and a moment of meditation inspired by the most beautiful and economical show in the world: the nature of the extraordinary Monferrato hills!
Useful Info:
Cinque Quinti Winery
Address: Via Dante Barbano, 46, 15034 Cella Monte AL
Phone: +39 339 108 3799
Hours:
– Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 8:30am – 1pm
– Sat: 10am – 6pm
– Thu, Sun: closed
[contentcards url=”https://cinquequinti.com/en”]
Sistema Monferrato
Address: Via Giosuè Carducci, 43, 14100 Asti AT
[contentcards url=”https://www.sistemamonferrato.it/”]
Big Bench Rosignano Monferrato Nr. 41
Address: 15030 Rosignano Monferrato Province of Alessandria
Hours: open 24 hours
[contentcards url=”https://bigbenchcommunityproject.org/en/”]
Where to stay
For the best deals on hotels, apartments and bed & breakfasts in and around Cella Monte, please click here.
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