Asti and its divine flavors to taste!

....traditional fragrances and cuisine

Our journey winds through scenic hills and country secondary streets, where we will meet more often the 8 tracks of the “Strada del Vino Astesana” with some minor deviation near Cuneo. Ancient land of castles and wines where triumph Barbera, Moscato and Brachetto, alongside the traditional dishes often enhanced by the excellent white truffle. The journey to find "divine flavors" starts from Montegrosso d'Asti where the first scheduled stop at the Winery Trinchero brothers; there we can taste excellent Barbera d'Asti Superiore DOC and Monferrato Rosso; going on, always in Montegrosso d'Asti at the Tenuta La Meridiana, the White’s family has allowed us the taste of a Barbera aged in Allier barriques. In Agliano Terme we visited four farms: here Bologna Agostino Pavia & Figli (see photo), proposes us three cru Barbera besides hospitality of 5 elegant rooms; to the Brothers Pavia holding, winemakers for three generations, we taste their prized San Bernardino; the Winery Castino has nectar for a rare and exclusive clientele; in Lovetta village, guests of the Family at the Farm Gerbi Alessandro we discover the scents and flavors of appreciated different annual production. We reach for Nizza Monferrato to taste the important wines of Ancient Wine House Shoe Company and to visit the Gironde that produce Barbera suitable for every dish. In Canelli we can find Paul Avezza Winery which, under the supervision of Giuseppe Rattazzi, offers excellent wines with an excellent value for money; while in Cassinasco Karin & Remo Hohlerci’s Farm presents repeatedly rewarded local wines. With a little detour to Alba, we reach Baroloto visit the historical farm Cagliero and savor tastes and traditions now lost in Langhe. In the first part of the journey Agliano Terme gave us three stop to taste its delicious: the Hotel Restaurant Fons Salutis delights our palates with dishes of traditional country and we finally relax in its elegant rooms; At Osteria La Milonga in an inviting atmosphere we tasted fine local dishes and Ligurian dishes; the Hotel Restaurant Dellavalle with its informal environment has given us a bit 'relax and a typical Piemontese meal. Even in Calamandrana, Agriturismo La Corte has opened us the doors of a world based on genuine and friendly rural Piedmont tradition. Finally when we arrived at Alba local people suggest us Osteria La Fermata where under the new shade of an old plane tree where we were served risotto and ravioli, excellent meat dishes and a delicious course of cheese. In Guarene d’Alba we granted an elegant dinner at the restaurant Locanda Io e Luna of which we’ll remember delicious gnocchi with herbs and Parmesan eggnog. During our wandering through the beautiful hills of Monferrato, return Montegrosso, we were guests of Giovanna Bogliaccino at Restaurant della Stazione that has made us taste delicacies of fish and truffles. Afterwards, to relax we found Locanda del Boscogrande, a place where, surrounded by natural beauties, we stayed in an atmosphere of serenity. In Nice Monferrato, instead, we spent wonderful days as Carlo Lacqua’s guests at the Agriturismo Cascina Monsignorotti. He took us into his cellar and he has provided us elegant and spacious rooms. Another address that we mention is that of the Agriturismo with restaurant Cascina Crosa, a house dated 1800 completely renovated, where we found quality to good prices and an excellent family warmth.

Step by step we decided to take with us tasty memories of this trip, so in Calamandrana we found the typical land products such as fresh pasta, fine white truffles, in addition to special fish dishes and a delicious sushi from Planet Food. At Canelli and Moasca we have stock of valuable salami, sausage to eat raw and Fassone Piemontese steak at the award-winning butcher Trevisiol; In Agliano Terme, visiting the Renzo Truffa laboratory we were fascinated and we bought goat cheese, fine brandy distilled from grape marc, a truffle salami and a bellyful of nougat. Finally, passing Asti northwards we reached Tonco to visit the Farm Artuffo Augustine and we procured a certified by SGS product , ie, roosters, hens and "Tonchese" selection blue capons, meat really rare thanks to its maturity and compactness.