Design Cellars of the Langhe: Route of about 25 km starting in Alba and ending in Castiglione Falletto

The wineries of the Langhe, famous for the production of some of Italy’s finest wines, have in recent years become actual destinations for “slow” wine and food tourism, the “slow” wine and food tourism, which is at its peak in autumn, with foliage, the grape harvest and the unmistakable smell of wine wafting through the streets.

Objective. To accommodate the increasing number of visitors and wine lovers. Many wineries in the Langhe have grown, often relying on famous design and architectural firms for these innovations. **Design Cellars of the Langhe: A 25 km Route from Alba to Castiglione Falletto**

The Langhe wineries, renowned for producing some of Italy’s finest wines, have recently become popular destinations for “slow” wine and food tourism. This trend is incredibly vibrant in autumn, with the changing leaves, grape harvests, and the delightful aroma of wine filling the air.

**Objective:** To accommodate the increasing number of visitors and wine enthusiasts. In recent years, the number of wineries in the Langhe has grown significantly, and they often collaborate with renowned design and architectural firms. These innovative projects have created some of the Langhe’s most beautiful modern and redesigned cellars.

We recommend you visit these exceptional wineries on your self-guided tour, which is perfect for exploring by e-bike! Active projects have given rise to Langhe’s most beautiful, modern, and redesigned, the selection we recommend you visit on our do-it-yourself tour, perfect for exploring by e-bike!

The Ceretto winery in Alba is one of the essential wineries in the Barolo area. It is distinctive in terms of design and architecture, with its two structures, the Acino and the Cubo.

The Acino is a permanent installation located by the Monsordo Bernardina Estate. Built in 2009, it is a structure that makes discovering the landscapes of Piedmont even more unique. It is a stage on which to admire the Langhe and Barolo hills suspended as if in a bubble.

The Cube is the other design structure located at the Bricco Rocche Winery in Castiglione Falletto; it does not go unnoticed when arriving in the village. This work of design is perfectly integrated with the profile of the surrounding hills and allows a 360-degree view of the surrounding vineyards.

Ceretto Winery Bricco Rocche, Castiglione Falletto

Another “gem” of the Ceretto family is the Bricco Rocche Winery. It has stood out in Castiglione Falletto since 1982. It was created to vinify more premium grapes such as Cannubi San Lorenzo rather than Brunate di La Morra. In 2000, a glass cube was added to the building. This design work is perfectly integrated with the profile of the surrounding hills and allows a 360-degree view of the surrounding vineyards.

Luca and Narina Deabate designed both works.

Astemia Pentita is among Langhe’s most extravagant and aesthetically iconic modern wineries. It is located along the road from Alba to Barolo. Its distinctive architecture makes it immediately recognizable when passing through Cannubi hill.

It looks like two wooden wine boxes stacked on each other, the kind used for selling and trading wine bottles, which certainly does not go unnoticed in visitors’ eyes.

Gianni Arnaudo, the architect who designed it with full respect for the environment, has called it “the world’s first POP winery.” It extends outside and underground to about 4000 sqm.

Cascina Adelaide is located behind the Castello di Barolo. It is an “underground” winery; in fact, it was developed 5.50 meters below the level of the pre-existing farmstead, and thanks to this feature and the attention to the landscape, the external parts are covered by grassland.

Thus, nature is the constant for the winery’s architecture. It is developed in the shape of a small hill while the reinforced concrete structure of the farmstead rises from the subsoil upward. It seems reminiscent of the vine and the trellis. It is supported by iron and concrete pillars ending in branches. The glance is very distinctive.

We meet the Domenico Clerico winery along the road from Barolo to Monforte. It is an example of a winery of design and efficiency, where the architecture has been studied down to the smallest detail so that every detail is unique but always practical to optimize the work. Its lines are very modern, and the materials used, steel and glass, come together to create large bright spaces.

Its shapes are deliberately inspired by the beautiful Langa hills that face it.

The Boroli winery is located in Castiglione Falletto, along the road leading to Bussia; it is recognizable thanks to its almost mimetic architecture, which blends in with the land and visually merges with the landscape. It was designed by Guido Boroli, the second of the four brothers. It is divided into three areas: a basement for wine maturation, the ground floor for processing, and the tasting room, which is the most characteristic and recognizable.

The tasting room has large windows that provide a unique view. In addition to making this designer wine cellar visually distinctive, they create natural thermal insulation. Externally, solid oak cladding has been applied to the walls, obtained by dismantling used barriques that can no longer be used.

Wine history of the Langhe: In what context are designer wineries born?

This is a brief history of the Langhe wine tradition, including how wine production in the region has evolved over the centuries.

The Hills of the Langhe: An Overview

The hills of the Langhe, located in the Piedmont region of Italy, are a picturesque mosaic of vineyards, medieval villages, and breathtaking scenery. This region is renowned for its winemaking tradition and its fine wines.

History and wine: the winemaking in the Langhe.

The Langhe, in southern Piedmont between the provinces of Cuneo and Asti, is a food and wine treasure trove with a history dating back thousands of years. This scenic wonder and wine-making excellence stem from work and creativity passed down from generation to generation.

Alba, the beating heart of the Langhe, is already present in ancient histories. It was founded by the ancient Liguri Stazielli and then shaped by the passages of the Romans, who renamed it Alba Pompeia. Its history is a web of conquests and plundering, from the assault of the Burgundians in 490 A.D. to the raids of the Lombards, Franks, and Saracens in the Middle Ages. The traces of this strenuous and troubled past are reflected in the hundred towers (few now remaining) that characterize its skyline.

But in the 1800s, with the advent of the Savoy dynasty, the Langhe experienced a marked and decisive renaissance. Piedmontese wines became ambassadors of the Piedmontese nobility, conquering courts throughout Europe and giving the Langhe unprecedented international fame. After the decline following World War II, the region regained strength in wine production and hazelnut cultivation, shining again in the world’s spotlight.

Since 1929, Alba has been dressed in festive attire to honor the white truffle, a world-renowned exxellence. The famous “tajarin,” noodles prepared by the women of the Langhe for grand occasions, have become a culinary symbol of this area.

But the Langhe is not only history; it is also wine. Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto are the icons of this land, cultivated with passion and dedication for centuries. The clay-limestone soils, forged more than 23 million years ago during the Oligocene when the sea submerged the Langhea, give the wines a complexity and structure unique in the world. The Apennine climate, influenced by the Po Valley and characterized by scorching summers and freezing winters, and soils generated by glaciation and shaped by marine sediments, gives Nebbiolo an unparalleled tannic structure and longevity.

The Langhe is a treasure to be discovered, a journey through time among vineyards and millennia-old towers, an ode to history and taste that continues to enchant the world with its timeless charm.

The Wines of the Langhe in the Modern Era.

Over the centuries, the Langhe has continued to thrive as one of the world’s leading wine regions. Their wines, renowned for their complexity and distinctive character, have become ambassadors of winemaking.

• Barolo: The King of Wines. Prominent among the treasures of the Langhe is Barolo, which is known as the” king of Wines.” His iconic wine, made mainly from Nebbiolo grapes, embodies the very essence of the region with its complex profile and long aging in wood.
• Barbaresco: The Elegant Rival: Next to Barolo stands Barbaresco, a wine of great elegance and refinement. Also derived from the Nebbiolo grape, Barbaresco offers a unique sensory experience, with floral, fruity, and spicy notes that reflect the terroir of the Langhe.

Evolution of Vineyard Management

The evolution of vineyard management in the Langhe has been driven by innovation and a focus on sustainability. Modern techniques, such as manual harvesting and the sparing use of chemical treatments, have blended harmoniously with centuries-old traditions, ensuring the quality and integrity of the wines produced.

Increasingly, there are vineyards where one notices that the soil has been mowed at the vine’s base. Flowers and wild vegetation chase each other in the rows, ensuring care for the land without the use of herbicides and chemicals.

It is said that to taste wine, one should first walk through the vineyards that produced the raw material!

Influence of Climate and Terroir

The climate and terroir of the Langhe play a key role in the creation of their distinctive wines. Favorable climatic conditions, characterized by hot, dry summers, cold winters, and limestone-rich soils, give Langhe wines unique complexity and structure.

Sustainability in Wine Production in the Langhe: A Commitment to the Future

In the global context of a growing focus on environmental sustainability, the wine sector is also making a profound commitment to reducing environmental impact and promoting more eco-friendly farming practices.

The Langhe, renowned for producing high-quality wines, is increasingly embracing sustainable practices at all stages of production, from vineyard to winery.

Many wineries are adopting waste reduction, recycling, and composting practices, reducing the overall environmental impact of wine production. Efforts are being made to use everything from the vineyard, from mowing to the last remnants of the marc.

Another area of focus is reducing the use of chemicals in the vineyards. Many winemakers adopt organic or biodynamic farming methods, eliminating or drastically reducing synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This preserves soil health and local biodiversity and produces more natural and authentic high-quality grapes.

Finally, there is a growing interest in renewable energy. Many wineries are investing in solar, wind, or other clean energy technologies to power their operations, reducing the overall carbon footprint of wine production.

The threat of climate change prompts innovative strategies to preserve the region.

Sustainability in wine production in the Langhe is not just an option but an imperative for the industry. Ongoing efforts demonstrate a real commitment to a greener and more prosperous future while preserving the LLanghe’s tradition and unique landscape for future generations.

Future Perspectives and Innovations

Looking to the future, the Langhe is inspired by its beauty and cultural richness. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, the making of the Langhe is set to thrive for generations to come. The quality that must now be put above quantity bodes well for a continuity guarantee for new wine supply chain players.

International recognition of Langhe wines

RED OF THE YEAR

Score: 100/100
Barolo Vignarionda Ester Canale Rosso 2019 – Giovanni Rosso

More than a century of history for this Serralunga d’Alba winery, led by Davide Rosso, which counts on vineyards in some of Barolo’s most famous Barolo’s including Vignarionda. Objective: wines that tell the story of the terroir without filters, seeking maximum expressiveness, aromatic clarity, structure and elegant tannic Winemakinginemaking follows the traditional style with large oak barrels forextendedg maturation. This Barolo has everyone in agreement. The aromas are symphonic and pleasing, from rose to licorice, boosted by balsamic essences and floral backgrounds. The palate is disarming in its progression and lunge. It has a relentless pace, without shouting, and it tells a world of fruits and spices, drawn by a masterful tannic texture and savory fabric. It is this edition’s red, with at least 30 years of pure glory ahead of it.

Awarded Pelaverga.

New opportunities for lesser-known Piedmont wine appellations: Castello di Verduno’s Pelaverga Verduno’s top prize.

Emerging Winery

A winery we have known for years, with which SloDays always gladly collaborates, gets the award for emerging winery. Walter and his mom (who passed away in 2024) have built confidence in the customers who have visited them, and their work has been deservedly rewarded. The Bdistinctive wine of this award is the Barbaresco Lorens “19 Lodali winery,

We have reached the end of this itinerary—a day dedicated to the most iconic modern wineries in the Langhe.

Have I intrigued you? You can visit some of these wineries on a beautiful walk through the Vineyards or, even easier, on a pedal-assisted e-bike.

If, on the other hand, you also love good wine and the products of the Langhe, nothing beats an excellent food and wine weekend in the Langhe, where King Barolo challenges Barbaresco.

And they can be made at any time of the year!

A Tour of the Langhe, including wineries, small villages, excellent food, and wine, is a real panacea against the stress of modern life!