Bric del Vento · Monferrato · Piemonte
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Our curated guide to the finest restaurants, local producers, hidden gems and unforgettable experiences in the hills of the Astigiano Monferrato.
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Bric del Vento · Monferrato · Piemonte
Our curated guide to the finest restaurants, local producers, hidden gems and unforgettable experiences in the hills of the Astigiano Monferrato.
Explore the guide →"The Monferrato is not just a landscape — it is a flavour, a scent, a way of life passed down for centuries."
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From Michelin-starred dining to medieval churches, truffle hunting to UNESCO wine cellars — the hills of Asti have a story at every turn.
Luoghi da Visitare
Medieval cities, Romanesque churches, UNESCO-listed wine cellars and a paleontological nature reserve — the Asti province rewards every kind of curiosity.
One of Piemonte's most beautiful medieval cities — towers, the Palio di Asti in September, a magnificent cathedral and the wine capital of the region.
Known as the "Balcone del Monferrato" for its extraordinary panoramic views over the Pianura Padana and, on clear days, the full Alpine arc from Monte Rosa to the Dolomites. A lively borgo with excellent restaurants, artisan shops and the Dezzani winery all within its historic walls.
One of the finest Romanesque abbeys in Piemonte — founded in the 12th century, with a remarkable carved stone roodscreen and cloister set among rolling Monferrato hills.
A medieval borgo in the Monferrato hills and birthplace of Saint John Bosco — with a 14th-century castle, charming streets and the quiet Piedmontese countryside that shaped the life of the Salesian founder.
A grand basilica and pilgrimage complex rising above the hill where Don Bosco was born in 1815 — a striking work of 20th-century sacred architecture and one of the most visited religious sites in Piemonte.
Italy's smallest official city — a 14th-century castle, truffle season and the centuries-old Fiera del Bue Grasso in a compact medieval borgo.
The undisputed capital of Barbera d'Asti — with its Enoteca Regionale, outstanding local estates and UNESCO-inscribed vineyard landscape.
A quiet medieval borgo on a Monferrato ridge — unspoiled vineyard landscape, Grignolino and Barbera territory, largely off the tourist circuit.
The world capital of Moscato d'Asti — with its extraordinary underground wine cathedrals listed as UNESCO World Heritage. A place of rare beauty.
A protected paleontological nature reserve of remarkable beauty — walking trails through ancient fossil beds in the hills just north of Asti.
A 14th-century castle with a free, always-open belvedere (4.9★) — full Alpine panorama from Monte Rosa to Gran Paradiso, and a museum of the rural world.
Dining
From a Michelin-starred relais in the hills to beloved trattorie where grandmothers still cook the old recipes — the Astigiano table is always set with generosity.
Chef Cannavacciuolo's starred restaurant within the exclusive Laqua Collection relais — 2,000 wine labels and panoramic hillside views.
One of Cocconato's most loved local tables — a historic trattoria on the village square serving agnolotti al plin, bagna cauda and house wines poured with the generosity the region is known for.
A family cantina where you taste the wine before you eat — traditional Monferrato cooking alongside barrel-aged Barbera and Grignolino made on the same estate.
Slow-aged grass-fed beef from their own pastures inside the Valleandona Natural Reserve. Rated 9.7/10 on TheFork, with pool and spa.
Beloved village osteria in Cocconato's historic centre — handmade tajarin, vitello tonnato and generous antipasti misti in a warm, authentically Piedmontese atmosphere.
A farmhouse restaurant tucked into the Monferrato vineyards — seasonal dishes built from produce grown or sourced within a few kilometres, served at an unhurried country pace.
A welcoming cantina-restaurant where house-made pasta and slow-braised meats share the table with a fine selection of local Barbera and Grignolino poured straight from the barrel.
"Basta che duri" — a family trattoria in Settime with orally-passed recipes: Gran Fritto Misto, Bollito, Bagna Cauda. Lunch fixed menu from €10.
Hilltop family agriturismo near the Romanesque church of San Secondo di Cortazzone — generous Piedmontese cooking and sweeping valley views.
Luisella's intimate stone-vaulted restaurant in Villa San Secondo — handmade agnolotti, veal tonnato and house Barbera at 35 euros all-in.
Old-world peasant cooking at the edge of the Valle Andona forest — agnolotti and seasonal dishes the way they've always been made.
The lively evening hub of Monale — craft pizza, grilled meats and a great beer selection in a warm western-themed setting. Excellent value.
No menu, no choices — the family serve whatever Mama Francesca cooked that day, wine arrives only in magnums. Candles, a piano, and a singular Piedmontese farmhouse atmosphere.
The casual sibling of the Michelin-starred Ca' Vittoria in a 19th-century palazzo — handmade pasta, house-baked desserts, and 48-hour gourmet pizza on Sunday evenings. Terrace on the village piazza.
Rustic antique-furnished rooms in a UNESCO hillside village with a panoramic Monferrato terrace. Vitello tonnato, agnolotti d'asino and a celebrated wine cellar are the reasons to return.
Part wine bar, part restaurant, part shop — 300+ labels, 50 gins, and furniture from reclaimed barrel staves. Owner Franco Cavallero is himself a Monferrato producer. Rated 4.8/5 from 2,000+ reviews.
Floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping vineyard panoramas in the Monferrato hills. Seasonal rotating menu, pool and large terrace — weekday lunch menu from €25, also available for private events.
Stone courtyard and elegant rooms with a 500-label Piedmont-only cellar and an on-site infernot. Handmade agnolotti, braised tripe, slow-cooked tongue — plus guest rooms and a bottega shop.
A beloved family-run trattoria on Moncalvo's historic piazza — Fassone beef tartare, 30-yolk tajarin, agnolotti with roast sauce. Over 1,300 TripAdvisor reviews at 4.3/5. Open Tue–Sun.
A panoramic all-outdoor terrace at the foot of the medieval Barbaresco tower, overlooking the UNESCO Langhe landscape — Barbaresco DOCG by the glass, local charcuterie and cheeses al fresco.
Panoramic dining at the Parco del Bric — sweeping views over the Monferrato hills and, on clear days, the full Alpine arc, with a seasonal menu celebrating the best of the Astigiano territory.
Bar & Caffetterie
Start the morning with a proper espresso and a warm brioche at one of the neighbourhood bars that anchor village life in these hills.
Rated 4.7 on Google, 4.8 on Tripadvisor — outstanding coffee, fresh pastries and weekly home-cooked lunch menus at honest prices.
Monale's neighbourhood bar for morning coffees, afternoon aperitivi and the unhurried rhythms of village socialising.
Cocconato's all-day village hub — morning espresso at the bar, aperitivo at dusk, and a well-stocked enoteca spanning the best local Barbera, Grignolino and Moscato producers.
The Cocconato outpost of Turin's celebrated gelato maestro — Tonda Gentile hazelnut, fresh-milk fior di latte and seasonal flavours made with Piedmontese ingredients at their absolute finest.
Prodotti Tipici
The territory of the Astigiano is one of Italy's most generous larders — wines, hazelnuts, honey, grappa, cheeses and pastries made by the same families for generations.
Four generations of master pastry-makers. Their flour-free hazelnut cake — the "Nocciolina" — is celebrated across all of Piemonte.
A 18th-century farmhouse in Val Rilate specialising in IGP Tonda Gentile hazelnuts — hazelnut oil, bagna cauda and daily fresh pastries on site.
One of Piemonte's oldest distilleries — active since 1888, holder of distillation licence no. 2. Traditional steam distillation of Piedmontese pomace.
Our own cellars at the highest panoramic point of Soglio — Barbera d'Asti, Grignolino and grappa with 360° views of the Monferrato hills.
The best local products of the Monferrato under one roof — wines, conserves, cheeses, sweets and artisan goods, all sourced from nearby producers.
One of the Monferrato's most established family wineries, with roots in Cocconato since the 1920s — Barbera d'Asti, Grignolino, Moscato d'Asti and sparkling wines from estate and local-grower fruit.
A boutique Monferrato estate whose name — "smiling hill" — captures the character of its wines: sun-drenched Barbera d'Asti and Grignolino made with genuine respect for the local terroir.
A classic Piedmontese deli in the heart of Cocconato — cured meats, local cheeses and regional pantry products, perfect for a hillside picnic or to bring a taste of the territory home.
A thoughtfully curated concept shop in Cocconato — books, artisan objects, stationery and handmade gifts selected with quiet intelligence. The name says it all: the words of things.
A working ceramics studio in Cocconato where handmade pieces — inspired by the colours and forms of the Monferrato landscape — are thrown, glazed and sold directly by the maker.
A contemporary art gallery in Cocconato's historic centre, hosting exhibitions and events that celebrate the creative voices of the Monferrato territory and the wider Piemonte region.
A historic Piedmontese distillery in Canelli — makers of the celebrated Vermut di Torino, aromatic amaretto, herbal amaro and artisan spirits rooted in the botanical traditions of Piemonte.
Tour & Esperienze
Beyond the table, the Monferrato offers a world of sensory experiences — from hunting for white truffles at dawn to cycling through UNESCO vineyard landscapes.
A scenic drive through the Barbera and Grignolino vineyards of the Monferrato — visiting local cellars, tasting direct from the barrel, finishing at our own winery.
Join a trained trifolao and his dog on an early morning truffle hunt in the Monferrato woods — and return to Cascina Vignole for a dinner built around your harvest.
Gentle routes through the UNESCO vineyard landscape of the Astigiano — from village to village, through vineyards, forests and timeless hilltop panoramas.
Staying at Bric del Vento? We are happy to help you plan every detail of your time in the hills.