12 Hidden Gem Wineries in Piedmont Worth Visiting!
With Piedmont being one of the top destinations in Italy for wine lovers, its easy to see why thousands flock here year to year. There are almost 18,000 wineries in Piedmont, so how do we decide which ones to visit?
Well, reading this article is a good place to start. Having spent three magnificent months in this incredible wine region just last year, it’s time to reveal the aces I’ve been keeping up my sleeve ever since, just for you.
The wineries on this list won’t be found on a TripAdvisor top 10, or on the itinerary of any tour company; they are hidden gems mined from amongst the cobblestone streets of Piedmont’s medieval villages. They are Piedmont wineries making up the wine lists of its best restaurants; Piedmont wineries that have not compromised on tradition, as well as those bringing something exciting and contemporary to the scene.
Most importantly, they are Piedmont wineries that are warm, welcoming, and making spectacular wines. They are 12 hidden gem wineries in Piedmont to visit during your trip to this amazing corner of the earth.
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Hidden Gem Piedmont Wineries Worth Visiting
Making up the 12 hidden gem wineries in Piedmont are nine from the Langhe, two from Roero, and one from Monferrato.
With something here for everyone, you’ll find wineries ranging from homely to luxurious, from traditional to contemporary. All with tastings on offer, you can take your pick of Piedmont’s boldest reds, its most elegant whites, luscious dessert wines, opulent sparkling, and down to earth organic and natural wines.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
1. Elvio Cogno – The Langhe, Barolo
Elvio Cogno can be found sitting proudly atop a hill on the outskirts of Novello, a village that is itself a hidden gem of Piedmont. Despite its spectacular castle and world-class restaurants, Novello remains relatively undiscovered, and for its 1,000 occupants is simply the village they call home.
Making Barolo since the 1950s, Elvio Cogno (the man) founded Elvio Cogno (the winery) in 1991, naming the first vineyard he planted in Novello after his daughter born the same year, Elena.
Elvio Cogno has since grown in size and popularity but remains the humble family business it always has been. Still producing some of the best Barolo around, Cogno also presents exceptional Barbaresco, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Nascetta.
Showing the intimate nature of Elvio Cogno, they host only private tastings, though do not charge more for this exclusive access. Elvio Cogno welcomes visitors to admire the view from their balconies (yes, plural), before leading them through the winery sharing stories of their history. All of them delicious, the wines then poured depend on the type of tour requested. Their “classic tasting” is priced at €40 per person, including four wines, one of them a Barolo.
2. Cantina Ratti – The Langhe, Barolo
Cantina Ratti is another hidden gem winery found in another of Barolo’s must-visit Roman era villages: La Morra. At 1600 feet above sea level, La Morra is the perfect place to enjoy the vista that is Piedmont’s endless rolling hills and vineyards.
Renato Ratti made the winery’s first Barolo in the 1960s using just a small single vineyard and the medieval cellars of La Morra’s Annunziata Abbey. Now, the Ratti winery is a triumph of modern architecture, hidden in the slopes of La Morra underneath its living roof.
Known for making top-tier Barolo wines from multiple sub regions, Ratti also produces some of Piedmont’s best Barbera, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.
A visit to Ratti’s winery includes a guided tour of the cellar and a tasting of five or six wines, with the range depending on the experience booked. Tastings start at €40 per person, with all options including Barolo. The experience at Ratti is rich, yet relaxed, with the opportunity to absorb all you can of Barolo’s history and winemaking traditions, or just enjoy the view.
3. Rivetto – The Langhe, Barolo
Rivetto is very proudly located in Lirano, nestled between the villages of Sinio and Serralunga d’Alba.
Truly a man connected to the land, Enrico Rivetto grows his grapes using organic and biodynamic principles, producing wines that are bursting with life. Surrounded by fruit trees and forest, crops of herbs and cereal, and the buzzing of bees, his vineyards are part of a larger ecosystem that kindly invites you in.
In addition to exceptional Barolo, Rivetto also produces Barbaresco, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Nascetta, and a small amount of champagne-style sparkling wine.
Rivetto has multiple experiences to offer their visitors. Their most basic tasting option, priced at €30 per person, begins with a guided tour of both the vineyard and cellar before the pouring of four wines, including a Barolo. The tasting room at Rivetto is beautiful, yet cozy, with breathtaking views out of every window. Enrico himself is incredibly hospitable, offering small plates of food from his garden that complement his wines and make you feel right at home.
4. Vietti – The Langhe, Barolo
Vietti is located in the spectacular medieval village of Castiglione Falletto, where the surrounding slopes which once provided its castle fortitude now offer the perfect environment for cultivating grapes.
Founded in the late 1800s, Vietti now has vineyards in many Piedmont regions, offering an amazing range of red and white wines including Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Moscato, and Roero Arneis.
When visiting Vietti, you’ll have the opportunity to breathe in Barolo’s landscape from their panoramic terrace before journeying down into its historic stone cellars. Following the tour, you’ll try a range of Vietti’s incredible wines, exactly which ones depending on the type of tasting you book. Their “classic tasting” consists of five wines, including one Barolo, and is a bargain at €25 per person.
Being a small, family-run producer, Vietti provides an experience that is casual, intimate, and informative.
5. Domenico Clerico – The Langhe, Barolo
Domenico Clerico‘s winery is just outside the village of Monforte d’Alba. With winding cobblestone streets and houses painted in pastels, purples, and pinks, this village is perhaps the most picturesque in Piedmont, which is really saying something.
Domenico Clerico took the reins of the company from his father in the 1970s, and with the help of his wife, Giuliana, has developed it into what it is today: an icon of quality amongst those who recognize it and what he describes as “the meeting place between heaven and earth”.
Like all the best winemakers, Domenico’s goal is to express the character of his vineyards in the glass. Across Domenico Clerico’s range of Barolo, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, and red cuvée (blended) wines, it’s obvious he’s done so.
Visiting Domenico Clerico, it’s easy to feel the same sense of peace that the Clerico family do, with their modern tasting room’s floor-to-ceiling windows offering an incredible vineyard vista. Hosted by the Clerico’s themselves, their tasting experiences also include a tour of the impressive contemporary barrel cellar. Starting at €60 per person, Domenico Clerico’s tastings are on the pricier side, and may resonate most with those who appreciate the more luxurious things in life.
6. Paitin – The Langhe, Barbaresco
Paitin is found near to Barbaresco’s beautiful village of Neive, where you’ll become happily lost as you spiral through its narrow streets leading to views of its remarkable clock towers and cathedrals. Here you’ll find some of Barbaresco’s best wine bars, restaurants, and cafes, also.
Run by the Elia family, Paitin has been making Barbaresco since 1893. Their vineyard area, named Serraboella, is a sloping, West-facing piece of land in Southern Neive renowned as one of Barbaresco’s best. Given the quality of wine it produces, it’s no wonder the Elia family has held onto it so long.
As well as exceptional Barbaresco, Paitin produces Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Freisa, and one white variety, Arneis.
Visiting Paitin feels like a step back in time, with its traditional winery built of brick and terracotta, and its tasting space (on a good day) a plant-filled balcony underneath the building’s arches. For €30 per person, you can taste four wines, including one Barbaresco, with the opportunity to swap out Dolcetto for Arneis. For an extra €15, the Elia family will take you on a tour through both their home vineyards, and stunningly kept cellar.
7. Marchesi Di Gresy – The Langhe, Barbaresco
Marchesi Di Gresy is located down the road from the charming village of Barbaresco, not more than a 20 minute drive from Alba, the Langhe’s most major center. The village of Barbaresco is one of most antiquated towns in Piedmont. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages, with an 11th century tower still standing strong against the horizon.
The Gresy family has been a pillar of Barbaresco winemaking since 1797, creating wines that are elegant, elevated, and expressive of the land on which they’re produced.
Expanding their presence in Piedmont, Marchesi Di Gresy has one of the most diverse wine portfolios in the region, offering Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Merlot, red cuvée, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, white cuvée, and Moscato dessert wine.
With something for everyone, a visit to Marchesi Di Gresy is sure to please no matter your preferences. All tastings including a tour of their extensive cellars, they start at €30 per person with Marchesi Di Gresy’s “classic tasting” of four wines, including one Barbaresco. Quintessentially Piedmont, Marchesi Di Gresy’s winery is built into the hill in pastels of yellow and pink, with their courtyard providing ample photo opportunities. The tasting room is cozy and quaint, with tables and couches under arches of red brick.
8. Punset – The Langhe, Barbaresco
Punset is found not far from the village of Neive, producing Barbaresco since the 1960s. “Punset” is a word of the Piedmontese dialect of Italian, translating to English as “beautiful hill”; a word that once you’ve arrived in the Piedmont region you won’t question as necessary.
Punset now in its second generation of winemakers, it is spearheaded by Marina Marcarino, a woman whose philosophies permeate throughout all Punset’s operations, particularly in the vineyards. An early adopter of organics, Marina made the decision to take the utmost care of her family’s land in the 80s, dropping all use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
The ecosystem surrounding her vineyard now in perfect balance, it is no wonder that her wines show such exceptional poise also. As well as Barbaresco, Punset produces Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, red cuvée, white cuvée, and Arneis.
Keen to show the quality that small organic producers such as herself can offer to wine drinkers visiting Piedmont, Marina hosts tastings at Punset for only €15 per person. Available upon request through their website, the experience includes tasting 3 wines, one of them an outstanding Barbaresco. For those looking to fully immerse themselves in the experience of Neive and Barbaresco, Punset also offers two boutique accommodations within their charming organic vineyards.
9. Rizzi – The Langhe, Barbaresco
Rizzi is located close to the tiny village of Treiso, which at one of the highest elevations in the Langhe is the perfect place to take in the seemingly infinite vineyard landscapes of Piedmont. As well as some of the best Barbaresco vineyards, Treiso is home to one of the Langhe’s largest and most significant cathedrals, the baroque-style church of the Beata Vergine Assunta.
Rizzi’s first vintage was in 1974, not long after founder Ernesto Dellapiana decided to leave the city of Turin and dedicate his life to grape growing and winemaking. Ernesto has since been succeeded by his two children, Enrico and Jole, who continue their father’s legacy and the management of what is now a relatively large winery, tending to 44 hectares of vineyards throughout Piedmont.
As it stands, Rizzi makes outstanding Barbaresco from four different sub regions surrounding Treiso, as well as fantastic Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Chardonnay, Moscato, and sparkling wine. Their sparkling is produced in Piedmont’s best region for bubbles, Alta Langa, and is a shining example of the quality wines Piedmont can produce in this style. All Alta Langa sparkling is made similarly to Champagne, using the “traditional method,” Rizzi’s Alta Langa is 85% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot noir.
Starting at just €15 per person, visits to Rizzi can be booked through their site and include a tour of their impressively modern and multi-faceted cellar, followed by a tasting hosted in their luxurious tasting room. The opportunity to try some of Piedmont’s best red and sparkling side-by-side is not one to be missed!
10. Valfaccenda – Roero
Valfaccenda is found in the Roero region, nestled amongst the hills nearby the town of Canale. With an abundance of exceptional wineries and restaurants, flourishing peach and pear orchards, and magnificent historical sights, Roero is certainly a part of Piedmont to treasure.
The owners of Valfaccenda are a small, husband and wife team who are dedicated to offering through their wines the purest expression of Roero that they can. To achieve this, they work with only Nebbiolo and Arneis, manage their vineyards organically, and make minimal interventions in the winery. Their wines are fermented with wild yeasts captured in the environment, are not fined, or filtered, and see no additions prior to minimal sulfur at bottling. You could call their product “natural wine”, but for them, it’s simply Roero in a bottle, and nothing else.
Tastings at Valfaccenda are by reservation only. They ask that you please contact them using their details listed here, on their website. With a homely and casual offering, Luca and Carolina will welcome you into the Valfaccenda cellar door themselves, pouring requested wines for free of charge, with bottles available for purchase. Valfaccenda also run a beautiful bed and breakfast from the winery, perfect for those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the Roero experience.
11. Enrico Serafino – Roero
Enrico Serafino is located right in the heart of Canale and has been since it was founded in 1878. Their reach expanding through Piedmont since, Enrico Serafino’s wines are not limited to Roero, with vineyards planted throughout Barolo, Barbaresco, Alta Langa, and Monferrato.
Honing their craft for over 150 years, the lineage of Enrico Serafino has had time to perfect Piedmont wines of many styles, from bold reds to aromatic whites, to sweet wines and some of the best traditional method sparkling in Italy. Specifically, their range includes Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Gavi (a native white variety), Moscato, and white and rosé sparkling wines made from Pinot noir and Chardonnay.
Interestingly, Enrico Serafino remains one of very few wineries allowed to produce Barolo wines outside of the Barolo area, with an exception made by regulators recognizing the significance of their history and the quality of their product.
Visits to Enrico Serafino begin at €25 per person with their “underground” tasting including a tour of their extensive historical cellars and the tasting of four wines (including one Barolo and one Alta Langa sparkling). Enrico Serafino’s tasting room is traditional, yet luxurious, complete with an arched ceiling finished in brick, hanging chandeliers, and the door to their boundless wine library.
For fans of sparkling wine, Enrico Serafino offers also a “bubbles” experience; a tasting of five wines including four Alta Langa sparkling wines and one Barolo, so that you’re not to miss out.
12. Scarpa – Nizza, Monferrato
Scarpa is in the town of Nizza Monferrato, about a 40-minute drive or bus ride from either Alba or Asti. Though bigger than the villages of Barolo and Barbaresco, Nizza Monferrato is no less beautiful. Depending on what time of year you visit, you may be lucky enough to stumble across one of Nizza Monferrato’s many cultural festivals, including June’s “Corsa delle botti,” or barrel race.
Scarpa has been producing wine in Monferrato since it was founded by Antonio Scarpa in 1900. By the 1930s, Scarpa’s Barbera was highly sought after by the public, prompting Antonio to diversify Scarpa’s production. Acquiring a Barolo vineyard, Antonio produced the first wines from it in 1940. Like Enrico Serafino, Scarpa is included in the exclusive list of wineries allowed by regulators to produce Barolo outside of the Barolo area.
Today, Scarpa produces outstanding Barbera, Barolo, and Barbaresco, as well as Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and single-variety wines showing off rare, indigenous red cultivars Freisa, Brachetto, Rouchet, and Pelaverga. With all these wines on offer, as well as a couple of white wines, Scarpa is an incredibly unique Piedmont winery, offering an experience that is equally traditional and unusual.
Adding to their individuality, Scarpa offers a wide range of tasting options depending on your preferences. They start at €25 per person with the vertical Dolcetto tasting, showing off this variety’s ability to age with grace. There are also tasting options focused on only Barbera, and those displaying Scarpa’s diversity of wine styles. All tasting experiences include a tour of the vineyard and cellar, some snacks, and a seat at the table in Scarpa’s luxurious tasting room.
The Hidden Gems of Piedmont Concluded
So, there you have it: 12 hidden gem Piedmont wineries worth visiting during your trip to this remarkable corner of the world. If I could leave you with one piece of advice, it is to not let yourself be too distracted by the marvel that Piedmont is for the eyes alone. It is with the invitation of all our senses that this place is given the opportunity to truly leave an unforgettable impression. Hear it, feel it, smell it, and most importantly, taste it.
