Wines and the surrounding area The Cascina Monsignore Winery in Vicoforte

A few kilometres as the crow flies from Mondovì and around fifty from Alba, Savona and the mountain resorts of Monviso. This part of Piedmont captivates visitors with its fairytale-like border region of the Langhe, which enjoys a Mediterranean climate and lies at an average altitude of 600 metres above sea level.

Since 1916, the Blengini family has been the heart and soul of Cascina Monsignore

This historic summer residence was built by the Bishop of Mondovì, Michele Casati. Today, Giuseppe and his wife Roberta are writing a new chapter in their story, launching a groundbreaking project designed to showcase a region that is still waiting to be discovered. This wine is called Monsignore, the sparkling wine from Alta Langa. A unique wine that reflects its terroir and identity, yet is also pioneering.

Giuseppe Blengini è un architetto di successo e oggi si divide tra Milano, Alba e Vicoforte. In 2007, he met Roberta Ceretto, a woman from Piedmont and the daughter of Bruno – the woman who changed his life. In 2014, they decided to take a chance on Alta Langa sparkling wines, driven by a bohemian-style intuition, in order to preserve local farming practices and showcase a terroir that is very different from that of the neighbouring Langa region.

Climate, vineyards and the local area

The altitude, the wide temperature variations, the sea breeze and the natural shelter provided by the mountains have convinced Roberta and Giuseppe of the viability of their project. It is a true journey through the past, present and future, undertaken with the help of various travelling companions who highlight the importance of the human factor and are essential to reaching the destination.

Together, they are drawing up a plan to manage the 44 hectares of land, 14 of which are currently planted with vines, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 2019, another chapter was added to the story with the leasing of vineyards from small-scale producers who follow a common agricultural protocol in Canelli, Santo Stefano Belbo, Vesime and Diano d’Alba, to create a blend of grapes that bring complexity and distinct tannic notes, which are beautifully integrated with the extreme elegance of the Vitesi grapes.

Monsignore Alta Langa DOCG

Monsignore Alta Langa is an extra brut wine aged for 36 months, made from separately vinified grapes, composed of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and characterised by herbaceous notes. In the glass, it displays fine, persistent bubbles; on the palate, it is creamy and enveloping, with distinct and elegant aromas, just like the region that is currently experiencing a sparkling renaissance.