Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese

🇮🇹 Italy

DOC Rare find

DOC 1974 - Casale Monferrato hills, ~360ha, Monferace premium designation 2015, 'Pietra da Cantoni' marl terroir

0 venues 0 trails

Region profile

History

Grignolino one of Piedmont's oldest indigenous varieties, text references dating to 1249. In 18th-19th century writings, more sought after than Nebbiolo. Second most planted grape in Alessandria province early 1800s. Post-WWII, Grignolino priced same as Barolo Nebbiolo. DOC established 1974. In 2015, Monferace association formed to elevate reputation - Grignolino aged 40+ months (24 in barrel) earns Monferace designation (ancient name of Monferrato).

Climate
Continental Monferrato Casalese hills; Alessandria province; 400-450m elevation; very clayey marl soils with 'Pietra da Cantoni' (light sedimentary marl rock used for building); right bank of Po river at Casale Monferrato; hillside slopes
Signature wines
Cantine Valpane 'Euli' Grignolino (benchmark since 1794, Pietro Arditi family since 1902, 24ha estate, mushroom/forest floor complexity); Tenuta Tenaglia Monferace (90 Falstaff points, 24-month oak + 24-month bottle); Castello di Gabiano; Vicara; Ca' San Sebastiano
What sets it apart
'Pietra da Cantoni' unique marl rock substrate (light sedimentary, used for building); Monferace designation 2015 (40+ months aging, ancient Monferrato name); post-WWII priced same as Barolo; Cantine Valpane mapped 1794; 1249 first grape documentation; DOC 1974; two Grignolino DOCs 'one too many' per popular opinion; 360ha vs Nebbiolo 5,500ha vs Barbera 50,000ha in Piedmont

Facts

  • ~360 hectares
  • DOC 1974 (one year after Grignolino d'Asti)
  • 1249 first text reference to Grignolino
  • post-WWII Grignolino priced same as Barolo Nebbiolo
  • only ~1,000ha total Grignolino between two DOCs
  • Monferace association formed 2015 to elevate reputation
  • "Pietra da Cantoni" marl substrate unique to Casalese
  • 18th-19th century writings show Grignolino more sought after than Nebbiolo

Region profile from the Wine Memories wine-data corpus · verified January 2026