Monforte d’Alba: wine and cheese experience

In the charming village of Monforte d’Alba, nestled in the heart of the UNESCO-listed Langhe, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a truly unique experience.

Surrounded by gentle hills lies a historic winery where tradition and innovation coexist in perfect harmony. Your experience begins with a walk through the panoramic vineyards surrounding the estate—a timeless landscape where viticulture is a vocation passed down through generations. Here, you will learn about the cultivation techniques that lead to the creation of unique, high-quality wines.

Once inside the cellar, you will discover the history of the producer family. The atmosphere is evocative, preserving historical memorabilia, ancient tools and photographs that bear witness to the winery’s story and the evolution of wine production over the decades. You will observe each stage of the winemaking process up close: from manual harvesting to vinification, and finally aging in stainless steel and wooden barrels.

The visit culminates in a beautiful and welcoming historic tasting room, where an expert will guide you through the tasting of four Langhe wines produced by the estate, each carefully paired with a different type of Piedmontese cheese, specially selected to enhance the aromas and character of the wines. From delicate maturations to the intense flavours of alpine cheeses, each pairing tells a story of local gastronomic culture, perfectly balanced with refined wines.

An immersive sensory experience, ideal for those who wish to discover the true soul of the Langhe through the harmonious meeting of wine, landscape and cheesemaking tradition.

NOTE

• NOT suitable for under 18
• Please inform us of any allergies or food intolerances at the time of booking. We will ensure the winery is notified in advance.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Guided Winery Tour

The first part of the experience takes you through the vineyards surrounding the estate, where Nebbiolo sinks its roots into a truly unique territory. From vine to cellar, this tour reveals the secrets behind the production of these outstanding wines, from crushing to aging and bottling. Once inside, you will visit the Historic Museum, dedicated to the history of the estate and the evolution of Barolo over time, featuring documents, artefacts and historic bottles. After the museum visit, you will move on to the vinification and aging rooms, where the production methods and the importance of wooden barrels—both large oak casks and barriques—in the maturation of the wines will be explained in detail. The experience reaches its highlight with a guided tasting of the winery’s most representative wines, paired with local cheeses. Get ready to enjoy an authentic sensory journey through the history and flavours of the Langhe.

Wine Tasting with Cheese Pairings

The wine tasting is accompanied by a refined sensory journey that brings together the complexity of Langhe wines and the richness of artisan Piedmontese cheeses. Together with an expert, you will discover how aromas, flavours and textures evolve when wine and cheese interact, creating harmonious—and sometimes surprising—pairings.

The cheese selection is designed to take you on a journey through the many nuances of Piedmont’s cheesemaking tradition.

You will taste:

• A Langhe sheep’s milk cheese, perfectly paired with Barbera d’Alba
• A mixed-milk cheese, creating an intriguing match with Nebbiolo
• An aged goat’s milk cheese, which beautifully enhances Barolo
• An aged sheep’s milk cheese, perfectly paired with Barolo

The expert will guide you through the origin of each cheese, the cheesemaking techniques, aging processes and the sensory characteristics that make each one unique. Every pairing is carefully designed to highlight both the typicity of the cheese and the personality of the wine.

Barolo 

The undisputed king of the Langhe, complex and deep. Deep garnet red in colour, with an intense bouquet featuring notes of dried rose, spices and preserved cherry. On the palate, it is powerful and dry, supported by firm yet elegant tannins and a vibrant acidity that ensures exceptional ageing potential. Its harmony and elegance continue to evolve over time. Paired with aged goat’s or sheep’s milk cheese, it highlights the wine’s structure and refined persistence.

Nebbiolo

This wine represents a more immediate, fruity and approachable expression of Nebbiolo compared to more structured and complex styles. Fresh, elegant and aromatic, with notes of violet and small red fruits. Perfectly paired with a mixed-milk cheese, which enhances its acidity and aromatic purity.

Barolo Chinato

Barolo Chinato is an exceptional aromatized wine crafted from a base of pure Barolo DOCG from Monforte d’Alba. Its recipe involves the cold infusion of several precious spices. Visually, it displays a garnet color with amber highlights, while the nose releases intense notes of sweet spices, cocoa, and tobacco. On the palate, it is masterful: the smooth, sugary entry is immediately balanced by the characteristic bitter note of cinchona bark and the tannic structure of Nebbiolo, offering a long and clean finish. It is the ideal companion for dark chocolate or as a refined “meditation” digestive. When paired with cheese, however, this wine becomes an intriguing yet winning challenge if combined to enhance contrasts. When well-balanced, it pairs perfectly with blue or aged cheeses.