Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese DOC comes from the rolling hills of the Monferrato Casalese, in the province of Alessandria around Casale Monferrato. Its vineyards occupy gentle slopes, ridges and small valleys in a landscape shaped by ancient marine sediments. Calcareous marls, clay-rich soils, sandy layers and, in some sites, tuffaceous formations contribute tension, fragrance and a distinctive finely bitter structure. The continental climate is moderated by elevation and hillside exposure: warm, sunny days encourage aromatic ripeness, while cooler nights and air circulation can preserve freshness and acidity.
Grignolino is the defining grape. It is an ancient Piedmontese variety, often associated in name with the many seeds found in its small berries. Although its skins are thin, it is capable of giving wines with notably firm, fine-grained tannins. The regulations allow a limited complement of Freisa, which can add colour and structural depth. Grignolino demands attentive vineyard work: early growth can be vulnerable to spring frost, and the variety needs even ripening if its lively acidity and characteristic tannic profile are to remain balanced. Careful canopy management, good bunch exposure and selective picking are therefore central to quality.
Winemaking generally seeks varietal clarity rather than powerful extraction. Following destemming, fermentation on the skins is managed at controlled temperatures; maceration length and cap management are calibrated to retain perfume, pale ruby colour and the grape’s distinctive tannic tension. Maturation is commonly carried out in inert vessels or with discreet use of wood, allowing floral notes, red berry aromas, spice and the variety’s characteristic almond-like nuance to remain evident. Protected as a DOC since the 1970s, the denomination preserves a local Grignolino tradition in which the grape expresses a particularly individual interpretation of the Casalese hills.
