Cascina Castlet is Mariuccia Borio's estate, and for years she was one of the few women running a Barbera cellar in these hills. The signature is Passum, a Barbera d'Asti made from partly dried grapes — richer, rounder, the wine that carried the name well beyond Piemonte. She also brought back Uvalino, a nearly-lost local grape, and bottles it as Uceline; around them sit Policalpo, the Litina and Vespa Barberas, the Omega, a Moscato d'Asti and the Goj whites.
The cantina sits on Strada Cascinotto just outside Costigliole, recently rebuilt but still holding its old historic room — the part regulars single out. Guides like Alice run the tour in fluent English, and the view over the vineyards does the rest. Weekday mornings and afternoons, Saturdays by appointment; email visit@cascinacastlet.com to book a tasting.