Calamandrana

Michele Chiarlo is one of Piedmont's benchmark wineries, family-run since 1956, with its cellars on the Nizza–Canelli road in Calamandrana. Guided visits pair a walk through the cantina with seated tastings of the estate's native-grape wines — Barolo and Barbaresco crus, the "La Court" Nizza DOCG, Gavi and the gently sweet Moscato d'Asti "Nivole" — with food-pairing formats also available. Visits are bookable online in Italian and English.

A small country church in the San Giovanni valley, part Romanesque and part Baroque: the original Romanesque apse survives on the right, with a matching apse added symmetrically. The old apse keeps 18th-century frescoes, and the church can be lit and explained via the Chiese a Porte Aperte app.

Ca' d'Gal is a Moscato-focused Piedmont producer whose Tenuta La Cova sits in Calamandrana, between Nizza Monferrato and Canelli, on 25 hectares of vineyard, hazelnut orchard and woodland in the heart of the Alto Monferrato. The house is best known for bottle-aged Moscato d'Asti and Canelli DOCG (labels such as Lumine, Vite Vecchia and Sant'Ilario), alongside Asti Spumante and Barbera d'Asti. Run as a "Wine Country House", La Cova offers immersive tastings and overnight hospitality; visits can be requested online in Italian and English.

The 17th-century castle crowning Calamandrana Alta, built in 1682 by Francesco Maria Cordara. Damaged by the 1887 Ligurian earthquake and later restored, it anchors the hilltop old town above the Belbo valley.

Cantine Adelaide is a family-run winery set in a historic 1866 farmhouse in the UNESCO hills of Calamandrana. The estate makes classic Piedmontese wines — Barbera d'Asti and Dolcetto alongside Nebbiolo-based reds and Moscato — and welcomes visitors for guided tours of its historic underground cellars followed by tastings paired with local food. Visits are booked in advance and hosted in Italian and English, with bottles available to buy on site.

The Baroque parish church of Calamandrana Alta, standing beside the castle at the top of the old town.

La Giribaldina is a family estate in the San Vito hamlet of Calamandrana, ringed by its own vineyards and woods, with Barbera at the heart of the range — a flagship Nizza DOCG, several Barbera d'Asti selections including the organic "Caval Russ", plus Moscato, a Sauvignon and a rosato. The estate welcomes visitors for cellar tours and seated tastings of five to six wines served with local bakery snacks, and also runs a farmhouse B&B, the Foresteria, for overnight stays. Tastings can be booked through the winery in Italian and English.

The Zafiri family farm sits in the Valle San Giovanni above Calamandrana, worked as a small mixed estate in the Alto Monferrato hills since 1949. Wine is the core — a Barbera d'Asti DOCG alongside proprietary labels including the reds "Dla lùca" and "La Fisa", the white "Garbato" and the sparkling "Vivacitas" and "Ribotà". The cellar is open for visits and paid tastings booked through the estate's experiences page, with Valter guiding in Italian and Marina in English.

La Court is Michele Chiarlo's open-air art park, set among the vines of the winery's La Court cru a short drive from its Calamandrana cellars (at Castelnuovo Calcea). Sculptures and installations are laid out across the hills — including a fairytale itinerary by Emanuele Luzzati dedicated to the four elements (earth, water, air, fire), plus works by Ugo Nespolo, Giancarlo Ferraris and Chris Bangle. A free "La Court Audioguide" app lets you wander the vineyard trail independently; guided visits and tastings can be arranged through the winery.

La Canellese is a historic vermouth and liqueur house in Calamandrana, in the hills between Langhe and Monferrato. The Sconfienza family began as a barrel-making workshop in 1890 and turned to vermouth in 1947, still crushing its botanicals in an old hammer mill and macerating them slowly in local Cortese wine. Visitors who stop by can taste the range directly with the producers — Vermut di Torino (rosso, bianco, extra dry and superiore), Vermut Chinato and Barolo Chinato alongside bitters and aromatic-wine liqueurs. It is a drinks house rather than a still-wine estate; call or write ahead to arrange a visit.

A long-standing, family-run Piemontese restaurant serving traditional dishes done well — the finanziera and gnocchi with sausage draw particular praise, rounded off by a cheese dessert. Friendly staff make an effort in English and steer diners to local wines like Barbera, with a covered terrace for warmer days.

The all-day bistro at the Almaranto hotel, with a sky terrace looking over the pool and vineyards and a kitchen turning out easy lunches, cocktails and fuller dinners. Visitors single out the deep wine list and knowledgeable staff, and the setting suits a relaxed group brunch or aperitivo at sunset.

The taproom of a craft brewery in Calamandrana's artisanal zone, pouring its own beers from a handful of taps — the IGAs draw the most praise. Friendly, knowledgeable staff guide tastings, and a covered terrace with a big screen serves sandwiches and pulled pork alongside the pints.

The restaurant of a vineyard estate hotel, where a multi-course tasting menu is paired with the property's own wines and served on a terrace overlooking the vines. Diners praise the creative, polished cooking — house-made breads and standout desserts among the highlights — and the warm, personal service.

A casual, welcoming spot serving Macedonian and Italian dishes alongside pizza, known for generous portions and fair prices. The owners and staff are warmly attentive, and the spacious room makes it a popular choice for birthdays and group gatherings, so booking ahead is wise.

A well-regarded pizzeria with a wide choice of doughs — thin, pan and Neapolitan — and plenty of fresh toppings, turned out quickly in a cosy room. Homemade desserts round off the meal, prices stay modest, and the staff are happy to help in English.

A fine-dining kitchen set among the vineyards on a hilltop at the Almaranto estate, where a multi-course tasting menu arrives with regional wine pairings and precise, artful plating. The chef and team welcome guests warmly, often explaining each dish, and live piano lends the elegant room its mood.

Straightforward property featuring relaxed rooms, as well as a cafe/bar with a terrace.