Cellars dug into the tuff
Canelli, a town on the Belbo river in the province of Asti, is the capital of Italian sparkling wine: it was here that in the mid nineteenth century Carlo Gancia, after studying in Champagne, produced the first Italian sparkling wine made with the classic method, from the Moscato grape, laying the foundations for Asti Spumante. Since then Canelli has been home to some of the most famous historic wineries in Italy.
Under the town, dug into the tuff of the hill over the centuries, runs a labyrinth of cellars and tunnels several kilometres long, known as the "Cattedrali Sotterranee", the underground cathedrals, for their high brick vaults, their naves and their majestic, solemn atmosphere. In these galleries the temperature and humidity remain constant all year round, ideal for the slow fermentation in the bottle and ageing of sparkling wines, and millions of bottles rest in the dark on wooden racks. Since 2014 the cathedrals have been part of the UNESCO site of the vineyard landscapes of Piedmont, in the component "Canelli and Asti Spumante". Four historic houses, Bosca, Contratto, Coppo and Gancia, open their underground cellars to visitors, with guided tours ending with a tasting. The town above is also worth a stroll, with the upper district of Villanuova and the view from the hill of San Tommaso.
Tip: each winery has its own schedule and requires booking; bring a light jacket, as it is cool in the cellars even in summer.
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