On 22 June 2024, the tenth anniversary of the designation of the “Landscapes of the vineyards of Piedmont: Langhe Roero and Monferrato” was celebrated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 50th UNESCO site in Italy.
This event marks an important stage for the regions of Monferrato and Langhe. Ten years ago, the world recognized the value of these lands, a landscape of rare beauty where nature has been masterfully shaped by man, characterized by green hills covered with centuries-old vineyards and dotted with ancient, charming villages, medieval castles, and Romanesque churches.
The viticultural landscapes of Langhe Monferrato and Roero
The UNESCO site extends on the southern Piedmont along a territory of rolling hills covered with vineyards that extend within the boundaries of three provinces: Alexandria, Asti and Cuneo, which includes twenty-nine municipalities.
It is a single site composed of six different components, each with its own distinct identity but all united by the significant role they have played – and continue to – in Piedmontese viticulture. These components are:
- The Langhe of Barolo
- The Castle of Grinzane Cavour
- The hills of Barbaresco
- Nizza Monferrato and Barbera
- Canelli and Asti Sparkling wine
- The Monferrato of the Infernot
These six components are equally distributed between Monferrato and Langhe, forming a rich system of farms, wineries and vineyards that have proven to be a fundamental part of the history and development of an internationally recognized wine excellence.
Our presence in two out of these six components is a source of great pride for us: Bava is located in the heart of the Langa del Barolo with the farm Scarrone in Castiglione Falletto and in the central area of Nizza Monferrato and Barbera with the farm Pianoalto in Agliano Terme.
The UNESCO Langa del Barolo
The UNESCO area of “Langa del Barolo” is characterized by a landscape dominated by vineyards that stretch uninterrupted across the hillsides, creating a fascinating, almost uniform green blanket, interrupted here and there by small villages and majestic castles.
The component is circumscribed in the territory of seven of those eleven Municipalities of the Western Langhe where, from the cultivation of Nebbiolo grapes, Barolo wine can be obtained: Barolo (from which the wine is named), Diano d’Alba, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Novello, Serralunga d’Alba and Castiglione Falletto, where our Cascina Scarrone stands.
The farmhouse’s winery hosts the oak barrels we use for the fermentation and ageing of the Nebbiolo grapes, which we cultivate and harvest exclusively from the five hectares of land surrounding it, producing our Barolo DOCG Scarrone Bava and Langhe DOC Nebbiolo.
Barolo DOCG Scarrone Bava da Castiglione Falletto
Our Barolo DOCG Scarrone is a wine of remarkable complexity and elegance, with an intense garnet color and notes of tobacco, rose and violet that are further refined over time. The palate offers a full-bodied taste with firm but sweet tannins, a unique characteristic of the Scarrone cru.
The UNESCO hills of Nizza Monferrato
Seven are also the municipalities of Asti Alto Monferrato – or rather some of their portions – that together form the component “Nizza Monferrato and Barbera”: Nizza Monferrato, Montegrosso, Mombercelli, Castelnuovo Calcea, Vinchio, Vaglio Serra, Agliano Terme, where our farm Pianoalto is located.
The object of recognition and undisputed protagonist of this territory is the Barbera vine, whose cultivation in Piedmont for over five centuries has helped shape the hilly landscape and from which Barbera d’Asti DOCG is produced.
Nizza DOCG Pianoalto Bava from Agliano Terme
Our Nizza DOCG Pianoalto is an almost purple, brilliant ruby red wine. It is a velvety and balanced wine with an intense and complex bouquet rich in fruity nuances and spicy pepper and tobacco notes.
Only 10 years have passed since that day in Doha in the Qatar desert when the “Vineyard Landscapes of Piedmont: Langhe Roero and Monferrato” were crowned a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many more are the years that the Bava family has dedicated and continues to dedicate to the care of this beautiful territory and its vineyards.
Over 110 harvests you can virtually relive with us by visiting our historic cellar in Cocconato, where you can also discover the uniqueness of the wines born in the “World Heritage” vineyards.