Nebbiolo from Monferrato is one of the most elegant expressions of this great Piedmontese grape — and in Cocconato it finds some of its most compelling ground.
Among the hills of the Monferrato Astigiano, Nebbiolo takes on a character quite distinct from other parts of Piedmont: more fragrant on the nose, yet still underpinned by fine tannins and a lively gustative tension.
Serre di San Pietro Monferrato DOC Nebbiolo Superiore is Bava’s expression of this grape, made from vineyards in Tuffo, a hamlet of Cocconato.
A wine that speaks honestly of the bond between grape and place — interpreting Monferrato Nebbiolo with balance, elegance and a clear sense of identity.
Where Serre di San Pietro Monferrato DOC Nebbiolo Superiore is born
Serre di San Pietro comes from one of Piedmont’s most interesting areas for Nebbiolo: Cocconato, in the heart of the Monferrato Astigiano.
Here the variety thrives in particularly favourable conditions — altitude, exposure, good ventilation, and calcareous-marly soils that bring out its aromatic finesse, freshness and structure.
Together, these factors make Cocconato an excellent zone for Monferrato Nebbiolo. The wide diurnal temperature swings preserve the aromas and keep the wine’s gustative tension alive, while the soils define a profile that is elegant, precise and built to age.
It is no accident that from these hills come expressions of Nebbiolo able to capture the character of the land with such precision.
The characteristics of Serre di San Pietro Monferrato DOC Nebbiolo Superiore
Serre di San Pietro carries the hallmarks of Monferrato DOC Nebbiolo Superiore: a bright ruby colour, a floral and spiced nose, and a tannin that is present but rounded — a tannin that promises longevity.
The bouquet is rich and layered: violet and wild rose open first, followed by a deeper, more intense fruit component, accompanied by a pleasingly restrained touch of oak from ageing.
On the palate, structure and breadth are well balanced by a lively freshness that extends the finish.
From the historic Tuffo vineyard, with its white calcareous and marly soils, the wine draws its fragrance, freshness and equilibrium between elegance and body.
Serre di San Pietro is, in this way, a genuine expression of Cocconato’s calling for Nebbiolo and of the long relationship between this land and the Bava family.
An important recognition
The 2022 vintage of Serre di San Pietro Monferrato DOC Nebbiolo Superiore received Tre Bicchieri in the Guida Vini d’Italia 2026 by Gambero Rosso — the highest accolade awarded by one of Italy’s most authoritative wine publications.
Bava’s Monferrato Nebbiolo DOC: a long history
The Bava family has been present in Cocconato since at least the early seventeenth century. Even then, their family estate — Ca’ Traversa — was surrounded by vines, and wine was made primarily for household use.
It was aged in barrels in the underground cellars and bottled in the best years or for special occasions.
As Piero Bava recalls, wine, land and family have been woven together here for centuries:
“At one time, almost everyone in Tuffo had a small plot of land; the higher parts of the hills were given over to the vine. Back in the eighteenth century the Bava family already had plots on the bricchi delle Serre — a panoramic ridge from which you can look out over the Alpine arc and towards Monviso, along the old Strada delle Serre.
At the start of the twentieth century the family moved down to the valley floor, beside the railway, where the winery was built — and where it still stands today.”
From the winery windows you can still make out the old vineyard beside the village church — already recorded in a land registry map of 1790 under the name Cadodo, as Bava family property.
It is from that small church in Tuffo, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, that the wine takes its name: Serre di San Pietro.
The Recognition of the DOC
The Monferrato DOC designation for this Nebbiolo seals a long history of presence on these slopes and formally recognises the calling of the Cocconato hills for this grape — with the Cadodo vineyard and the bricchi delle Serre offering the finest exposures.
The Vineyard
Variety: 100% Nebbiolo
Vineyard: Cadodo
Altitude: 375 m a.s.l.
Soil: White calcareous and marly Training
Monferrato DOC Nebbiolo Superiore… and beyond
Serre di San Pietro sits within a wider range of Bava wines that together map the different souls of the territory: from the Barberas — Stradivario Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Pianoalto Nizza DOCG and Libera Barbera d’Asti DOCG — to the Barolo DOCG and Langhe DOC Nebbiolo produced at the Scarrone cru estate in Castiglione Falletto, in the heart of the Langhe. A journey through wines and landscapes best discovered in the cantina, through one of our guided visits and tastings.
Frequently asked questions
What sets Monferrato Nebbiolo apart from other Piedmontese expressions?
Monferrato Nebbiolo tends to be more immediately fragrant on the nose than its counterparts elsewhere in Piedmont, while still holding onto the structure and tannin that define the variety.
In the Monferrato hills — and particularly in zones like Cocconato — the soils and climate bring out elegance, freshness and aromatic finesse.
Compared to the more austere or powerful versions from other parts of Piedmont, Monferrato Nebbiolo often strikes a notably harmonious balance between gustative tension, floral character and drinkability — without sacrificing its capacity to develop over time.