Vinchio: Winegrowing, Literature and Val Sarmassa

Vinchio combines winegrowing, literature, remembrance culture and a fossil landscape into a multifaceted experience in Piedmont. These themes can be explored in the town’s museums, winegrowing exhibitions, literary walking trails and the Val Sarmassa nature reserve. This range is complemented by Cantina Vinchio Vaglio, where regional wines can be tasted and purchased.

Places of remembrance and winegrowing culture

The Casa della Memoria della Resistenza e della Deportazione is located in Vinchio’s former town hall. Its museum route explores the rural world, the Resistance, and political and civilian deportation. Installations, technical structures and graphic panels convey the events presented through multimedia.

The Davide Lajolo Museum adds a literary dimension. The tour follows the writer’s biography, displays objects from his life and includes a video section.

The open-air museum “Vinchio e le colline della Barbera” illustrates the cycle of work in the vineyards. The tour is organised according to the seasons of agricultural work; display cases and installations explain traditional winegrowing and winemaking. In Vinchio, winegrowing connects the open-air museum’s seasonally organised work cycle with the regional wine selection at Cantina Vinchio Vaglio.

Literary trails through the landscape

Literature and landscape also meet on the “I bricchi del Barbera” circular trail. It connects Vinchio with the Noche district and leads over the Bricco di San Michele.

The “I boschi dei Saraceni” circular trail descends through the green Valle del Giardino to the Tiglione and returns to Vinchio along the ridge of the Bricco dei Saraceni. “Il mare verde” leads to the Cascine in the direction of Cortiglione, reaches the forests of Val Sarmassa and includes the area of the “Bosco incantato”, associated with memories, poems and inspirations.

Val Sarmassa and the former castle grounds

The Val Sarmassa nature reserve features sandy and clayey outcrops containing fossils, including shells and remains of marine mammals. The Parco Paleontologico Astigiano offers guided visits there by park rangers or authorised nature guides, upon prior reservation. Prior reservation should be arranged for a guided visit to the nature reserve.

The Big Bench is easily accessible from the car park of the Val Sarmassa nature reserve. The grounds of Vinchio’s former castle, destroyed in the 19th century, are also closely connected with the town’s history. In 2017, they were selected as a viewpoint in one of the six core zones of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Vineyard Landscapes of Piedmont”.

Discover regional wines

At Cantina Vinchio Vaglio, you can visit the wine cellar and taste and purchase regional wines. The tastings can be accompanied by regional products sourced at kilometre zero.

Further places for planning your trip

For further orientation, you can also discover Passerano, Albugnano, Costigliole Dʼasti, Cossombrato, Cellarengo, Casalotto, Loazzolo and Refrancore.

To view the overview of the wider area: Asti.