Ruchè: a vine, seven countries, an astigian identity

The modern history of Ruchè is linked to the valorisation started in Castagnole Monferrato by Don Giacomo Cauda in the 1960s. The recognition of DOC in 1987 and DOCG in 2010 marked the path that gave this production a growing visibility and a recognized territorial name.

It is a story to read at the scale of the country and agricultural work. A visit to the centre of Castagnole and a meeting with those who cultivate Ruchè place places and people next door. To broaden the story, follow also Portacomaro and Montemagno, other stages of the same lands.

The Ruchè is a black berry vine, with small grapes and a recognizable aromatic component. Maturing is relatively early. Among the traits described by the Consortium are a contained acidity and the ability to give wines with a good consistency.

These elements suggest to start tasting from the perfume, then follow the relationship between intensity and body. During the visit to the vineyard, the story of harvesting and processing helps to connect the character of grapes to the style chosen by the company. The vine thus becomes a concrete presence, beyond the name on the label.

The area of the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG includes Castagnole, Grana, Montemagno, Portacomaro, Refrancore, Scurzolengo and Viarigi. The area of the denomination offers a clear track to organize the journey: two or three stops can already bring out the relationship between countries and vineyards.

Continue in the pages of Grana Monferrato, Refrancore and Viarigi, or back to the story of Monferrato Astigiano. To meet another grape with strong local bond, move towards Calosso and the Gamba di Pernice: the journey changes hill and continues to follow precise identity.

Castagnole Monferrato occupies a ridge between the Astilian and the Casalese sector. This position helps to move in the lands of Ruchè: the roads follow climbs and descents, while the countries return visible from different perspectives. The proximity of the seven municipalities is understood by crossing the hills, with time to observe the link between inhabited areas and cultivated lands. A stop in the center, before visiting the company, gives the name a reference that remains in the memory of the trip.

A Montemagno, the shape of the village adds a history of settlement. The ancient nucleus features a triangular design and twelve alleys marked by Roman numerals. The castle is a point from which to read this organization; the viewpoint then allows to find the hills around the village. The square of the parish church of Santi Martino e Stefano and its staircase offer another architectural stop. Entering the alleys and going out to the landscape puts two dimensions of the same place: the community collected in the village and the countryside surrounding its profile.

In the Ruchè lands the Consortium describes calcareous and dry soils, with sunny exposures. The detail of the individual vineyard completes this general indication: orientation, gradient and availability of water become themes to be studied with those who cultivate. Continue towards Portacomaro, Scurzolengo or Viarigi, choosing a sequence of stops that leave room for the campaign. The Ruchess of Castagnole Monferrato gathers these lands in the name of wine; the visit allows to know, within that common geography, the country, the vineyard and interpretation of each producer.