Brachetto d'Acqui: red and pink aromas between cities and hills

The disciplinary defines the area in municipalities of provinces Alessandria and Asti. In the Alexandrian include Acqui, Terzo, Bistagno, Alice Bel Colle, Strevi, Ricaldone, Cassine and Visone. In Astigiano it extends through many centers, including Bubbio, Loazzolo and Mombaruzzo, including Nizza Monferrato the territory located on the right of the Belbo stream.

The name Acqui gives unity to the denomination, but the vineyards belong to a more extensive hill system of the city. The page ofAcquese helps connect urban center and countryside. The location of the villages on the heights makes the route readable: from the village you can observe the succession of the slopes and choose the next stage.

Brachetto d’Acqui obtained DOC in 1969 and DOCG in 1996. The two dates accompany the recognition of an aromatic production that stands out in the rich family of Piedmontese aromatic wines. The relationship with the place remains expressed by the name, while the variety defines the character of the raw material.

In Ricaldone, the stop in the village and the meeting in the cellar allow to tie this story to the present. The town hall and theatre recall that the journey through communities lives, in addition to vineyards. The countryside and the villages contribute together to the knowledge of the territory from which the grapes come.

The ampelographic base requires at least 97% of Brachetto; the remaining 3% can come from vines allowed in Piemonte. The basic version includes red and rose, from buckets to sweet; the sparkling wine goes from extra brut to dessert. Passage retains its own sweet identity. Colour, effervescence and concentration therefore open separate paths within the same aromatic heritage.

For sweet versions, fruit, pastries and chocolate preparations offer opportunities to explore the sweet side of wine. Comparing two types of the same company makes it clearer the role of processing. L’AquilaAsti Rosé, entered the DOCG Asti in 2026, instead proposes the encounter between Brachetto and Moscato: a new relationship, to be distinguished from the identity of the Brachetto d’Acqui.

Dedicate the first part of the day at Acqui Terme, then reach Alice Bel Colle and Ricaldone. Alternating historic center and hilly village allows you to observe the change of scale between city and countryside. A visit to a producer finally connects the panorama to the origin of the grapes and to the types present in the cellar.

Strevi offers the continuation of another aromatic history: it Strevi DOC is a passito da Moscato bianco con una zona municipal proprio. To widen the round, Bistagno and Mombaruzzo keep the journey between the countries of the denomination. The comparison between grapes and wines thus a concrete itinerary along the hills and valleys.

Another stage is Cassine, included in the area’s alessandrino sector. The passage from the country to the countryside extends the reading of the name in addition to the reference to the spa town. You can devote to this sector a distinct tour, choosing a visit in the cellar and a village to explore on foot. The Brachetto accompanies the day with a precise question: what hills are behind the bottle and how the producer interprets its aromatic grape.