Vines were first planted at Castello di Uviglie in 1491, making it one of the oldest wine estates in all of Piedmont. The Bonzano family took the reins in 2020, charged with carrying a five-century story into a new era.
Backstory
The first vineyard at the castle dates to 1491, and the property counts among the oldest and most storied wine estates in Piedmont. In 2020 the Bonzano family acquired Castello di Uviglie, bringing fresh energy and investment to a historic property while keeping its native-grape focus intact.
The Region
The estate lies in Rosignano Monferrato, in the province of Alessandria, in the heart of the Monferrato hills. This is one of Italy's classic wine landscapes, a sea of rolling vineyards that UNESCO recognizes among the great vineyard sites of Piedmont, long associated with Barbera and Grignolino.
Vineyards & Farming
The property spans roughly 120 hectares in total, with about 25 planted to vines and an annual output near 100,000 bottles. Work centers on the native grapes of Monferrato: Barbera, Grignolino, and the rare crossing Albarossa, grown alongside international varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. The emphasis is on honoring the terroir and drawing out the character of these indigenous vines.
Winemaking
The cellar combines modern technology with traditional methods and holds a collection capacity of around 3,500 hectoliters. A distinctive feature is the estate's Metodo Classico sparkling tradition: the Le Cave wines refine in vast underground quarries, some 10,000 square meters of caves carved since the 8th century into a seabed many millions of years old.
The Wines
The portfolio is led by the Le Cave Barbera del Monferrato Superiore and a range of Grignolino, joined by the deeply colored Albarossa, the Hosteria Monferrato Rosso, and Metodo Classico sparkling wines from the Le Cave line.
