The hill above Acqui Terme has a reputation. Local folklore holds that witches once gathered on Monte Stregone, and that nothing could grow there, not even vines. Alessandro Gallo and Roberto Orsi planted vines there anyway, turning an old legend into a small but serious wine estate in one of Piedmont's most characterful corners.
Backstory
MonteStregone was created by two Piedmont winemakers, Alessandro Gallo and Roberto Orsi, on the witch-named hill above Acqui Terme in the province of Alessandria. The project grew from a shared belief that this exposed, south-facing amphitheater was capable of producing wines of distinction, and that the indigenous varieties of the Monferrato and Acquese were worth treating seriously. The name, literal Italian for "witch's mountain," leans into the site's mythology while the winemaking itself stays grounded.
The Region
Acqui Terme straddles the border between the Asti and Alessandria provinces in southern Piedmont, bordered by Liguria to the south and shaped by the Ligurian Apennines. It is known for its sulphurous thermal springs, its Brachetto d'Acqui sparkling red, and the broad agricultural landscape of the Monferrato hills. The proximity to Liguria means the vineyards benefit from sea breezes that temper the continental heat of inland Piedmont, contributing to the freshness in the wines.
Vineyards and Farming
The three-hectare vineyard sits at 250 meters above sea level on an exposed south-easterly site in a natural amphitheater on Monte Stregone. The estate holds 4,000 Dolcetto vines trained on the classical Guyot system and 6,000 Barbera vines. The Dolcetto produces an austere, deeply colored wine with pronounced tannic structure; the Barbera yields a warm, purple-red wine with fresh acidity and red berry perfume characteristic of the variety.
Winemaking
Gallo and Orsi follow classical Piedmontese winemaking: the grapes are processed to extract the best from the fruit, and the wines are aged in French oak barrels. The approach is traditional rather than interventionist, respecting the varietal character of Barbera and Dolcetto while bringing structure and polish through careful barrel aging.
The Wines
MonteStregone produces three wines: Strja, a Barbera d'Asti DOCG with a complex bouquet of red berries, mild acidity, and aging potential; Montestregone, a Dolcetto d'Acqui with intense color and an extraordinary aromatic pleasantness; and Caple, a fresher, more immediately approachable Dolcetto with violet-note complexity and a well-balanced structure. Each bottle carries the coordinates of the hill that inspired them.
