Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg reportedly has bought an Italian castle in the region of Piedmont. If he indeed purchased Lavezzole Castle on the Alfieri hillside between Asti and Alba, then I think he’s neighboring one of my favorite wineries in Italy, Marchesi Alfieri.
Sisters Emanuela, Antonella and Giovanna San Martino di San Germano are the proud proprietors of Marchesi Alfieri, a wine estate, complete with a Baroque castle, steeped in Italian history. Among the more famous Alfieri lords were the architect Benedetto, the poet Vittorio and the President of the Italian Senate, Cesare Alfieri. The last male of the Alfieri line to possess the castle, Carlo, was also known for his part in drafting the Albertine Statutes of 1848 that resulted in a liberal transformation of the Italian monarchy.
More than half of the Alfieri vineyards are planted with Barbera grapes in order to produce the estate’s crown jewel, Barbera d’Asti, yielding 100,000 bottles a year. Grignolino (used to make rose wines), pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon grapes grow on the rest of the land. In all, the estate produces five labels. La Tota is a soft, well-structured Barbera d’Asti. Barbera d’Asti Superiore is only produced in great vintage years and aged for 10 years. Il Rosso dei Marchesi is a blend of barbera and pinot noir grapes.
The owners rent two houses on the property. The Locanda, a restored historic building on the cobblestone courtyard, houses two guest suites. The farmhouse Margherita, located in the estate’s parkland, has four bedrooms, some with fireplaces and terraces, and offers panoramic views of the hills of Piedmont. The estate’s owners are the proud owners of precocious Wire Hair Fox Terriers (as is the author of this blog).
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