In Castelnuovo Don Bosco, among the hills of Piedmont’s Asti Monferrato, Cascina Gilli has championed local grapes since 1983. Founded by Gianni Vergnano, the estate is now guided by his son Paolo together with Davide Gasperini and Federico Mussetto. Its eighteenth-century farmhouse anchors a project dedicated to the character of a less familiar corner of Piedmont. Freisa, Malvasia di Schierano, Bonarda, Barbera and Nebbiolo grow on clay-rich hills underlain by the celebrated Sant’Agata marls.
Freisa is the estate’s defining interest: an expressive native red variety explored through research and different interpretations, rather than treated as a footnote to Piedmont’s better-known wines. Aromatic Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco offers another distinctive introduction to the region. Cascina Gilli’s strength is this combination of local knowledge and curiosity, preserving native varieties while finding fresh ways to present them. Its independent-grower ethos and integrated-farming certification reinforce that connection to place. For adventurous wine drinkers, the estate offers an engaging discovery: Piedmont with its own voice, family continuity and an appealing sense of individuality.
