Monferrato · Winery · Curated profile

Cascina Ciuché

Cascina Ciuché

Cascina Ciuché is a family winery in Valcioccaro, a small valley hamlet of Costigliole d'Asti in the Monferrato astigiano, surrounded by vineyards, woods and hazelnut groves. The Dogliotti family has grown grapes since the early 1900s, when Angelo "Gele" Dogliotti farmed Barbera and Moscato at Castiglione Tinella with his sons Luigi and Remo. In 1956 Remo moved with his wife to Costigliole and bought the small farmhouse that is still the winery's home. He first sold his grapes to the local cooperatives, then began making and selling his own wine, and was the first grower in the valley to plant Moscato.

Remo's son Angelo took over in 1996 and, with his wife Daniela, renamed the business Cascina Ciuché and grew it plot by plot, choosing each new parcel for its exposure and soil. Today Angelo's son Enrico runs the estate with his wife Giulia, alongside his father. Since 2017 they have refreshed the labels, the image and the hospitality spaces; the premium line is recognisable by its blue labels and sealing-wax capsules.

The vineyards now cover around 30 hectares across Costigliole d'Asti, Agliano Terme, Castelnuovo Calcea and Rocchetta Palafea, on calcareous clay and calcareous marl, for roughly 50,000 bottles a year. Barbera is the heart of the estate: the everyday Barbera d'Asti Giulia, the barrique-aged Superiore D.E.A. and the Nizza DOCG Ventimesi from 70-year-old vines in Agliano Terme. The range also takes in Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Bonarda, Grignolino, a Nebbiolo rosé, Moscato d'Asti from the Bricco Lu hill, Sauvignon, Chardonnay and an Alta Langa traditional-method sparkling wine. Grapes are picked by hand, treatments are kept to what is strictly needed, and fermentations run without accelerators.

The name comes from a local legend. "Cioca" is the Piedmontese word for bell and "cioccaro" the bell-ringer: the story tells of a poor bell-ringer of the valley who struck a bargain with the Devil, and the family still tells it on every cellar tour.

At a glance

Region
Monferrato, Piemonte, Italy
Address
Strada Fornace 22, 14055 Costigliole d'Asti (AT)
Winemaker
Enrico Dogliotti, with his father Angelo
Tours
Available
Tastings
Available
Wines listed
13
Website
https://www.cascinaciuche.it

Visits & tastings

Cascina Ciuché welcomes visitors for a cellar tour and guided tasting, hosted in person by Enrico Dogliotti or his wife Giulia. The visit takes in the production cellar and the barrique cellar, then moves to the new air-conditioned tasting room with a large panoramic window over the vineyards; in good weather tastings can be held outdoors on the patio. Tastings are offered in English and Italian.

Tastings

  • Tradizione · 3 wines of your choice, about 1 hour · €20 per person
  • Passione · 5 wines of your choice, about 1 hour 30 minutes · €25 per person
  • Eccellenza · the full range of 13 wines, about 2 hours 30 minutes · €50 per person; booking required at least 48 hours ahead
  • Every tasting comes with boards of local cured meats and cheeses plus finger food

Good to know

  • Open every day 9:00 to 19:00, by appointment; closed at Christmas, Easter and 1 January
  • Groups of up to 50 people
  • Wheelchair accessible, pets welcome, free parking, Wi-Fi, garden and panoramic terrace, EV charging
  • Wines on sale at the cellar door, from about €7.50 (Grignolino, Dolcetto, Bonarda, Sauvignon, Chardonnay) to €20 (Nizza Ventimesi) and €25 (Alta Langa Nuova Luce); magnums of Barbera d'Asti Giulia and Nizza Riserva Settantamesi also available
  • Cards, Satispay, bank transfer and cash accepted
  • Nearby: the Bricco Lu hilltop with its giant bench and 360° view, Costigliole castle (home of the Rosso Barbera tasting each November)

Booking Book by phone, email or the contact form on the winery website.

Contact

Wines from Cascina Ciuché

  • Balau: Piemonte DOC Bonarda, Bonarda, Red. A lightly sparkling Piemonte Bonarda, the fresh, fruity red of the Asti hills, made in stainless steel to keep it vibrant.
  • Bricco Lu: Moscato d'Asti DOCG, Moscato Bianco, Sweet. A Moscato d'Asti from the Bricco Lu hill, the highest point of the estate, where a giant bench now looks out over a 360° view. Remo Dogliotti was the first grower in the valley to plant Moscato.
  • D.E.A.: Barbera d'Asti DOCG Superiore, Barbera, Red. The structured Barbera of the estate, from old vines in Valcioccaro and aged slowly in barrique for depth and complexity. Part of the premium blue-label line.
  • Daniela: Piemonte DOC Dolcetto, Dolcetto, Red. A classic, unoaked Dolcetto from 30-35-year-old vines on white limestone soils. Named after Daniela, Angelo's wife.
  • Gele: Piemonte DOC Chardonnay, Chardonnay, White. A lightly sparkling Chardonnay named after Angelo "Gele" Dogliotti, the founder of the family's winegrowing story.
  • Giulia: Barbera d'Asti DOCG, Barbera, Red. The estate's most convivial Barbera, unoaked and made for everyday drinking with Piedmontese food. Named after Giulia, Enrico's wife. Also available in magnum.
  • Joy: Sauvignon Blanc, White. A still Sauvignon Blanc from young, north-west-facing vines in Valcioccaro, fresh and citrusy.
  • La Viziosa: Barbera del Monferrato DOC, Barbera, Red. A lightly fizzy, easy-drinking Barbera in the traditional Monferrato style, from 45-50-year-old vines on red clay soil.
  • Matè: Piemonte DOC Grignolino, Grignolino, Red. A light, delicate Grignolino, the traditional pale red of the Asti and Monferrato hills, from young vines in Valcioccaro.
  • Nuova Luce: Alta Langa DOCG, 60% Pinot Bianco, 40% Chardonnay, Sparkling. The newest wine in the range: a traditional-method Alta Langa Brut aged 30 months on the lees, the estate's top sparkling wine.
  • Pej: Monferrato DOC Nebbiolo, Nebbiolo, Red. A Monferrato Nebbiolo from young vines on the Valcioccaro slopes, briefly oak-aged for a soft, velvety style.
  • Pej Rosé: Vino Rosato, Nebbiolo, Rosé. A rosé made entirely from Nebbiolo, the sister wine to the Pej Nebbiolo red, fresh and fruity for warm-weather drinking.
  • Ventimesi: Nizza DOCG, Barbera, Red. The flagship Barbera of Cascina Ciuché, from 70-year-old vines in Agliano Terme. The name means "twenty months", after the time it spends in oak. Also made as a Riserva, Settantamesi, sold in magnum.