The Man Who Changed the Destiny of Chardonnay in Piedmont

Today we are telling you a story of the kind that doesn’t stay in books, but is found directly in the glass.

Have you ever heard of Filippo Antonio Asinari? Marquis of San Marzano, a legendary figure who spans the history of Piedmont to the present day, and who we rediscover every time we uncork a Chardonnay grown on these hills.

When we talk about this grape variety in our tastings, we don’t just do it to describe its aromas or structure, but because at its origin lies a specific choice, almost revolutionary for the time: that of bringing a French grape to Piedmont and imagining it could become something new.

And it is precisely here that the history intertwines with the territory, with our estate, and with the experience we offer today.

Filippo Antonio Asinari di San Marzano was born in 1767 into one of the most influential noble families of the Asti area. His life, however, was not that of a simple landowner: he was a soldier, a diplomat, and a statesman.

He worked in the service of the House of Savoy, but also under Napoleon, living through a complex historical period, characterized by profound political and cultural changes. This led him to travel extensively, especially in France, which at that time was a point of reference for the agricultural and winemaking world as well.

And it was precisely during one of these stays that something happened destined to leave a mark.

According to tradition and historical sources, it is precisely in Asinari’s vineyards that Chardonnay began to take root in our territory. A fundamental step, because from then on this grape variety would find more and more space, until it became a consolidated presence in Piedmont.

In our reality, this story is not just a distant reference: it is part of the identity of our relais. In fact, it is said that precisely here some of the first Chardonnay vine cuttings brought by the Marquis were planted.

This is why we chose to pay homage to this figure through our Chardonnay: not as a stylistic exercise, but as continuity.

Reducing Asinari to “the one who brought Chardonnay” would be limiting. His contribution is much broader.

He was one of the first to introduce more advanced cultivation and winemaking techniques for the time, influenced precisely by his French experiences. An approach that today we would define as experimental, but which then represented true innovation.

The idea of observing other territories, studying them, and then adapting the practices to one’s own context is something that still forms the basis of the work in the vineyard and the cellar today.

In this sense, Asinari is not just a historical figure: he is a precursor of a modern way of making wine.

Today Chardonnay is an international grape variety, present all over the world. But every territory interprets it differently.

In Piedmont, it finds its own precise identity: less opulent than some French versions, but fresher, more balanced, often playing on finesse.

In our case, the winemaking follows a path designed to enhance both the grape variety and the territory:

 
• initial fermentation in steel, to maintain freshness and varietal aromas

 

• transfer to barriques halfway through fermentation

 

• aging for about 10 months, with a combination of new and used wood

 

• weekly bâtonnage, to increase structure and complexity

This work translates into a wine that unites multiple levels: the fruity part of the Chardonnay, the softer and creamier notes given by the wood, and a minerality that tells the story of the territory.

Today, among the hills surrounding the Monvì relais, this legacy continues to live on. Not in a nostalgic way, but in a concrete one.

Every bottle is a point of contact between past and present: between those who brought a new idea here and those who continue to work on it, harvest after harvest.

And this is exactly what we try to convey: an experience that doesn’t stop at tasting, but that brings together territory, history, and wine in a natural way.