The moon and the ciabot

On September 14, an end-of-summer dinner awaits you among the rows of Barbera and Nebbiolo, a special moment surrounded by nature.

The location is Maurizio Ponchione’s Bricco Albazzi vineyard, a historic family-run winery in Govone, a wine-growing village on the border between the Langhe and Roero a few kilometers from Alba, which is home to the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Savoy Castle.

It is a dinner served at a table right between the rows of vines, in total immersion in nature, atop a hillside planted with barbera and nebbiolo vines and with a stunning view of the Langhe.

Wines

The wines served at the dinner are made from Maurizio Ponchione’s own grapes from his own winery, a small family-owned business that from what I understand he has already gotten to know.

Maurizio is a winemaker and has a tradition and winemaking experience spanning 4 generations.

Ponchione wines have been reviewed and awarded several times, including by international trade magazines such as Wine Spectator, with accolades particularly for the Roero from different vintages.

Ponchione is one of the wineries in Roero to make wine using the Cru method exclusively with its own grapes, and carries out severe thinning to achieve the best quality.

For several years it has also been producing a classic method sparkling wine both white and rosé, again from its own grapes.

From this year you can also taste the latest addition, Albarossa wine, from ancient native grape variety.

Program

Reception

The ‘reception begins at 6:30 p.m. at the winery for registration, after which we move to the vineyard with a short walk through the rows to reach the top of the Bricco Albazzi hill and the historic Ciabot located among the barbera rows.

Wear comfortable shoes and don’t forget a sweatshirt or shawl for the cool evening air.

Aperitif and dinner

From 7 p.m. at the ciabot we will serve aperitif to welcome guests, followed by from 7:45 p.m. we will serve dinner, which will be held outdoors, with seating along the row, with single table between the rows.

The dinner will feature a typical 4-course Piedmontese menu, paired with wines from the winery.

Traditional Piedmontese cuisine

For years, we have been cooperating with an experienced and skillful team of local cooks and chefs.

Menus are created with local raw materials and cooked fresh in the vineyard.

Ensuring this quality requires considerable organizational effort, as there is no electricity or water in the vineyard.

The skill of the team and the boys and girls ensures organization and service among the rows.

Live music

Dinner will be accompanied by live music from the accordion, guitar and clarinet trio, who will entertain and engage us throughout the evening with their songs and verve. There is singing and dancing!

Observation of stars and planets

Once again this year we will have the collaboration with an expert in Astrophysics who will allow us to carry outastronomical observation of stars and planets, thanks to the unique and privileged location of Albazzi Hill, where we have total absence of light pollution and an ideal natural setting.

Thanks to telescopes provided by the Institute and with the guidance of astronomers throughout the evening, Venus in particular will be seen in prime time, and then the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and double systems such as Albireo or the Mizar-Alcor pair.

Join us, it is a very special experience.

Info

As a reminder, it is not possible to reserve individual tables; the dinner celebrates sharing and conviviality, and tables are arranged along the row also because of a location-related need (separate tables would not fit).

Bathrooms are available in the cellar, if needed a shuttle will be there to take you there.

In case of bad weather we will have to provide for postponement of the date to the following weekend, and in case of cancellation of the dinner due to weather (should bad weather haunt us!), your deposit voucher remains valid for 6 months and can be used for any of our services, including a stay at our country house Casa Angiolina.