Castle Winery Tour and Tasting in the Volcanic Hills of Maggiora
From ancient volcanic soils to your glass — a journey through Piedmont's most distinctive wine heritage
This castle winery tour near Lake Maggiore invites you to step inside a living monument to Piedmontese winemaking, where volcanic origins, historic architecture, and family tradition converge in a single, unhurried visit. Guided by the winery's own staff, you will trace the full arc from vineyard to bottle across rooms that have witnessed decades of patient craft.
The winery sits among the pink porphyry hills of Maggiora, a landscape shaped by an ancient volcanic caldera whose mineral character passes directly into every wine produced here. The castle itself was built in the early 1960s as the concrete expression of one man's vision — Ermanno Conti — and has evolved into a working estate that balances deep respect for tradition with a clear appetite for experimentation.
A walk through the Time Corridor, the estate's modest on-site museum, reveals historic bottles and antique tools that document how winemaking in this corner of Novara has changed and endured in equal measure. The barrel cellar that follows offers a cooler, quieter counterpoint, where time slows to the pace of ageing wine.
The tasting that concludes the visit presents four wines rooted in Nebbiolo and rare local varieties, accompanied by artisanal toma cheese and raw salami. Each pairing is chosen to illuminate the mineral depth and aromatic range that volcanic terroir produces — a sensory argument for why this small appellation deserves wider attention.
Tour Highlights
Explore a castle-winery built in the 1960s, combining active wine production with historic architecture and an on-site museum.
Walk the Time Corridor, a curated collection of historic bottles and traditional winemaking tools that document generations of local craft.
Taste four distinct wines, including a pure Spanna Nebbiolo, a long-aged Boca DOC, and a rare blend from identity vineyards cultivated using the traditional alla maggiorina method.
Discover the influence of volcanic porphyry soils on flavour and minerality — a geological story told directly through the wines in your glass.
Pair each wine with artisanal toma cheese and raw salami, two local products selected to complement the character of Novarese winemaking.
Learn about grape varieties, agricultural techniques, food and wine pairings, and the production process in an accessible, conversation-led format.
Tour Itinerary
Arrive at the Conti winery in Maggiora, set against the volcanic hills that define this unique terroir. Your guide introduces the estate's history and the vision behind the castle-winery built by Ermanno Conti in the early 1960s.
Walk through the Time Corridor, a small museum housing a collection of historic bottles and antique tools that trace the evolution of local winemaking. Continue into the active production areas to observe how tradition and innovation coexist in the same space.
Descend into the barrel cellar, where long-aged wines rest in quiet darkness. Your guide explains the ageing process and the role that volcanic mineral soils play in shaping the final character of wines like the Boca DOC.
Take your seat in the tasting room for a structured tasting of four wines: Origins Rosso, Spanna Colline Novaresi, Boca DOC, and Elixir. Each wine is paired with artisanal toma cheese and raw salami, with guidance on flavour profiles, grape varieties, and pairing principles provided throughout.
What Is Included
Included
- Guided tour of the castle-winery, Time Corridor museum, and barrel cellar
- Tasting of four wines: Origins Rosso, Spanna Colline Novaresi, Boca DOC, and Elixir
- Artisanal toma cheese and raw salami pairings
- Expert guidance from the Conti family staff on grape varieties, terroir, and production
Not Included
- Transportation to and from the winery
- Additional wine purchases beyond the tasting
- Gratuities for guides
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on This Tour
Spaces on this castle winery experience are limited to keep the tasting intimate and the conversation genuine. Secure your visit to one of Piedmont's most distinctive volcanic wine estates today.
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