Top 10 Distilleries in Piedmont, Italy

Distilleria Beccaris was established thanks to a sort of “game of chance”. In fact , in 1951 its founder Elio Beccaris decided to start its own firm but he did not know whether it had to be a distillery, a winery or a vinegar factory. So he made his new born son Carlo decide by putting three slips of paper with the three alternatives in a hat and letting him take one, the ultimate decision should be taken by his innocent and unaware hand and it proved to be the lucky one. Carlo Beccaris now show in his personality the same rare and essential characteristics of seriousness of his firm, handicraft care and passion originating high quality. The production cycle starts at the end of the summer with the selection of the best marcs from the vineyards located in the heart of the region between Langhe and Monferrato. Then come the other phases of production: distillation, ageing, and the packaging of the bottles that every year are put on the market after a carefully controlled process.

Mazzetti d'Altavilla - Distillers since 1846 represents the most historic Distillery of Grappa in the North-West of Italy and one of the oldest ones in Italy. Established almost 200 years ago in the heart of Monferrato, Mazzetti d’Altavilla every year distills fresh pomaces of the most noble Piedmontese vines creating km 0 Grappa. Prestigious are the young and aged Spirits and the Reserves and also the Brandies, Grape Distillates, Liquors, Fruits with Grappa and other typicalities, available in the best Italian stores, at the Grappa Stores of Altavilla Monferrato, Marcallo (Milan) and Milan and in many foreign countries. It's possible to visit the Distillery every day by reservation and there is also a restaurant called "Materia Prima" where it's also possible (by reservation) to taste specialties with special pairings with distillates.

The distillery was built by Serafino Levi and was fitted, then as now, with a direct-fire still. The Levi house-distillery is now a living, Grappa production museum, a real time capsule, where the Genius Loci of Romano Levi, hovers everywhere in art, in the method and time of work, in the simple and basic objects, scents and serenity. The distillery is always open to everyone, it’s a bit more difficult is to find some bottles ready for sale, as the very low production capacity cannot meet the demand that comes from all over the world, but connoisseurs are aware of this, they enjoy the serenity of the place, don’t get angry and wait or try again patiently.

In 2002, on the eve of the harvest, the moment when the Berta family’s address took backthe place-name of Roccanivo (Casalotto di Mombaruzzo). A large structure, that decided toexpand further, built with a careful sense of ist relation to the vine hills, where it peacefully sits,with a façade of a simple house, displaying the family name on the frieze. It is a house belongingas much to grappa as to the Berta family, open and comfortable, decorated with the coats ofarms of all the surrounding regions, where wine is produced with artisanal mastery and stateof-the-art electronic systems.In a warm and cozy atmosphere, the steam-powered stills work slowly and rigorously, totransform the damp and aromatic grape pomace into something strong, but at the same timesoft and subtle.Visitors are sheltered by an antique wooden roof and breathtaking, striking views of thehilly landscape. The Berta Distilleries have become not only an obligatory stop on any itinerarydedicated to food and wine lovers flocking to these hills, but also continue to be the destinationfor so many friends from the world of entertainment and sports, artists, elite restaurateurs,and the great Italian winemaking families; all brought together by ‘that unmistakable aroma offreshly pressed grapes’.Nel 2002, l’indirizzo dei Berta recupera il toponimo di Roccanivo. È così, che l’impresacambia domicilio per spostarsi là vicino, dove inizialmente la prima generazione vi avevadato l’avvio. Nasce una grande struttura costruita con sobrio senso della misura sulle collinedel vino, nelle quali si inserisce serenamente la casa della grappa, sul cui fregio compareil nome della famiglia. Aperta e confortevole è decorata con gli stemmi di tutti i paesicircostanti, in cui le lavorazioni sono guidate con maestria artigianale.In un ambiente caldo e ovattato, gli alambicchi a corrente di vapore lavorano, in modolento e oneroso, per trasformare le vinacce umide e profumate nel dolce ma potente nettaredivino.I visitatori sono accolti da un tetto di legno antico e da alcuni spaccati di paesaggiocollinare tanto suggestivi da mozzare il fiato. Le Distillerie Berta non solo sono diventateuna tappa di indiscussa importanza all’interno di itinerari che sempre maggiormente fannoconfluire tra queste colline gli amanti dell’enogastronomia, ma continuano ad essere lameta di tanti amici provenienti dal mondo dello spettacolo e dello sport, artisti, scrittori,grandissimi ristoratori e nobili famiglie di vignaioli italiani; tutti legati a “quell’aromainconfondibile dell’uva appena pigiata”.

This historical company was founded in 1870 and it has been handed down by the same family till today. The machinery used by Gualco to make his grappa is a traditional Piedmont bain-marie batch distillation copper still. The grappa factory is open every day, comprending Saturday and Sunday, and it's always possible to do tastings and to buy grappa in the factory shop. Reservation is required only for the guided tours of the still and the ageing cellar.