A success that merged Art and Wine on the hills of North Piedmont.

VIGLIANO BIELLESE – From April 6 to June 9, 2024, the Castello di Montecavallo in Vigliano Biellese hosted “Spirits of Time,” an extraordinary contemporary art exhibition organized by the Cracking Art collective. This event offered a unique experience that successfully combined art and nature, providing visitors with an immersive exhibition path featuring captivating artistic installations and the local winemaking tradition.

The Exhibition

Curated by Carla Testore, “Spirits of Time” showcased the iconic works of Cracking Art, known for their stylized animals made of regenerated plastic. The installations, placed along the avenues of the castle park, included blue rabbits, wolves, penguins, and the famous snail, each conveying a profound message related to environmental and social themes. These works stimulated reflections on sustainability, recycling, and the relationship between humans and nature, creating a harmonious dialogue with the surrounding environment.

Each installation invited visitors to reflect on specific themes: wolves symbolizing group cohesion; penguins drawing attention to climate change; and the snail, with its antennae connected to the earth, representing the passage of time and regeneration.

The Castello di Montecavallo Winery

In addition to being a place of art and history, Castello di Montecavallo is also a renowned winery with roots dating back to the 13th century. The estate, curated by the same family for generations, is a benchmark for viticultural excellence in northern Piedmont. In recent years, under the guidance of Tomaso and Martina Incisa della Rocchetta, the estate has undergone significant transformations, including the renovation of the vineyards and winery, and the implementation of agricultural practices that respect biodiversity.

The Montecavallo hill consists of sediments from the Pliocene geological era (between the Miocene and Pleistocene), specifically the “Astiano” period. These sediments contain a substance called “ferretto,” which provides an organic and mineral contribution to the soil, making it particularly suitable for vine cultivation. The first documents testifying to vine cultivation on this hill date back to 1279. The soil is loose, sandy, rich in stones and pebbles, severe and poor, where the vine roots penetrate deeply.

Tomaso and Martina are the grandchildren of Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, their paternal grandfather who transformed Bolgheri in Tuscany into one of the most respected and innovative wine regions in the world. Mario Incisa della Rocchetta is known for creating Sassicaia, one of Italy’s most prestigious wines, and for his innovative vision that revolutionized viticulture in the area.

Castello di Montecavallo’s production includes prestigious wines such as:

  • Cajanto: a surprising blend of Nebbiolo and Vespolina. After centuries of production and vinification for family use, CAJANTO was the first wine from the estate to be marketed in the early 2000s. Being the family wine, it was named after how Chiara Reda, Tomaso and Martina’s mother, pronounced “Montecavallo” as a child.
  • Aralcader: an elegant Nebbiolo for aging, a tribute to elegance and tradition. It is named after the owners’ grandmother, Clara Reda, who lived in Montecavallo for over 60 years. In her youth, Clara was a painter and signed her works with the anagram of her name, Aralcader.
  • Indero: an elegant Nebbiolo rosé launched in 2021, the first year of the new company management. INDERO celebrates the new team behind Castello di Montecavallo, Tomaso and Martina Incisa della Rocchetta: its name is an anagram of the first syllables of their surname.

All three are DOC Coste della Sesia.

During the exhibition, visitors had the opportunity to taste these wines, discovering the secrets of local winemaking and savoring flavors that reflect the estate’s history and tradition.

A Complete Experience

The “Spirits of Time” event offered a unique opportunity for art and wine lovers to immerse themselves in an environment rich in history and natural beauty. The artistic installations of Cracking Art, combined with the winemaking tradition of Castello di Montecavallo, created a complete sensory experience that stimulated both the mind and the palate.

For those who attended, the event was not only an artistic and cultural journey but also a moment to appreciate the quality and tradition of Castello di Montecavallo wines, once again confirming the deep connection between art, nature, and winemaking tradition in this beautiful Piedmontese setting.