Historic House from the 1700s in Monferrato
It is very rare to find a villa in Piedmont, in Monferrato, dating from the 18th century that retains, like La Marchesa, the original 190 acres it had in the 1700s, with 145 acres of vineyards planted with Gavi and native Piedmontese red grapes such as Albarossa, Pelaverga, Slarina, and Uvalino.
The Marchesa wine estate is an example of the four essential elements characteristic of the great French châteaux: the harmony between the villa’s architecture and the other structures of the property, the beauty of the gardens, the warm hospitality, and the quality of the wines, all of which create an unforgettable experience.
The History of the Estate
The Sauli Marquises: The first records of the estate date back to 1550, when the Sauli family owned the building that now houses our farmhouse. Over two centuries, they acquired the lands that form the current estate, located along the ancient Bocchetta Road connecting Genoa to Novi Ligure, a branch of the Via Francigena that guided pilgrims to board for their journey to Rome.
The Corte or Della Corte Marquises: After the Sauli family line ended in 1730, the Corte family took possession of the estate around 1780. The Corte family, former feudal lords under Ludovico il Moro, had been forced to leave Milan after opening the gates of the Castello Sforzesco to the French. Around 1780, Giacomo Corte expanded the villa and consecrated the chapel to the Guardian Angels, in honor of Angelo, a family name.
The Raggio D’Azeglio Family: In the late 1800s, after the Corte family went bankrupt, the Raggio D’Azeglio family took over the estate. This family of local entrepreneurs, who rose to the title of counts and then marquises, owned an estate of 4500 acres covering the area between Novi Ligure and Gavi.
The Giulini family has owned the estate since 1980, an interesting twist of fate links them to the estate trough a significant loan made to the Corte family in 1730, which was repaid, without interest, by the end of the 1700s! Over the years, the vineyards have been planted and the villa, now listed as a national monument, has been restored. The estate is part of the Italian Association of Historic Houses, and is listed on the Historic Houses portal.
The concert hall
The concert hall at La Marchesa hosts concerts, cultural events, conferences, and business meetings in Monferrato, between Novi Ligure and Gavi. It has a maximum capacity of 130 people and boasts perfect acoustics.
The Lemon House
The old lemon house has been transformed into a museum of wine and rural life.
The Ancient Cellar
The 17th-century cellar of the villa is open to visitors for the Bacco Experience, offering wine tastings in a magical setting.
La Marchesa Farmhouse
La Marchesa farmhouse is located within the 16th-century villa, originally owned by the Sauli Marquises and later expanded with a double-arched section. A careful restoration has preserved the period architecture, including in the chapel once dedicated to St. Aloysius Gonzaga.
Historic Gardens of Piedmont
At the La Marchesa Estate, the historic Italian garden in front of the villa is the classic garden style of a historic Piedmont residence.
The fruit and herb garden, organized into perfect rows bordered by cypress trees remind the ancient Roman gardens and plays a key role in producing jams offered at our farmhouse.
The water garden by the estate’s lake allows you to admire the blooming of Japanese cherry trees, yellow irises, and lotus flowers from June to October.
The vineyard garden, with its perfectly aligned rows, shapes the landscape that opens to a view from the hills of Monferrato to the Alps.
The landscape protection over the entire 190 acrese property makes the estate a model of garden landscape, completed by the woods that surround the vineyard.
A large vegetable garden serves the restaurant’s kitchen, ensuring that 85% of the products offered come from the estate or from local farms in the region.
The lake
About one mile from the farmhouse, in the middle of a wood, is La Marchesa’s lake, covering nearly 3 acres. With a depth of 9 meters, it is fed by an underground spring and is a model of environmental sustainability. The lake is surrounded by seasonal blooms: cherry blossoms in March, yellow irises in May, and lotus flowers from June through October.
The ancient oven
The estate’s 18th-century wood-fired oven, used up until World War II for baking bread, stands next to a well that is still in use.
The Marchesa Estate is a member of the Association of Italian Historic Houses (ADSI) and is listed on the website of the Association: Italian Historic Houses.
Tenuta di Pietra Porzia in Frascati (Rome) is owned by the same family.
Via Gavi 87 15067 - Novi Ligure (AL) - Italy
Tel. Farmhouse: +39.339.381.8193 - Tel. Winery: +39.0143.743.362