Villa Cerruti’s wine is a tribute to unexpected encounters and lasting friendships. It tells the story of tradition and hospitality from a bygone era, whose ethos still lives on today.
Since the early 1900s, Villa Maria, the Cerruti family’s hunting lodge in Avolasca among the Tortona hills, has been the setting for moments of serenity and joy shared with guests and locals alike—always gathered around a fine glass of Timorasso, the authentic, full-bodied wine grown in the vineyards surrounding the villa.
This is how a return from a day’s hunt would turn into a celebration, with both the host, Siur Alessandro, and the estate keeper, Gustei, joining in alongside their loyal dogs Tell and Dreo – characters who today live on through the labels Derthona and Monleale, Piccolo Derthona and Barbera.
When you choose a bottle of Villa Cerruti, every moment becomes a special occasion, and you, too, begin to write a story of bonds that endure through time.
In the southeastern part of Piedmont, in the province of Alessandria, lies the DOC territory of Colli Tortonesi, which encompasses 46 municipalities.
The Villa Cerruti estate, located in Avolasca at the heart of this denomination, sits on soils dating back to the Piedmont Tertiary Basin. Around 35 million years ago, when the oceanic formations of the southern area emerged from the waters, rivers deposited layers of sediments into the sea that once covered the Po Valley. These deposits consist of alternating marl, sandstone, and conglomerates.
Villa Cerruti produces wines from native grape varieties such as Timorasso and Barbera.
Timorasso, an ancient grape historically cultivated in Piedmont and in the valleys surrounding Tortona, has recently been revived and was included in the DOC production regulations in 2005 under the designation Colli Tortonesi Timorasso.
Barbera, on the other hand, finds in this area unique conditions compared to central Piedmont: a warmer climate with lower rainfall, which gives the wines distinct character and expression.