In the Lower Monferrato area, nestled amongst rolling hills and picturesque hilltop villages, lies a remarkable yet unassuming heritage: the infernot. These small rooms are carved into the so called "Pietra da Cantoni" (canton stone), a golden-white sandstone found only here, and are located beneath the houses of nine hilltop villages. Created by farmers' wisdom and master stonemasons' skill, these underground rooms are not just cellars; they are hand-carved spaces designed to store precious bottles and tell a story – stone by stone – of ingenuity, hard work, and love for wine.

Although each infernot is unique, they all share a common language of doing good, passing on traditions and preserving heritage. Nowhere else do they exist in this form or with such variety. To show their value, the Ecomuseo della Pietra da Cantoni (Stone Museum) is devoted to keep their memory alive.

The landscape, even above ground, exudes tradition: vineyards adorn the hills, and Barbera – vinified here as Barbera del Monferrato, with a different style than the Asti version – is the star. There are over a hundred wineries operating in the area, and Casale Monferrato's Castle is home to one of Piedmont's first Regional Wine Shops, a must-visit for anyone looking to discover local flavours and stories.

Here, where stone tells the story of the past and wine looks to the future, Monferrato reveals its most authentic soul.