The Podere Antico di Monteforche is located in the Municipality of Govone (CN), the easternmost municipality of the Roero area, although the estate does not lie entirely within its administrative boundaries. An examination of the official map of the Roero Crus shows that the Monteforche Cru is positioned at the north-eastern apex of the production area for Roero D.O.C.G. and Roero Arneis D.O.C.G. wines.
This historically recognised Cru extends across the municipalities of Govone and Priocca, as does the estate itself. The portion falling within the Municipality of Govone is characterised by a predominantly east-facing exposure, while the slope located within the territory of Priocca features a mainly west-facing aspect, resulting in differentiated mesoclimatic conditions within the same Cru.
The estate is divided into two vineyard parcels: a large, continuous plot forming a natural amphitheatre with a prevailing eastern exposure, and—approximately 30 metres away—a second parcel situated on the crest of the hill known as Monteforche. This upper parcel benefits from a full 360° exposure and extends beyond the ridgeline, entering the officially designated Monteforche Cru area within the Municipality of Priocca.
When examining in detail the Crus located within the Municipality of Govone, three are identified, of which Monteforche is the smallest, if its extension into the Municipality of Priocca is not taken into account.
The Podere Antico di Monteforche takes its name from the fact that it extends all the way to the summit of the hill (somewhat imprecisely referred to as a “monte”) which forms the core and central nucleus of the Monteforche Cru and represents one of the most panoramic sites in the entire Roero area. At this summit lies the Vigna Bricco di Monteforche.
It is worth recalling the origin of this distinctive name. History records that, precisely where the Vigna Bricco di Monteforche is now located, in the year 1228 the inhabitants of Priocca, Govone and San Pietro were punished—most likely by being hanged on gallows (“forche,” hence the name). These communities had defied the orders of the Bishop of Asti, lord of these lands, by deciding to found a village on Monte Stella, a hill immediately adjacent to Monteforche. The rebellion was harshly suppressed: the settlement on Monte Stella was razed to the ground, and the leaders of the uprising were taken to the nearby hill—later known as Monteforche—where they were executed and left clearly visible, given the height of the hill, to the inhabitants of the three rebellious municipalities.
In remembrance of this event and to bring peace to this sacred place, Podere Antico di Monteforche has adopted as its emblem the coat of arms of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, a direct ancestor of the current owners. This emblem stands as a symbol of forgiveness and recognition of the spirit of those villagers who, in honour of their Emperor, sought to establish a new community. Eight centuries later, in commemoration of this historical episode, this edict is recited in the Vigna Bricco di Monteforche on the night of Saint John every year:
Ij pendolèr ëd Mòntforche*
Gli Appesi di Monteforche
The Hanged of Monteforche
Sota ‘l ciel cup ëd l’invern, Mòntforche a se druva,
Sotto il cielo cupo dell’inverno, Monteforche si scopre,
Under the heavy winter sky, Monteforche reveals itself,
bric piantà tra Prioca e Govon*, sombre e spense.
collina piantata tra Prioca e Govon, ombrosa e spenta.*
a hill planted between Priocca and Govon, shadowed and still.*
Tra ël filà ëd vign e l’ombraja dël vent freid,
Tra i filari di vigna e l’ombra del vento freddo,
Among the vineyard rows and the cold wind’s shade,
a se spànd ant la smòrgia* ël ramènt dij martir.
si spande nella bruma il ricordo dei martiri.*
in the mist spreads the memory of the martyrs.
Tre neuit e tre dì, i ribel a son ste tàssà*,
Tre notti e tre giorni, i ribelli furono appesi,*
Three nights and three days, the rebels were hung,
tra patiment gros e ël silensi d’arònd,
tra grande sofferenza e il silenzio tutt’intorno,
between great suffering and the surrounding silence,
ant ël frussié dël bòsch, ansima a la tèra neira
tra fruscii di bosco sopra la terra nera
among the rustle of the woods above the dark earth,
piòrnd desperà a la lùs fieula dla sèira.
piangendo disperati alla luce fioca della sera
weeping desperately in the dim evening light.
Për anco, quand la neuit a ven trista e lada,
Ancora oggi, quando la notte arriva triste e pesante,
Even today, when the night comes sad and heavy,
sima ‘l bric, a s’èveinta un pendolèr ant l’oscurità
sulla cima del colle, si intravede un appeso nell’oscurità
on the hilltop, a hanged figure can be glimpsed in the darkness
e tra ël vent che stròfla e la spira che strìa,
e tra il vento che sferza e il respiro che stride,
and between the whipping wind and the creaking breath,
la crida “Piëta!” long le valade a stràssia.
grida “Pietà!” trascinandosi lungo le vallate
it cries “Pietà!” echoing through the valleys.
Adess i vign a se slonga sota ‘l ciel palid,
Ora le vigne si allungano sotto il cielo pallido,
Now the vineyards stretch beneath the pale sky,
e ‘l còr a frisson-a, e ‘l rament a s’arcòrda.
e il cuore rabbrividisce, e la memoria ricorda,
and hearts shiver as memory stirs.
Mòntforche piantà, imperturbà ant ël silensi,
Monteforche resta piantato, imperturbabile nel silenzio,
Monteforche stands planted, undisturbed in the silence,
ma ij lor spirì a sbrilo për ëdcò ant ël filà.
ma i loro spiriti brillano ancora una volta tra i filari,
but their spirits once more shine among the rows.
Notes
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smòrgia: a typical Langhe term for thin mist or fog, evoking the haze that slowly spreads among the vineyards and hills of the Langhe.
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tàssà: in this context, it means “hung,” referring to the executed rebels.
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pendolèr: refers to the hanged, not a mechanical pendulum. It represents the bodies swinging in the wind, transformed by popular memory into shadowy presences and symbols of the violence suffered, and of memory that continues to live.
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Govon: typical Langhe pronunciation barely perceives the “V,” which disappears between the two O’s, pronounced as a single long “U” sound.
Today, this historic and passionate place is part of the Podere Antico di Monteforche, so named because the Cru takes its name from this iconic hill—a small mountain that forms part of the Tenimenti Terre Imperiali. The estate embodies centuries of tradition, history, and viticultural excellence in the heart of the Roero.
Within the Podere Antico di Monteforche, five distinctive vineyards tell the story of the land:
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Vigna Bricco di Monteforche – Barbera d’Alba D.O.C. and Roero D.O.C.G. “Cru Monteforche” (light blue): a symbol of strength and tradition.
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Vigna Antica di Monteforche – Roero Arneis D.O.C.G. “Cru Monteforche” (yellow): capturing the elegance and freshness of the Arneis grape.
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Vigna Romantica di Monteforche – Roero Arneis D.O.C.G. “Cru Monteforche” (red): a vineyard that expresses the poetic charm of the Roero hills.
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Vigna Reale di Monteforche – Roero Arneis D.O.C.G., Roero D.O.C.G. “Cru Monteforche”, and Langhe Riesling D.O.C. (purple): a majestic blend of tradition and experimentation.
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Vigna Fontanelle di Monteforche – Roero Arneis D.O.C.G. “Cru Monteforche” (blue, currently under planting): the newest addition, promising a bright future for the estate.
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