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The nymph who brought light to the hills

According to legend, Albaluce was a radiant nymph, daughter of the Sun and Dawn. Her gaze made the earth bloom, and the hills around the lake worshipped her as the goddess of light.
When tragedy struck her people, Albaluce wept so deeply that vines sprung from her tears, heavy with golden grapes. Thus was born Erbaluce — the wine of light, a symbol of hope and renewal.

A myth that lives on in every sip, transforming each tasting into a poetic ritual.

A wine as old as Piedmont itself

Historical records of Erbaluce date back to the 1600s, though it’s believed the grape was cultivated in the wild during Roman times.
In 1967, it became the first white wine in Piedmont to receive DOC status, and in 2010 it was awarded the prestigious DOCG label — a testament to its quality and heritage.

Three expressions of one grape:

Erbaluce di Caluso (still): fresh, mineral, with floral and citrus aromas.
Erbaluce Spumante: made using the traditional method, elegant and persistent — ideal for aperitifs.
Caluso Passito: the crown jewel. Made from dried grapes, it offers notes of honey, dried fruit, and spices. Capable of aging for over 20 years.

The hills around Caluso, Piverone, and Viverone are part of the ancient **Ivrea morainic amphitheater**, a rare ecosystem in Europe.
Rocky soils, ideal sun exposure, and strong temperature variations give Erbaluce its lively acidity, deep bouquet, and incredible aging potential.

The nearby Lake Viverone moderates the climate and enhances light reflection — the very origin of the name *Erbaluce*, or *light among the herbs*.

**Cantina della Serra – Piverone**
Founded in 1953 by Adriano Olivetti, this cooperative winery is a symbol of Canavese viticulture. It produces all Erbaluce styles, including award-winning sparkling wines and contemplative passitos. Offers tastings and guided tours among vineyards and barrel cellars.

**Orsolani – Caluso**
A historic, family-run winery now in its fourth generation. Known for the “Sulè” passito and for elevating Erbaluce to a full-meal gastronomic wine.

**Tenuta Roletto – Cuceglio**
Set on scenic hills, this estate offers all Erbaluce styles and immersive tours through vineyards and mythology, paired with tastings and local delicacies.

Sipping a glass of Erbaluce on the shores of **Lake Viverone** is like breathing in the story of the land — letting the light dance through the leaves and hearing legends whispered among the vines.
It’s an experience to savor slowly, especially at sunset, when sky and wine melt into the same golden hue.

Curious to discover how **Adriano Olivetti** linked his dream of community to these very hills?
In the next article, we’ll explore the bond between social innovation, winemaking, and landscape.

Stay with me and uncover a Piedmont you never expected.

Until next time!

Farming and corn culture

The hills surrounding Lake Viverone have always been fertile and generous. Corn, vegetables, and grains were the main crops, and each season dictated the rhythm of daily life. Spring and summer were times for haymaking and grape harvesting, autumn for gathering chestnuts, and winter for spinning and (little) rest. Corn, introduced to Piedmontese farms in the 16th century, became a staple food, used to make polenta, the symbol of local peasant cuisine.

Livestock and self-sufficiency

Every family raised cattle, goats, and chickens. Milk was turned into fresh and aged cheeses, meat preserved using traditional methods—nothing was wasted. Barns were often located beneath the houses to make use of the animals’ warmth during the long winters. Life was modest, but resourceful and dignified.

The lake was a precious source of livelihood. Perch, bleak, carp, and whitefish were fished. Nets were cast at night and pulled in at dawn. Boats were light and built from wood by the fishermen themselves. Even today, on the right mornings, you can spot slow silhouettes on the water: the few remaining fishermen, silent keepers of ancient knowledge passed down quietly through the generations.

To truly understand the rural life around Lake Viverone, a must-visit is the Agricultural and Ethnographic Museum “La Steiva” in Piverone. Created to preserve the memory of everyday activities in the rural world, it hosts:

original farming tools;
kitchen utensils and objects of family life;
faithful reconstructions of a barn, a bedroom, and a vintage kitchen.

It’s small but truly a local gem, lovingly cared for by passionate volunteers, offering visitors a concrete experience of peasant life. Visiting the museum is like opening a dusty trunk found at a flea market: inside, you find the scent of hay, the sound of hooves on cobblestones, and the voices of grandparents.

Rural culture was not just work. It was sharing. Each village had a communal oven, where families would bake bread once a week. Agricultural fairs marked the seasons, and during winter gatherings, people would meet in warm barns to share stories, spin wool, and prepare festive dishes together.

Today, mechanization has changed agriculture and many activities have been lost, but the spirit of rural civilization around Lake Viverone survives in the landscape and the people. You can find it in the rows of vineyards, in the stone “ciabot” huts on the hills, in the stories of the elders, and in local products that preserve the flavors of the past.

Curious to know how this rural legacy becomes excellence?
In the next article, I’ll take you on a journey to discover local wines, especially *Erbaluce di Caluso*, born right here among these hills.
Stay with me and get ready for a journey through the vineyards of flavor.

See you next time!

Exclusive and private hospitality

The main feature of a Luxury Country House is personalized hospitality. Every guest is at the center of a tailor-made experience, in a private setting that ensures peace and quiet.

Refined design and authenticity

Luxury Country Houses combine the charm of tradition with contemporary elegance. Carefully curated interiors, natural materials such as stone, wood, and terracotta, harmoniously blend with modern design elements and top-level comfort.

Nature and wellbeing

Immersed in breathtaking landscapes, a Luxury Country House offers genuine contact with nature: blooming gardens, vegetable patches, vineyards, and stunning views. They often include wellness services such as panoramic pools, massages, and sensory experiences.

Cascina Facelli perfectly embodies the spirit of the Luxury Country House.
Located in the heart of Alta Langa, just a few steps from Piedmont’s most charming villages, Cascina Facelli offers:

Exclusive suites furnished with charm and personality.
Gourmet breakfasts with local products.
A panoramic pool immersed in nature.
Wellness treatments designed for deep relaxation.
Authentic experiences among hills, vineyards, and historic villages.

Every stay at Cascina Facelli is an emotional journey, where luxury is not ostentation, but care, passion, and authenticity.

If you dream of a place where the beauty of nature meets refined comfort,
Cascina Facelli awaits you with unforgettable moments.

Learn more and book your stay at www.cascinafacelli.com

See you soon!

The divine test and the submerged village

It is said that, centuries ago, there stood a village named San Martino on the lakeshore. A wealthy village, inhabited by proud people who were not inclined to charity. One day, a tired and hungry traveler knocked on their doors asking for food and shelter. He was welcomed only by a poor old woman who offered him hospitality. The traveler was actually an angel sent by God to test the goodness of the village.

As punishment for the villagers’ selfishness, the village was submerged by a huge wave of water, which gave rise to Lake Viverone. Only the charitable woman’s house was spared, and to this day – they say – her soul watches over the lake.

The bells ringing beneath the lake

On the quietest nights, fishermen swear they can hear the muffled sound of the San Martino church bells coming from the depths of the lake. It’s the ancient call of a lost place, trying to resurface to remind mankind of the importance of kindness.

A story of love and (of course) tragedy

Among the most romantic and heart-wrenching legends of Viverone is that of the Lady of the Lake. It is said that a young woman was betrothed to a fisherman from the village of San Martino. When the village was swallowed by the waters, her beloved vanished forever.

Overcome with grief, the girl began to wander each night along the shores of the lake, searching for her lover’s face in the waves. She died of a broken heart and, since then, her spirit has never left the lake.

The mystery of full moon nights

According to the elders, on full moon nights a white, delicate figure can be seen walking along the lake’s edge. It’s the Lady, dressed as a bride, gazing at the water in the hope of seeing her lost love again. Her face is sad, yet serene. She’s not frightening (though I’d like to see for myself): she’s an apparition that speaks of eternal love.

A monster feared by the people

In ancient times, it was believed that a monstrous creature lurked in the murkiest waters of the lake: a dragon. Its pestilent breath withered plants and frightened animals. No one dared approach the southern shore, where the beast was said to dwell. Legends say that every year, to appease its hunger, the locals offered it an animal as a sacrifice.

The legend of the miraculous defeat

The lake was finally freed thanks to Saint Bononio, a hermit and abbot who came to the area bringing faith and courage. It is said that with a simple cross and a prayer (basically, a stroke of luck!*) he managed to defeat the dragon, which sank into the waters and was never seen again.

On the site of his victory a chapel was built, now lost, but still remembered in local traditions as a symbol of the triumph of light over darkness. Once again, faith and nature come together, turning the landscape into a story.

*forgive me, I’m feeling a bit irreverent today 😊

Walking along Lake Viverone today, perhaps at sunset, is like flipping through a book. Its calm waters seem to hide ancient secrets, and every glimpse invites you to listen. The legends that surround it are not just fantastic tales: they are part of the collective memory, of the popular culture that links past and present. They are stories that remind us where we come from, and make us fall even more in love with this corner of Piedmont.

Want to read more authentic and magical stories from Piedmont?

Follow the blog, I’m preparing new tales coming straight from the heart of this ancient land.

The next article will be dedicated to rural life and agricultural traditions along the lake’s shores. Don’t miss it!

See you next time!

Her presence cannot be explained—it is felt. Just over a meter tall, the Black Madonna of Oropa watches with eyes that seem to know. They say there’s no dust on her face. Not even after a year. Every November, during the ritual cleaning, the cloth remains white. Always.

Carved from light wood but darkened by time—or perhaps by divine will—the Virgin holds the Child on her knees and a globe in her hand: a symbol of salvation. But her real strength lies in the people. Those who look at her feel watched. Those who pray to her, feel heard.

Some say they tried to move her, but the statue became heavy. Too heavy. Impossible to lift. And so she stayed, where she had chosen to remain.

The Ancient Basilica came first—modest, intimate—built around the erratic boulder where it all began. Then, in the 19th century, as pilgrims numbered in the thousands, a larger space was needed. Thus rose the Upper Basilica: imposing, neoclassical, with a dome seemingly reaching for the heavens.

Walking through its courtyards is like leafing through a book of stone. The arcades, guesthouses, chapels, cloisters—every corner speaks. Every corner prays.

There’s a climb that doesn’t weigh on you. It starts at the sanctuary and gently winds through the greenery, among beech trees and silence. It is the Sacred Mount of Oropa, built in 1620, with its twelve chapels dedicated to the life of the Virgin. Each chapel is a sacred theater, where life-sized statues tell a scene, an emotion, a mystery.

Here, piety becomes art. Here, art becomes prayer.

Every year, the city of Biella walks. Since 1599, the vow is renewed: a procession ascends with songs and silences, to thank the Madonna for protecting the city from the plague.

And every five years, from Fontainemore in Valle d’Aosta, they set off before dawn. They cross passes, streams, valleys. They arrive on foot, tired but joyful, with banners and tears.

And then there’s the coronation. Every hundred years. Since 1620. A rite like no other. The statue receives a new crown. The crowd gathers close. Time stands still.

There’s a rock beside the basilica, the so-called “fertility stone.” In the past, women sat on it, asking for a child. It was an archaic rite, perhaps pagan, but one that still lives on in memory.

And then there are miracles. Like the mute man who, before the statue, found his voice. Or the face that refuses to collect dust.

Every sanctuary has its mysteries. Oropa preserves them with reverence.

Today, Oropa welcomes over 800,000 people a year—pilgrims, tourists, the curious. But everyone leaves changed. Because this is not a place to visit. It’s a place that enters you and never lets go.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Oropa is also a cultural center, museum, place of music, art, and reflection. Its guesthouses welcome wanderers and researchers. Its stones still speak.

There are places that stay with you, even after you leave. Oropa is one of them. It captures your eyes with its beauty, but stays in your heart for what cannot be seen—for that silence full of presence. For that dark face that looks at you and, maybe, understands you.

Let Oropa touch you. Plan your visit, dive into its history, and live the unique experience of a sanctuary that is soul, memory, and wonder. Take home that image, that feeling, that silence. Oropa asks for nothing—it simply offers what you need.

Rose Blooming Festival

In early June, Bossolasco celebrates the beauty of its roses with a festival that blends nature, art, and flavor: floriculture exhibitions, rosé wine tastings, and themed menus enliven the village.

Feast of St. John the Baptist

Every June 24, the community comes together to honor its patron saint with religious services, music, markets, and traditional dishes, reinforcing the spirit of togetherness.

Cheese Under the Stars

A summer evening where local cheeses meet the great wines of the Langhe, served outdoors under the starry sky: an event that blends flavor and social gathering.

Autumn Chestnut Festival

In October, the village honors chestnuts with roasted varieties, rustic peasant dishes, and folk music, recalling the old winter gatherings around the fire.

In addition to these festivals, Bossolasco hosts art events such as “Art in Bossolasco” and “Painters in Bossolasco”, highlighting the bond between contemporary art and local identity.

The oral tradition of Bossolasco preserves stories of *masche*, the witches of Piedmontese folklore, protagonists of tales passed down during winter vigils (the “vijà”). It’s said that even at Cascina Facelli there was a stone—just before our garden—where they would gather for their rituals! Women with mysterious powers, blamed for controlling the weather, spoiling milk, or bringing misfortune. These stories, mixing superstition and folklore, are a vivid lens into local rural culture.

Wolves (which do exist here) and forest spirits are also part of the region’s legendary heritage.

Tradition and innovation

Though high in the hills, Bossolasco boasts a rich winemaking history: Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo are the traditional stars. But today, Alta Langa DOCG stands out—sparkling wine made using the Classic Method from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown up to 1,000 meters.

Terroir and climate change

Limestone soils, cool climate, and strong temperature variations make this area ideal for premium sparkling wines. Pioneering vintners like Giorgio Rivetti have invested in new vineyards, reshaping the agricultural landscape and leading the way in this “vineyard ascent” trend.

From hazelnuts to medicinal herbs

Bossolasco is part of the renowned “hazelnut land”: the Tonda Gentile delle Langhe variety is grown among groves and forests, hand-harvested, and turned into premium products.

Crops include grains, fodder, and fruits as well, supporting diversified and sustainable farming.

Shepherds, cheese, and biodiversity

Livestock farming—especially sheep—has given rise to iconic cheeses like Murazzano DOP. Summer pastures and transhumance preserve an ancient tradition, now renewed through small artisanal dairies.

The growth of agritourism and educational farms reflects an agricultural world in dialogue with tourism and quality-conscious visitors.

From *bagna càuda* to *tajarin* with white or black truffle, from *agnolotti del plin* to chickpea and tripe soup: the cuisine of Bossolasco tells a story of bold flavors and top-quality ingredients. Main courses celebrate meat, game, and cheese, while desserts—like hazelnut cake and *bonèt*—close the meal with simplicity and taste.

The Angel of Alta Langa

A striking aluminum monument symbolizing solidarity: it commemorates the rescue of Jewish families during World War II, and dominates the square with its asymmetrical wings. Go see it—it will feel like a giant embrace!

Artist signs

In the 1950s, painters like Felice Casorati gifted the village true artworks in the form of hand-painted signs. Today, they are reproduced on a large open-air wall museum.

The Rose Park and Altalanga Wall mural

Art, nature, and community come together in the Rose Park and the collective mural painted by students in 2022—a colorful tribute to local creativity.

The Big Bench of Lomonte

A giant bench overlooking the hills of Alta Langa: perfect for a scenic break or a postcard-worthy photo.

Bossolasco—and we—are waiting for you with roses, stories, and authentic flavors. Want to experience an unforgettable stay surrounded by beauty, peace, and nature?

Book now at: www.cascinafacelli.com

See you soon!