Piedmont · Vercelli
Gattinara
The Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo town on volcanic soil between the Sesia and Monte Rosa, DOCG since 1990, with a tenth-century watchtower above the vines.
Known for
GATTINARA DOCG
Italy's twentieth DOCG since 1990, Nebbiolo on volcanic soil, aged at least three years in wood for the riserva.
VOLCANIC SOIL
Surface gravel from a Permian super-volcano lifted to the slopes by the Alpine collision, the geology behind the wine.
MERCURINO ARBORIO
Sixteenth-century Grand Chancellor to Charles V, born here, who served Gattinara wine at the imperial diplomatic table.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Oct
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
The festa: Pietro, 29 June
Why come
Gattinara sits on the right bank of the Sesia, north of Vercelli, in the Alto Piemonte wine zone where Nebbiolo is called Spanna. The hills behind the town are volcanic, the surface gravel pushed up when Africa met Europe and built Monte Rosa sixty million years ago. Romans planted vineyards here in the second century BC.
In 1242, the commune of Vercelli established a borgofranco that became the modern town. In the early sixteenth century Cardinal Mercurino Arborio di Gattinara, Grand Chancellor to Emperor Charles V, served the local wine at his diplomatic dinners in Spain and Flanders; it stayed a court favorite for decades. The Torre delle Castelle, tenth-century watchtower above the vineyards, still stands on the ridge.
Gattinara became Italy's twentieth DOCG in 1990. The wine is at least ninety percent Nebbiolo, aged three years in wood for the riserva, and the bottles age longer than most Barolo because the volcanic minerality slows everything down.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Gattinara’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
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What to see
Torre delle Castelle
Tenth-century watchtower on the ridge above the vineyards, part of a fortified system that guarded the wine hills.
Castello di San Lorenzo
Medieval fortress on the hill, paired with the Torre delle Castelle as the upper defensive line.
Chiesa di San Pietro
Parish church in the historic center, the religious anchor of the borgofranco founded in 1242.
Riserva Naturale Monte Fenera
Regional park on the Sesia side of the commune, mixed beech and chestnut woods on the volcanic substrate.
The slow-trip planner
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We recommend
Where to eat and stay
Not our picks, but places the guides put their name to — a Michelin star, a Gambero Rosso fork, a Slow Food snail, a Michelin Key for the hotels. Worth a table, a counter, or a night when you pass through.
Cucine NerviRistorante
Cucine Nervi holds two Gambero Rosso forks (82/100) and a spot in the Michelin Guide.
Osteria ContemporaneaRistorante
Osteria Contemporanea has one Gambero Rosso fork (79/100) to its name.
Living here
- Population 7,502
- In-betweeni
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Train station in the comune
- Nearest airport Turin, 1 h 22 min drive
- Regional capital Torino, 1 h 21 min drive
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 265 m
- Population: 7,502
- Surface area: 33.67 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories — ISTAT, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata — and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
Close by
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