Girasole: Wine Culture and Excursions in Strevi

Girasole is a newer settlement in the municipality of Strevi and is also called “il Girasole.” The settlement lies along the former Strada Statale 30. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish the specific place name from the excursion destinations within the municipality: the wine tradition and excursions in the Valle Bagnario and Valle del Passito are located in the municipality of Strevi.

Girasole and the townscape of Strevi

“il Girasole” is one of Strevi’s newer settlements along the former Strada Statale 30. The history of the road layout is also part of the townscape: the construction of a bypass around Strevi greatly reduced vehicle traffic. As a result, the newer settlements, including il Girasole, became quieter. The description of the area thus connects its location along the former road with a change that shaped the surroundings of Strevi’s settlements.

Food culture and local designations

Twelve food products in Strevi bear the De.C.O. mark, awarded by the Comune di Strevi and written out as Denominazione Comunale di Origine. The designation refers to municipal origin and covers several food products. Strevi is also known for special biscuits called amaretti. These two details offer different ways into the local food culture: De.C.O. is a municipal designation, while amaretti are a named type of biscuit associated with Strevi. Both the municipal designation and a specific baked good are therefore central to identifying regional specialties.

Moscato Passito and Strevi DOC

In the Valle Bagnario, grapes for Moscato Passito are still dried in the sun on racks before aging in barrels. The grapes are therefore dried before barrel aging. Documents date the first production of Moscato Passito in the Valle Bagnario to 1078. Another specific wine designation is Strevi DOC: this wine is made from Moscato Bianco grapes grown exclusively in the municipality of Strevi, in the province of Alessandria. The information covers two different aspects of the wine tradition: the production process and historical date of Moscato Passito, and the grape variety and growing area of Strevi DOC.

Hiking in the municipality

In the Valle del Passito, a hike is offered with a qualified environmental and nature guide, as well as a visit to a winery with a tasting. May to October is the recommended period; check current availability with the organizer. Another hike through the Valle Bagnario leads to Big Bench #21 “giallo moscato” and includes a tasting at a winery on the Strada degli aromatici. The excursions have different focuses: the qualified nature guide is explicitly part of the Valle del Passito tour, while the Big Bench is named as a specific destination on the Valle Bagnario hike. Both combine an excursion with a winery visit and tasting.

When planning your trip to Strevi, you can therefore distinguish between Girasole as a specific place and the wine and excursion options in the municipality. For a guided nature excursion with a winery visit, the Valle del Passito tour is the described option; for a hike with a named destination, choose the route to the Big Bench in the Valle Bagnario. Note the recommended period of May to October for the first tour and confirm its availability directly with the organizer.

Discover more destinations: Castelnuovo Scrivia, Montacuto, Terruggia, Ricaldone, Ovada, Corteranzo, Vignale Monferrato, Casale Monferrato

For the broader travel overview: Alessandria.