Tassarolo: Wine Country, History and Local Cuisine

Tassarolo combines a hilly landscape shaped by winegrowing with historic architecture, a local specialty and visits that require advance arrangements or booking. If you are looking for a hotel, you can choose your base according to the focus of your trip: history, winegrowing and landscape all come together here, while some visits are subject to specific conditions.

Landscape, tree and wine region

Tassarolo’s landscape lies on hills at the transition between the plain and the Apennines. Winegrowing shapes the area; traditional cultivated areas and remaining woodland complement the scenery. Tassarolo is one of the historic municipalities of the Gavi DOCG. This combination of wine country and a varied, cultivated hilly landscape gives the town its own character, without vineyards being the only type of landscape.

A specific natural landmark is the Quercia Verde di Tassarolo, designated as a tree of considerable public interest. The “Rovere verde di Tassarolo” is a natural hybrid of downy oak and cork oak. Its trunk circumference is 400 cm, and it stands 18 m tall. Alongside the wider landscape, this named tree—with its precise botanical classification and measurable dimensions—offers a distinctive point of interest.

History and architecture

Castello di Tassarolo was built around a round tower that had already formed part of the Byzantine Limes. Another significant turning point came in 1560, when Tassarolo was elevated to a county and granted, among other privileges, the right to mint its own coins. Tassarolo is also home to the building known as “La Zecca,” where Spinola coins were minted.

The town’s ecclesiastical history also goes back a long way. A papal bull dated 13 April 1143 placed the church of Tassarolo under the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria di Castiglione in the Diocese of Parma. Archaeological finds link Tassarolo’s origins as a Roman village, or vicus, to Libarna. The town’s history thus brings together an early Roman chapter, its ecclesiastical affiliation in the 12th century and its later elevation to a county.

Visits and golf

The bookable tour of Castello di Tassarolo starts in the village square. The itinerary includes the prisons, chapel and courtyard, as well as the frescoed Aula Magna. The mint, with its coining press dating from 1300, is also part of the tour. Tours require a minimum of 15 people, so be sure to take this group size into account when planning.

Azienda Agricola Rugrà offers winery tours by appointment, arranged by telephone. These include visits to the vineyards and explanations of how the vines are cultivated. If you would like to include this insight into winegrowing in your plans, arrange your visit by phone. Castello di Tassarolo switched to biodynamic farming in 2006.

Golf Colline del Gavi is located at Località Fara Nuova 7, 15060 Tassarolo (AL). For the drive, the recommended A26 exits are Novi Ligure or Serravalle Scrivia; continue towards Novi Ligure and Tassarolo. The Castello course has a short par-3 hole with Castello di Tassarolo in the background. The green is relatively flat, and the hole is played with a 6–7 iron. These details can help you include the golf course as a specific point of interest in your travel plans.

Local specialties and music

The local SuperAgnolotto is one of the specialities served at the traditional Sagra di San Rocco. It is a distinctive part of the local food culture, alongside winegrowing. For music lovers, Tassarolo’s participation in the “Borghi della Musica” project is another cultural highlight: the network brings together municipalities that host concerts and musical initiatives in the province of Alessandria.

The international “Carlo Capriata” prize was established in 2004. A performance by the string ensemble of the Orchestra Classica di Alessandria, conducted by Giulio Laguzzi, was scheduled for the 2026 Premio Internazionale “Carlo Capriata.” In addition to its architecture and local history, Tassarolo offers connections to local specialties, agriculture and musical projects.

Discover more destinations: Tagliolo Monferrato, Figino, Pontecurone, Fabiano, Ozzano Monferrato, Predosa, Camagna Monferrato, Cardona

For the broader travel overview: Alessandria.