The name of the village, originally Castaneolis, almost certainly derives from the presence of large chestnut woods (‘castagneti’ in Italian), with stocks of game which ensured the survival of the ancient Ligurian peoples who lived here. The first documents regarding Castagnole date back to 951, mentioning the “Parish church of Castaneolis”. In 1065 it became the property of the Church of Asti. In the Diploma of Belfort in 1164, Frederick Redbeard sealed the feudal fate of Castagnole, granting it to the Aleramici family.

The village takes its name from the chestnut woods which once covered these hills, but which have since been replaced by vineyards. And now Castagnole Monferrato is known throughout the world for its Ruchè, one of the finest wines produced in the Asti area, both wine and grape variety of ancient noble stock. The wine is made from Ruchè grapes, sometimes with the addition of Barbera and/or Brachetto.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

To appreciate the original structure of this large village steeped in wine-growing tradition, a visit to Castagnole Monferrato should start out from piazza Statuto, the square which links the two separate halves of the village. The ancient Chiesa della Confraternita della Santissima Annunziata still bears wooden portals dating back to the eighteenth century, set into the terracotta façade, a noteworthy example of Piedmontese Baroque architecture.