Scheduled events
Montecavallo Castle, Villa Era and La Malpenga present the second edition of:
Dimore diVino
Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
After the success of the first edition, "Dimore diVino," the experiential journey that interweaves wine, history and territory, returns on Sunday, October 5, 2025. Three historic residences - Montecavallo Castle, Villa Era and La Malpenga - will once again open their doors and cellars, offering the public a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the wine-making tradition of the Biella area and the beauty of its historic mansions and cellars.In collaboration with the FAI Delegation of Biella and the patronage of the Municipality of Vigliano Biellese and theNational Association of Wine Cities, and for the first time included in the calendar of the BIS - Biella Saperi e Sapori food and wine event, on Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 10.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., visitors will be able to experience an entire day of tastings, accompanied tours of the parks and wineries, masterclasses and convivial moments, accompanied by the storytelling of the owners and associations involved. "Dimore diVino" is an unprecedented journey through the vineyards and cellars of historic residences, conceived by these three realities to celebrate the wine culture of their territory and to let the Biellese public discover the richness and quality of its wines, immersed between nature and architectural beauty.Once again this year, the program is designed to offer cultural activities, masterclasses and tastings throughout the day, moving from one winery to the next: Nebbiolo will be the protagonist in all three mansions, with vertical tastings of different vintages and masterclasses organized at Castello di Montecavallo and Villa Era, but also uncorking and guided tasting of the first vintage of Nebbiolo 2022 at La Malpenga.Wine will go beyond the goblet, discovering some of its endless applications: grape must ice cream and a grape lunch that will take center stage at Villa Era; cocktails based on Montecavallo's Super Sidera Vermouth (made from Nebbiolo and Vespolina wines from its winery) and, of course, accompanied tours of the properties throughout the day by FAI Biella.New for 2025 is the "Adopt a Barbatella" charity initiative. With a free donation starting from 5 euros, visitors to Dimore diVino will be able to buy a young vine ("Barbatella" in fact) and take it home, symbolically contributing to restore the Biellese hills to its former viticultural splendor. All proceeds will be donated to the middle schools of Vigliano Biellese to support environmental education programs.
EVENT DETAILS:
"Dimore diVino" Oct. 5, 2025
10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last entry at 6 p.m.)
- Access ticket: offer to FAI that allows access to all 3 mansions: from 5 euros
- Wine tastings: 2 tastings 10 euros at Castello di Montecavallo and Villa Era, 1 tasting 5 euros at La Malpenga
- Masterclasses and tours: free or paid with limited seats, pre-registration for masterclasses and activities required online
- Learn more on the official FAI website and on the Instagram pages Dimore di Vino, FAI Delegazione Biella and FAI Giovani Biella
FULL PROGRAM:
Below is the PDF with the full program
Press Office Serena Schellino: s.schellino@castellodimontecavallo.it
A project by:
In collaboration with:
Under the auspices of:
Inserted in:
About
Montecavallo Castle
Montecavallo Castle was born with wine. This enchanting setting will offer visitors the chance to experience and touch two centuries of viticulture, from the 1800s to the present. Its hillside was home to vineyards and a military fortification from the 13th century. In the 1930s, the castle and old winery were built on the ancient ruins, while the entire hill was replanted with new vineyards and landscaped with a garden. The new winery, now in the former stables, produces five labels, including whites, rosés, reds and vermouths.
Villa Era
Nestled along the picturesque Biella hill system stands Villa Era, from the ancient rural core transformed into an elegant residence in the late 1800s. The Villa is nestled in the lush greenery of the garden that borders the centuries-old vineyard, now cultivated biodynamically, to form an amphitheater whose beauty will take the event participants' breath away. Its new winery, opened in 2022, now produces three labels of Nebbiolo.
La Malpenga
The early 19th-century villa La Malpenga dominates the entire hillside of Vigliano Biellese, and its vineyards historically covered the entire slope. Already an icon in the area for its vegetable gardens and food and wine experiences, after a hiatus in production from the 1970s onward, La Malpenga has also recently resumed growing various clones of Nebbiolo for the production of Coste della Sesia.
Sunday, September 21 - 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
A special opportunity to explore how biodiversity, a daily choice that enriches our land, gives character to Castello di Montecavallo wines. Discover how each vine is part of a more complex ecosystem, how making a wine means respecting nature's timing, why every flower and every insect contributes to the balance of the vineyard and the personality of the wine.
In collaboration with FAI Giovani Biella and FAI Giovani Piemonte e Valle d'Aosta, we look forward to seeing you on Sunday, September 21 for a journey through land, nature and wine.
📍 Montecavallo Castle, Vigliano Biellese.
🕙 10:00 - 12:00 | 14:00 - 17:30
🍇 Free contribution event, with FAI Youth membership or renewal available on site.
Sunday, September 28 - 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Mani di Donne is back, a special day of women's crafts, culture and wine in the unique setting of Montecavallo Castle.
The program will include handmade exhibitions by the creative women of Manididonne, escorted tours of wineries and secret places in the castle by FAI, a Pilates matwork class organized by Elena Barbaglia of Studio Pilates EB, street food and live music.
There will be tastings of our wines throughout the day and a special aperitif moment at sunset in the courtyards of the castle to fully experience the autumn atmosphere among creativity, nature, history and authentic flavors.
Full details in the poster.
👉 F ree admission from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm (last admission at 6:00 pm)
Wine tastings at the counter €10
5:00 p.m. aperitif for a fee
Guided tours free donation to FAI from 5 euros
Mat Pilates class by reservation fee, write to 3394331144 or info@studiopilateseb.it
Past Events
Wine Houses
Montecavallo Castle, Villa Era and La Malpenga present:
WINE HOMES
October 6, 2024 - Vigliano Biellese
With the support of FAI and Vigliano Biellese Cittadelvino.
A day exploring the history of three mansions and their wines
Castello di Montecavallo, Villa Era and La Malpenga, three historical jewels united by viticulture and set among the picturesque vineyards and lush hills of the Biella region, open their doors and cellars on the occasion of the first edition of "Dimore di Vino."
In collaboration with FAI and Vigliano Biellese European City of Wine, on Sunday, October 6, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy an immersive and unexpected experience that will transport them to other eras for a day, with wine playing the starring role. In addition to wine tasting, in fact, "Dimore di Vino" will offer visitors a program of guided tours and master classes on wine, viticulture and history, discovering the centuries-old tradition of Biella wine and these mansions.
"Dwellings of Wine" is an unprecedented journey through the vineyards and cellars of historic residences, designed by these three entities to celebrate the wine culture of their area and let the Biellese public discover the richness and quality of its wines, surrounded by nature and architectural beauty.
The program is designed to offer visitors cultural activities, masterclasses and tastings throughout the day. Castello di Montecavallo will organize two masterclasses dedicated to the world of wine - one on winemaking processes from 1800 to the present and one on the art of tasting with a Nebbiolo vertical - as well as a guided tour of the park with Arboriculturist. Villa Era will guide visitors on an immersive tour of the villa and the holistic library - containing more than 3,000 volumes on the subject - the organic vineyards and the park, discovering its rich history of wine production. There will, of course, be no shortage of opportunities for visitors to taste wines from these wineries: both Castello di Montecavallo and Villa Era will offer tastings of their labels throughout the day in a direct access formula. Malpenga will offer a lecture in the morning by Michele Colombo and Domenico Calvelli on the winemaking tradition of the Vigliano Hill over the centuries, and in the afternoon a tour of the garden and vineyards accompanied by the owners. Unlike the other two mansions, La Malpenga will only be accessible for the two events at scheduled times, with reservations required.
THE THREE MANSIONS AND THEIR CELLARS:
Montecavallo Castle was born with wine. This enchanting setting will offer visitors the chance to experience and touch two centuries of viticulture, from the 1800s to the present. Its hillside was home to vineyards and a military fortification from the 13th century. In the 1930s, the castle and old winery were built on the ancient ruins, while the entire hill was replanted with new vineyards and landscaped with a garden. The new winery, now in the former stables, produces four labels of Nebbiolo.
Nestled along the picturesque Biella hill system stands Villa Era, from the ancient rural core transformed into an elegant residence in the late 1800s. The Villa is surrounded by the lush greenery of the garden that borders the centuries-old vineyard, now cultivated biodynamically, forming an amphitheater whose
beauty will take event attendees' breath away. His new winery, opened in 2022, now produces three Nebbiolo labels.
Villa La Malpenga, from the early 1800s, dominates the entire hillside of Vigliano Biellese, and its vineyards historically covered the entire slope. Already an icon in the area for its vegetable gardens and experiences
food and wine, after a hiatus in production from the 1970s onward, La Malpenga has also recently resumed growing various clones of Nebbiolo for the production of Coste della Sesia. The first label is scheduled to be launched in 2024.
EVENT DETAILS:
"Abodes of Wine" October 6, 2024
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry at 5:30 p.m.)
FAI ticket allowing access to all 3 mansions: offer 5 euros
Wine tastings: 2 tastings 10 euros at Castello di Montecavallo and Villa Era
Masterclasses and guided tours: free of charge with limited seating, registration required on-site at the mansions on the day of the event
More information on the official website of the FAI and on the Instagram pages Mansions of Wine , FAI Biella Delegation e FAI Youth Biella
FULL PROGRAM:
Attached is the PDF with the full program
Press Office Serena Schellino: s.schellino@castellodimontecavallo.it
A project by:
In collaboration with:
Supported by:
Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, Fai Days of Spring returns.
Come discover places, rooms, unseen spaces of the Castle with tasting of our wines at the counter for 10 euros.
It will be possible to visit the 19th-century wine cellar, gardens, icehouse, chapel, lemon house, and for the first time, the castle dining room.
Tours every hour, with a maximum group size of 20 to 30 people, no reservation required.
More information can be found at Fai
Experience the magic of sunset in Montecavallo with our evening tasting.
After visiting the cellars of Montecavallo Castle, from its production in the 1800s to the present day, you can taste our wines while enjoying the lights and sounds of spring evenings in Montecavallo's courtyards, admiring the sun setting over the castle walls.
Tasting of 4 glasses perfectly paired with a selection of amuse-bouche by Chef Francesco Morano of the restaurant "Pinocchio" in Borgomanero.
* Wine selection may vary depending on seasonality and availability