Words and photos: Charis Stank
Barolo Monfortino is a red wine made from Nebbiolo grapes that is sold for amounts that run into four figures. Thankfully, those who visit the Barolo Bar Monforte do not have to dig so deep into their pockets as the wine and rural cuisine of the Barolo region can be enjoyed in the bar located in the centre of Monforte d’Alba.
How it all began
In 2012, and in her early thirties at the time, Silvia Aiassa took over the Barolo Bar in Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. She is the third owner of the bar and, in addition to this, is now also responsible for another business: the Enoteca di Monforte. Silvia is dedicated. Her family lives in the Turin area, but parental farming is not her thing, so after training as a caterer, she moved to the hilly landscape of the Langhe, rich in wine and hazelnuts. Wineries and vines inspired the young woman much more, and life with the bar promised her a place in the midst of this world of vintners.
For the Barolo Bar, the change of ownership really meant change. Silvia combined the inn and the enoteca and added hot dishes to the menu. She buys her ingredients from local producers and the recipes come from the cookbooks of Piedmontese families. Because in the Barolo region almost every guest wants to taste the noble grapes from Nebbiolo to Barbera to Dolcetto, choosing which wines to provide was easy – especially since Monforte d’Alba is a significant part of the world-famous wine-growing region of Barolo.
What Silvia Aiassa and her team have created is quickly becoming a popular meeting place for locals and guests in Monforte d’Alba. Time and again, the door of the inn, which is housed in a historic vault, opens, through which fellow countrymen, winegrowers from the neighbourhood, friendly chefs or oenologists enter. Many have an appointment, others end the day with a short dinner at the bar. Often there is still time for a little conversation with Silvia or the guests at the neighbouring tables.
It’s fun to watch all the goings-on. With a glass of wine and a plate of ravioli al Plin (Agnolotti del Plin), you can immerse yourself in the Piedmontese way of life. For that reason alone, it’s worth a visit. On selected evenings, which Yvonne is always happy to reveal, live music is played in the Barolo Bar. With a bit of luck, these may be guests of the Serafina Quota cultural association.
It is definitely worth booking a table at Barolo Bar Monforte!
A perfect location
To visit the Barolo Bar, you walk down a narrow alley between the market square and the church. The modest space in front of the door is only big enough to fit a few narrow tables. The interior is divided into two rooms, so if you come in summer be sure to secure a seat on the opposite terrace next to the church portal. From here, the view of the old town of Monforte is fantastic. There is a weekly market every Monday, otherwise it’s worthwhile doing your shopping in the late morning where you can sit down for lunch on the terrace of the bar.
Tip: It’s worth visiting the “Chiesa Parrocchiale Madonna della Neve a Monforte d’Alba” right next to the bar.
What tastes good here
Work up an appetite: Mixed crostinos with carne cruda (tartare), salads and cheese.
Main: Minestrone, Ravioli al Plin (vegetable or meat filling), Pinsa with cheese and tomatoes
Dessert: Cheese, ice cream, bonèt (chocolate flan), panna cotta
Homemade dark chocolate, espresso, sambuca (always say “doppio!” when pouring 😉 We learned this from Tuomo).
Wines: From the region
Good to know
Silvia and her team offer catering with and without wine accompaniment for the Serafina houses where a Marende or various hot dishes can be brought to guests’ homes on request.
BAROLO BAR Monforte d’Alba
Silvia Aiasso
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 11
12065 Monforte d’Alba (Cuneo) Italy
Link to Google-Maps
This article is featured in Schönste Zeit magazine, titled “Piedmontese cuisine, wine and live music: the Barolo Bar is where Monforte meets”.
