The Vinery Tower

A tower as a bulwark, a symbol of presence and a lookout and reference point in the whole Monferrato.
Its shape is unmistakable as its lure: planted in between the vineyards, bumps and ridges designed by vines and grapes of Barbera or Dolcetto, Moscato or Brachetto. An eye that’s been supervising for the last 60 years on wine-making methods and on the generations of men who have expertly created our DOC and DOCG wines.

Finished to build in 1956 behind the design made by the oenologist Emilio Sernagiotto,it is one of the last three Vinery Towers still existing in Italy. Its particular form rationalizes the wine work following the principles of the “condominium”.
Its 17,850 hl capacity made it, since the beginnings, an ideal place to contain the wine during the year, thanks to its ability to keep the temperature constant and because the operation of emptying the tanks may simply take place thanks to gravity force.
Ask us to climb its 108 steps to enjoy the view of the surrounding vineyards and, on clear days, the snow-capped Alps from the Monviso till the Monte Rosa.

The Vinery Tower, symbol of La Torre di Castel Rocchero, is an integral part of our name and still remains the heart of our winery.

Going up the 108 steps, the 360-degrees panorama that opens to tourists and curious’ eyes is breathtaking: from the smooth flowing of the hills belonging to Astisan Langa, your gaze wanders till the snow-capped Alps in the clear days.

It was designed in 1953, by Emilio Sernagiotto.

Sernagiotto, born in Santa Maria della Versa,on the hills of Oltrepo Pavese, on July 13th 1925, had a full and eclectic life.

He spent his childhood and youth in Casteggio where his father ran the Local Social Winery and then founded with his brother Raphael the Sernagiotto Spa, a manufacture of wine-making machines, water treatment plants and diesel engines passed later to the Ansaldo multinational group.

In between the mid-sixties and early seventies he held several positions, becoming president of AEI (Italian Association of Enotechnicians), vice president of the Union International des Oenologues in France, Onav (Italian National Order of wine tasters) and editor of “The Enotecnico” magazine.

He was also a founder and honorary member of AIS (Italian Sommelier Association) and an academic from AIVV (Italian Academy of Vine and Wine). He developed and patented the process of thermo-vinification, making it available for all Italian wineries: a system that allowed a great innovation. Among his passions you can also list the flight, so much to be appointed president of the Aeroclub of Voghera.

Emilio Sernagiotto has died in Voghera in 2004.