A Food and Wine Day in Alto Piemonte from Stresa

Just inland from Lake Maggiore, in the hills between Maggiore and Lake Orta, is Alto Piemonte — a quietly serious wine country built on Nebbiolo, the same grape as Barolo, and the native Vespolina. A half-day from Stresa gets you a vineyard walk, glasses poured at an unhurried pace, and a long Piedmontese table.

It is not a lakeside outing — it is the hills behind the lake, and that is the point.

Where the wine actually comes from

Alto Piemonte is the wine region north of Novara. Its best-known names are Gattinara and Ghemme; the everyday bottles carry the Colline Novaresi DOC. The grapes to know are Nebbiolo, which gives the structured reds, and Vespolina, the local specialty. This is the quieter, cooler cousin of the famous Langhe to the south — less crowded, and only a short drive from the lake.

The tastings

An unhurried introduction at an Alto Piemonte winery: a walk through the vines, then five glasses (three on request) with small tastings of local bread, cured meats and seasonal cheeses. About two hours, from 35 € per person.

A small family winery in the heart of the Colline Novaresi, between the two lakes, pouring three DOC wines from native Nebbiolo and Vespolina alongside artisan cured meats and cheeses. The wines are vegan-certified. About 90 minutes, from 40 € per person.

Make it a meal: the Merenda Sinoira

The Merenda Sinoira is a Piedmontese institution — a long late-afternoon spread that sits somewhere between a snack and a dinner. Three wines paired with a sequence of traditional antipasti: vitello tonnato, smoked-trout crostoni, veal tongue with green sauce, cheeses and cured meats, finishing on a glass of the house liqueur. About 2.5 hours, from 45 € per person. It runs at the same estate as the vineyard tasting, in a fuller format — the one to book if you want the food to lead.

Or taste from the saddle

If you would rather earn the tasting, the Bike & Food Day threads Alto Piemonte on Bianchi pedal-assist e-bikes — manageable for most fitness levels — with a stop at a local artisan producer to taste along the way. A full day, from 500 €.

How to plan it — and the honest caveat

• This is inland, not lakeside. The wineries sit in the hills around Borgata Baceno, not in Stresa. Treat it as a half-day, and plan to drive or arrange a transfer.
• Several experiences can arrange a transfer from Lake Maggiore towns on request — sort it when you book rather than on the day.
• Don't bolt it onto a packed island day. It deserves its own slot; the pleasure here is the slow pace.

FAQ

What wine is Alto Piemonte known for?

Nebbiolo — the same grape as Barolo, grown here in the hills north of Novara, along with the native Vespolina. The area's best-known appellations include Gattinara and Ghemme, and the everyday wines carry the Colline Novaresi DOC. The wineries sit in the hills between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta.

Can you do a wine tasting near Lake Maggiore?

Yes. An Alto Piemonte vineyard tasting runs about two hours with five glasses and local bread, cured meats and cheeses, from 35 € per person. A family winery in the Colline Novaresi pours three DOC wines from native Nebbiolo and Vespolina, from 40 € per person.

How do you get to the Alto Piemonte wineries from Stresa?

They are inland, in the hills around Borgata Baceno, not on the lake itself — so plan a half-day and drive or arrange a transfer. Several of the experiences can arrange a transfer from Lake Maggiore towns such as Stresa and Baveno on request; confirm the details when you book.

Is there a wine experience that includes a full meal?

Yes. The Piedmontese Merenda Sinoira pairs three wines with a spread of traditional antipasti — vitello tonnato, smoked-trout crostoni, cheeses and cured meats — and a final house liqueur, from 45 € per person. It runs at the same estate as the vineyard tasting, in a fuller format.