Corsa delle Botti and Monferrato in Tavola

A tradition rolling since the 19th century

The Corsa delle Botti in Nizza Monferrato, located in the heart of the Province of Asti, is one of the most iconic historical events in the Monferrato region. It is rooted in a genuine 19th-century practice: during the height of the local wine industry, the delivery of barrels to cellars was entrusted to young apprentices known as ghersonèt, who would roll the barrels through the town's narrow streets. To reach their destination first, these youths would engage in impromptu races—a noisy spectacle that only faded with the rise of urban traffic and the decline of traditional barrel-making after the 1950s.

The tradition was revived in 1978 as a historical re-enactment, and since then, the town of Nizza Monferrato celebrates every year by bringing the barrels back to the streets.

The race: strength, skill, and a hundred-kilo challenge

The heart of the event is the challenge between teams of pushers. Each team consists of three or four competitors plus a manager; in turns, one athlete at a time pushes the bonsa, a barrel weighing at least one hundred kilograms. The barrels are weighed and fire-branded before the race, and a jury monitors for irregularities, with the power to disqualify teams that break the rules.

The participants are wineries, cooperatives, and individual producers from Nizza Monferrato and neighboring towns, who train for months. The competition is structured into qualifying rounds, semi-finals, and a final, held along the streets of the historic center.

Monferrato in Tavola: the cuisine of the Pro Loco

Running alongside the race, Piazza Garibaldi hosts Monferrato in Tavola, a large food and wine festival organized by local Pro Loco associations. Here, visitors can enjoy traditional Monferrato dishes paired with local wines: black truffle tajarin, hand-cut beef tartare, Barbera risotto, Bazzanese-style mixed fry, and tongue in green sauce. A fun detail for visitors is the festival's own currency, the Carlini—commemorative tokens used to pay for food and drinks at the stalls.

A weekend of celebration for the whole city

The race and the feast are surrounded by three days of entertainment: parades, live music, performances by the Palio Committee flag-wavers, the local marching band, children's activities organized by the 'Soffitta dei Bambini,' and the Corsa delle Botti Junior, dedicated to younger participants. It is a popular festival that blends sport, folklore, rural heritage, and gastronomy, drawing visitors and enthusiasts from all over Piedmont to the Monferrato region every June.