Golosaria Monferrato – Stops in Olivola

Golosaria in Olivola, taste among the hills of Monferrato

Every spring, the municipality of Olivola, a tiny village of just over a hundred inhabitants nestled on a hill in the Lower Monferrato, in the province of Alessandria, joins the vast map of Golosaria tra i Castelli del Monferrato. The event, created by Paolo Massobrio and Marco Gatti's Club di Papillon, involves over forty towns between the provinces of Alessandria and Asti each year, turning the Piedmontese food and wine scene into a widespread itinerary of cellars, olive groves, historic mansions, and artisan workshops.

Olivola, the first 'City of Oil' in Piedmont

The town's very name reveals its vocation: in Olivola, the olive tree is an ancient crop that has returned to prominence in recent decades thanks to varieties like the Bianchera. In 2024, Olivola became the first 'City of Oil' in Piedmont, joining the national association that brings together municipalities with an olive-growing tradition. During Golosaria, the village puts extra virgin olive oil center stage, with its symbol, the «L'Unico» EVO oil from Olivola, being featured and tasted at multiple stops.

What to experience in the village

The days of Golosaria in Olivola weave together flavors, culture, and landscape. Highlights of the program include:

• Oliviera – tasting and storytelling of Monferrato oil, with small masterclasses by reservation;
• Bricco dei Guazzi – tour of the estate with its 16th-century infernot and glass-in-hand tasting;
• Atelier Gianmaria Sabatini – the art of Pietra da Cantoni, the typical sandstone of Monferrato, open to the public;
• Azienda San Pietro – sunset aperitif in the olive grove, featuring local products;
• Villa Guazzo Candiani – with its infernot and gourmet stops in the heart of the village.

A Monferrato to discover one step at a time

Visiting Olivola during Golosaria means discovering an authentic and uncrowded Monferrato, where hills covered in vineyards and olive groves, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, provide the backdrop for slow, high-quality tourism. For one weekend, the cellars, the infernot cellars carved into the Pietra da Cantoni, and the olive groves become stops on a journey through the taste and identity of this corner of Piedmont.