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The 45th Parallel of Great Wines
Coincidence, destiny,
history and nature all play their part in telling the tale of this land of ours.
The Oltrepo' Pavese is part of the
province of Pavia and it is located south of the River Po'. The Oltrepo' Pavese. at one time, called "Antico Piemonte" (Old
Piedmont), is an area blessed with a near-perfect balance between its geological make-up and the prevailing microclimatic
conditions, rendering it ideal for vine cultivation.
Another important factor, that helps to explain why this area
has been used for viticultural purposes since ancient times, is that it is situated at precisely the half-way between the
North Pole and the Equator, right on the 45th Parallel. Let us remember that the area between the 40th and 50th Parallel of
the northern hemisphere is the so-called 'wine belt'. All the pre-requisites and pre-conditions for producing wines of the
highest quality are to be found here, on the lush and generous hills of the Oltrepo' Pavese.
As a matter of fact, as if
to confirm its viticultural vocation, The Oltrepo' Pavese region is shaped like a bunch of grapes.
Since antiquity,
viticulture has been the protagonist in the history of this land; The Oltrepo' Pavese is an ocean of vineyards that covers
the valley, and La Versa, with its combined estates totaling 5,200 acres, can claim with confidence to be the leading representative
of winemaking in the area.
The jewels in the crown of this wonderful area are the hillside villages that populate it
and breath life into the valley, safeguarding it, and making the most of all that the land has to offer. Each village has
its own tales to tell.
Montescano
We are on the left bank of the River Versa, at the foot of a series of hills
dedicated to the cultivation of Bonarda, Barbera, Buttafuoco, Riesling and Pinot grapes. According to a text dating from 1099,
the name of this village derives from the Latin Mons Tuscanus, and the village itself - which currently has around 400 inhabitants
- owes its origins to an ancient landowner from Etruria. In 1941, the Sanctuary of Madonna di Caravaggio was built here.
Canneto
Pavese
It is said that the Montue' Castle had 365 windows. It is also said that the small central village was the scene
of bloody encounters between the Beccaria, Belcredi, Gabbi and other noble families, including the Malpaga, who gave their
name to the castle. In 1818, the castle shot to fame when it played host to Queen Caroline Amelia, wife of George IV of Hannover,
but today all that is left of it are underground ruins.
Santa Maria della Versa
The origins of the town are to
be found in an old church that dates from 1639: it is here that the 15th-century image of the Virgin Mary was discovered in
a local chapel and gave the town its name. It was only in 1897 that Santa Maria La Versa was awarded its autonomy and declared
a comune: until then it was only a district of Soriasco, but the importance of local business and the development of trade
along the floor of the valley transformed this little village into a booming town.
Montù Beccaria
According to
the documents of Frederick I, in the 12th-Century this village was called Mons Acutus. It experienced a period of turmoil
from 1214 to 1216 as it was occupied by troops from Milan and Pavia loyal to Otto IV, during the conflict between Pavia and
those cities under Papal control. The name of the village is an homage to Aureliano Beccaria, who, in 1529, gifted several
properties to the local Barnabite Fathers, who used them to found a religious college.
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Castana
We have arrived at the frontier between the Scuropasso
Valley and the Valle Versa. Thanks to substantial restoration over the centuries, there are still remains of the most significant
building in this area, Saint Bartholemew's Monastery, built in 1200. It was the scene of several important historical events:
it was stormed in 1290 by troops loyal to the Marquis of Monferrato; it then witnessed the passage of power from the Borromei
to the Arrigoni Casati, and was subjected to a sub-division at the hands of Filippo Maria Visconti.
Golferenzo
Looking
up, we can see this village resting on a promontory that dominates the whole of the Valle Versa. There is little documentary
evidence of its history. What is know for certain is that the village was also part of the dominion of Frederick I (also known
as 'Redbeard'). Another feudal dynasty, the Belcredi, then retained the village as part of their dominion until the end of
the feudal epoch.
Volpara
Over on the right bank of the River Versa, we come across the village of Volpara. The
name is no doubt derived from the great number of wolves that used to populate the surrounding forests. The earliest information
we have on the village dates from 1014 and documents that Arrigo I divested the Marquis d'Este of a number of properties,
one of which was the Castle of Volpara.
Rovescala
"Path of the Oaks" would appear to be the origin of the name
of our next stop, the village of Rovescala. Even today we can gaze in wonder at the still-intact tower of the old castle,
which, although ravaged by fire in 1215, was then fortified in 1361 at the behest of Galeazzo Visconti. However, the village
is named in documents dating from before the year 1000, and is later stated to have been one of the villages controlled by
Frederick I.
Montecalvo Versiggia
On the horizon we can see an isolated hill, and on its summit there lies the
village of Montecalvo Versiggia, with its imposing medieval castle dominating the area. In the past, the feifdom had come
under attack from a series of families, such as Filippo Maria Visconti, Rinaldo and Claudio Beccaria, all of whom assumed
control at one time or another. In 1701, the Belcredi became the Marquises of Moncalvo and retained control of the castle
and the surrounding farmland until the 18th century.
Canevino
Our next stop, the village of Canevino, was part
of the feifdom of the Cicognola during the Middle Ages, but well before that, back in 930, it had been visited by monks transporting
the remains of Saint Columba from Bobbio to Pavia under orders from Ugo of Provenza, King of Italy in 926. Today we can admire
the village as a pure expression of rural nature.
Ruino
We are at 600 meters above sea level, with a beautiful
view of the entire valley below. The remains of the castle are a testament to its history; Ruino was gifted in 972 by Otto
II to the Monastery of Saint Columba of Bobbio, and was governed by the Ruino family, probably descended from the Counts Palatini
di Lomello.
We have reached the end of our little virtual tour. The wonders of the Oltrepo' Pavese await you.
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