Canelli
Encyclopedia
Canelli is a comune
(municipality) of 10,440 inhabitants in the Province of Asti
in the Italian
region of Piedmont
.
Canelli is located on a bend of the river Belbo
in the Alto Monferrato (High Monferrat), close to the border with the Langhe
. The area around the town is rich in vineyard
s. The area is believed to be the birth place of the Italian sparkling wine
Asti. The village's history of the wine is still evident today with the popular synonym
of Muscat Canelli that is still used for the Moscato grape used to produce the wine.
The neighbouring comuni are Bubbio
, Calamandrana
, Calosso
, Cassinasco
, Loazzolo
, Moasca
and San Marzano Oliveto
in the province of Asti, and Santo Stefano Belbo
in the province of Cuneo
.
. In Roman times it became a center of some importance, surrounded by numerous farms on which vines were cultivated.
After the Roman era Canelli fell into a long decline, but was already being called a citta (town) by the year 961. By the middle of the 12th century, the descendants of the Counts of Acqui Terme
had taken control.
In 1235 Canelli became an equal partner in the Republic of Asti and Canelli. It became an outpost in the republic's frequent wars against its great rival, the Duchy of Monferrato.
In 1613 Canelli broke the siege laid by Carlo I, later the Duke of Mantua
, as part of a war of succession with the Duchy of Monferrato. The town's defenses were manned by soldiers from the Duchy of Savoy
, actively supported by the citizens: Carlo's troops were unable to break through them. This heroic action is celebrated in a re-enactment that takes place every year in the third weekend in June - the Assedio di Canelli (Siege of Canelli).
On the night of 5 November 1994 the town was badly hit by a violent flood of the river Belbo
that affected a large part of the town, devastating the local economy and causing some casualties.
and Vado Ligure
. The castle was destroyed in 1617 during the war against Monferrato. Rebuilt and renovated in 1930 by Arturo Midana as an elegant villa, it is currently owned by the Gancia
family.
Some sparkling white wines in Canelli are stored in its underground cellars. In these 'underground cathedrals', which are feats of engineering, millions of bottles are left to ferment at a constant temperature between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius. Extending 13 kilometers under the town, the cellars of Canelli are currently a candidate for UNESCO
World Heritage Site
status.
The main varieties cultivated in the municipality are:
The main wines produced are:
The significant number of wineries has also given rise to many companies that produce wine-making equipment.
The flood of 1994 was a disaster for the local economy: the mud and water that rushed into the cellars caused millions of Euros of fermenting wine to be lost. Fortunately, the economic diversification into wine-making equipment served, to some extent, to soften the blow.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) of 10,440 inhabitants in the Province of Asti
Province of Asti
The Province of Asti is a province in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Asti. To the north west it borders on the province of Turin; to the south west it borders on the province of Cuneo. To the east it borders on the province of Alessandria, while in the south it...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region of Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
.
Canelli is located on a bend of the river Belbo
Belbo
The Belbo is a river of southern Piedmont, Italy. It is a right-side tributary of the Tanaro.The Belbo rises in the Langhe, on the borders between Piedmont and Liguria in the hills of Montezemolo....
in the Alto Monferrato (High Monferrat), close to the border with the Langhe
Langhe
The Langhe is a hilly area to the south and east of the river Tanaro in the province of Cuneo in Piedmont, northern Italy....
. The area around the town is rich in vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s. The area is believed to be the birth place of the Italian sparkling wine
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
Asti. The village's history of the wine is still evident today with the popular synonym
Synonym
Synonyms are different words with almost identical or similar meanings. Words that are synonyms are said to be synonymous, and the state of being a synonym is called synonymy. The word comes from Ancient Greek syn and onoma . The words car and automobile are synonyms...
of Muscat Canelli that is still used for the Moscato grape used to produce the wine.
The neighbouring comuni are Bubbio
Bubbio
Bubbio is a comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km southeast of Turin and about 25 km southeast of Asti...
, Calamandrana
Calamandrana
Calamandrana is a comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km southeast of Turin and about 20 km southeast of Asti...
, Calosso
Calosso
Calosso is a rural comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km southeast of Turin and about 20 km south of Asti in the hilly area between the Tanaro and Belbo and on the borders between Monferrato and Langa...
, Cassinasco
Cassinasco
Cassinasco is a comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km southeast of Turin and about 25 km southeast of Asti...
, Loazzolo
Loazzolo
Loazzolo is a comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont , located about 60 km southeast of Turin and about 25 km south of Asti....
, Moasca
Moasca
Moasca is a comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km southeast of Turin and about 15 km southeast of Asti...
and San Marzano Oliveto
San Marzano Oliveto
San Marzano Oliveto is a comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km southeast of Turin and about 20 km southeast of Asti.-Geography:...
in the province of Asti, and Santo Stefano Belbo
Santo Stefano Belbo
Santo Stefano Belbo is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km southeast of Turin and about 60 km northeast of Cuneo....
in the province of Cuneo
Province of Cuneo
ayr is a province in the southwest of the Piedmont region of Italy. To the west it borders on the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ....
.
History
The territory of Canelli was already occupied in prehistoric times by settlers from LiguriaLiguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
. In Roman times it became a center of some importance, surrounded by numerous farms on which vines were cultivated.
After the Roman era Canelli fell into a long decline, but was already being called a citta (town) by the year 961. By the middle of the 12th century, the descendants of the Counts of Acqui Terme
Acqui Terme
Acqui Terme is a city and comune of Piedmont, northern Italy, in the province of Alessandria. It is c. 35 km SSW of Alessandria...
had taken control.
In 1235 Canelli became an equal partner in the Republic of Asti and Canelli. It became an outpost in the republic's frequent wars against its great rival, the Duchy of Monferrato.
In 1613 Canelli broke the siege laid by Carlo I, later the Duke of Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
, as part of a war of succession with the Duchy of Monferrato. The town's defenses were manned by soldiers from the Duchy of Savoy
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
, actively supported by the citizens: Carlo's troops were unable to break through them. This heroic action is celebrated in a re-enactment that takes place every year in the third weekend in June - the Assedio di Canelli (Siege of Canelli).
On the night of 5 November 1994 the town was badly hit by a violent flood of the river Belbo
Belbo
The Belbo is a river of southern Piedmont, Italy. It is a right-side tributary of the Tanaro.The Belbo rises in the Langhe, on the borders between Piedmont and Liguria in the hills of Montezemolo....
that affected a large part of the town, devastating the local economy and causing some casualties.
Places of interest
Canelli Castle was built in the 11th century to defend the roads leading to the ports of SavonaSavona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
and Vado Ligure
Vado Ligure
Vado Ligure, in antiquity Vado Sabatia, is a town and comune in the province of Savona, Liguria, in northern Italy.- Economy :Vado has a large industrial and commercial port....
. The castle was destroyed in 1617 during the war against Monferrato. Rebuilt and renovated in 1930 by Arturo Midana as an elegant villa, it is currently owned by the Gancia
Gancia
Gancia is an Italian wine-making company. It was founded in 1850 by Carlo Gancia in the Piemonte region of Italy, and was a pioneer in creating the first Italian sparkling wine...
family.
Some sparkling white wines in Canelli are stored in its underground cellars. In these 'underground cathedrals', which are feats of engineering, millions of bottles are left to ferment at a constant temperature between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius. Extending 13 kilometers under the town, the cellars of Canelli are currently a candidate for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
status.
Economy
The economy of Canelli is based on the production of sparkling wine, and of everything associated with it. The town is undoubtedly one of the wine capitals of the world, being home to such historic wineries as Gancia, Bosca, Contratto, Coppo and many others.The main varieties cultivated in the municipality are:
- MoscatoMoscatoMoscato can have several meanings see:*Muscat *Judah Moscato *Vincent Moscato...
- BarberaBarberaBarbera is a red Italian wine grape variety that, as of 2000, was the third most-planted red grape variety in Italy . It produces good yields and is known for deep color, low tannins and high levels of acid...
- DolcettoDolcettoDolcetto is a black wine grape variety widely grown in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. The Italian word dolcetto means "little sweet one", but it is not certain that the name originally carried any reference to the grape’s sugar levels: it is possible that it derives from the name of the...
- CorteseCorteseCortese is a white Italian wine grape variety predominantly grown in the southeastern regions of Piedmont in the provinces of Alessandria and Asti. It is the primary grape of the Denominazione di origine controllata wines of Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato and Colli Tortonesi as well as the...
- ChardonnayChardonnayChardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
The main wines produced are:
- Asti
- Moscato d'AstiMoscato d'AstiMoscato d'Asti is a "Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita" sparkling white wine produced mainly in the province of Asti, north-west Italy, and in smaller nearby regions in the provinces of Alessandria and Cuneo. The wine is sweet and low in alcohol, and often enjoyed with dessert. ...
- Barbera d'AstiBarbera d'AstiBarbera d'Asti is an Italian red wine made from the Barbera grape variety. It is produced in the hilly areas of the provinces of Asti and Alexandria...
- Dolcetto d'Asti
- Cortese dell'Alto Monferrato
- Freisa d'Asti
The significant number of wineries has also given rise to many companies that produce wine-making equipment.
The flood of 1994 was a disaster for the local economy: the mud and water that rushed into the cellars caused millions of Euros of fermenting wine to be lost. Fortunately, the economic diversification into wine-making equipment served, to some extent, to soften the blow.
Festivals and events
- Assedio di Canelli (Siege of Canelli); 3rd weekend in June. See this Youtube video
- Citta del Vino (City of Wine Festival); 4th weekend in September.
- Fiera di San Martino (St. Martin's Fair); 2nd Sunday in November.
- Fiera Regionale del Tartufo (Regional Truffle Fair); 2nd Sunday in November.
- Canelli is one of the comuni (municipalities) that participates in the Palio di AstiPalio di AstiThe Palio di Asti is a traditional Italian festival of medieval origin that culminates with a bareback horse race....
. In 1974 it triumphed with the rider Mauro Finotto (nicknamed Jora) on the horse Anin / Spumantino.
Twinned towns
Canelli is twinned with:- Menfi, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
- Piazza ArmerinaPiazza ArmerinaPiazza Armerina is an Italian comune in the province of Enna of the autonomous island region of Sicily.-History:...
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... - MezőtúrMezotúrMezőtúr is a town of Hungary, in the county of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, 88 m. southeast of Budapest by rail. It possesses important potteries. Large herds of cattle are reared on the communal lands, which are productive also of wheat, rapeseed and maize...
, HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...