"Essence" escape: 1 night at Cascina Binè Wine Relais in Gavi

Spend one night at Cascina Binè in Novi Ligure,a bout 1 hour from Genoa and 1 hour 20 minutes from Turin by car. Surrounded by the vineyards of southern Piedmont, this family-run winery and restored farmhouse offer a quiet setting where you can combine a stay among the vines with a closer introduction to the wines of Gavi and Monferrato.

After checking in, you'll have time to settle into your room before the “Le Selezioni” tasting experience begins. Your visit will be personally led by a member of the Binè family or by Marzia, the estate’s Hospitality Manager. They will guide you through the vineyards and winery, explaining the family’s approach to wine production. The tour includes the distinctive amphitheater-shaped vineyard, one of the estate’s signatures, before continuing into the cellar.

The tasting takes place in the garden when the weather is suitable, or in the estate’s indoor tasting room in cooler or rainy conditions. You will then enjoy a guided tasting of 4 Binè wines, selected to showcase the main grapes and styles of the estate. The range is rooted in Cortese, the grape behind Gavi DOCG, and Barbera. Depending on the day's selection, you may taste the fresh and mineral Gavi DOCG Binè, the more structured single-vineyard Gavi DOCG “11”, or reds such as Ni·Lo Piemonte DOC Barbera and the oak-aged Primo Ottobre Piemonte DOC Barbera.

The wines are accompanied by a selection of Piedmontese specialties, that may include  Testa in Cassetta, Salamino al Gavi from Tassarolo, Toma Piemontese, or Formaggetta delle Capanne, giving you a taste of local food traditions.

Your evening is free to dine and explore the area at your own pace. The following morning, a breakfast with continental, Italian, and vegetarian choices is included at Cascina Binè. It may feature fresh fruit juice, homemade cakes, and other sweet and savory items, served before your departure.