01/10/2026 - 31/12/2027
Cartosio

Description

An evocative journey through the finest local agricultural produce and traditional specialties - much more than simple pleasures for the palate. These products are the purest expression of biodiversity, artisan dedication and local rural knowledge. This is not a story to be told, but an experience to enjoy with all your senses. Walking through nature and visiting local producers, discovering age-old traditions and uncovering the secrets of skills handed down through generations, means connecting deeply with the identity of the land. It is an invitation to rediscover the value of slow living, craftsmanship and a close connection with the land, where outstanding local produce becomes landscape, culture and unforgettable memories.


With the arrival of spring, the limestone slopes, woodlands and dry grasslands of Alta Monferrato transform into a landscape of extraordinary natural beauty. It is here that one of the area’s most fascinating and unexpected botanical spectacles takes place: the flowering of wild orchids.

Far removed from the exuberance and tropical settings of their exotic cousins, wild orchids captivate with their extraordinary biodiversity, delicate forms and remarkable evolutionary adaptations. They remain almost hidden among the scents and colors of wild vegetation and rows of vineyards.

Cascina Roccabianca in Cartosio is a farm committed to protecting wild orchids and is involved
in the LIFE NATCONNECT 2030 project. Remarkably, the municipality of Cartosio is home to 22 species of wild orchids!
Rossella and Maurilio manage the 16-hectare farm, where cultivated land with vineyards, hazelnut groves and fruit trees alternates with woodland of chestnut and hazelnut trees overlooking natural meadows used for animal grazing and forage. This sustainable oasis is supplied with water from natural springs, while the crops and vineyards are organically certified. From March, the first small delicate jewels begin to emerge. From late May, look out for the remarkable "Himantoglossum adriaticum", a species listed under the EU Habitats Directive and a true symbol of the area’s biodiversity.

Are you ready for a walk among the orchids? Camera in hand, capture these natural treasures and take them home with you – in photographs only, of course! Round off this experience with a tasting of the farm’s organic products.

During the autumn months, the farm offers educational activities for families, including a walk in the company of sheep. Experience the magic of autumn on a walk in the company of sheep through woods and vineyards ablaze with color. Learn to recognize different trees and take part in creative workshops using fallen leaves. At the end of the walk, relax in the winery surrounded by the aromas from fermenting must and enjoy a glass of wine or a warm cup of herbal tea made from freshly picked herbs.