Wine Barrel Race – Nizza Monferrato

8-9 June 2024. A traditional race with barrels. And tastings of local food and wine.

On June Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th 2024, Nizza Monferrato, in the province of Asti, hosts the Wine Barrel Race.

At Wine Barrel Race winery firms, winemakers and local producers challenge one another to a 200 years old race, where shop boys used to deliver barrels by rolling them in the streets and started to compete.

On Saturday, barrels are weighed, branded, tested and finally accepted for the race. Every team has a supervisor and 3 or 4 pushers, who push a 100 kg barrel (“bonsa”) in turn. A panel of judges is in charge of the race regulation, they can disqualify a team whether irregularities are committed

On Sunday, two tournaments compete in the semi-final. Only the first three teams get into the Finals.

Along with the Wine Barrel Race, it is held Monferrato on the Table (Monferrato in Tavola), a local food and wine fair with tastings of traditional specialties from Monferrato such as tajarin with black truffles, agnolotti and risotto with Barbera wine and much more.
In program handcrafts, local stands, an antique market, live music and entertainment for kids.

The currency of exchange is Carlino, specifically coined in honor of the Town’s Saint.

Want to know what are Piedmont’s traditional dishes?