Vine trekking: Hiking through the Tenuta Carretta estate and vineyards

The “Paradise Trail”

Nestled in the vineyard-dotted landscape of Roero, the “Paradise Trail” is a “vine trekking” itinerary ideal for those who love the colors, sounds, and smells of nature in its truest form. A 2.2-kilometer trails that takes most people, at an easy pace, around 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. It’s entirely unpaved, with very little shade. It starts at the winery’s wine shop and then passes through a green maze of vines before reaching Bric Paradiso, “Paradise Hill.” The route is a relatively easy one: The climbs are gradual and aren’t too steep and even those unaccustomed to hiking will find it pleasant. Podio, Bric Quercia, and Bric Paradiso: From west to east, these are the three vineyards that make the hike so special. The stop at Bric Quercia, in the middle of the trail, is the most beautiful and inspiring. From atop the hillside vineyard, you enjoy a more than 180° view toward the southeast and you can see the entire estate of Tenuta Carretta.

The winery is located in Piobesi d’Alba, six kilometers from the capital of the Langhe Hills, the city of Alba. Here, the Tenuta Carretta estate covers 35 hectares, most of which are planted to Arneis vines. The gentle configuration of the hills surrounding the estate creates a gorgeous amphitheater of vines, an enchanting tableau for our guests to enjoy. The estate’s winery produces top expressions of Langhe and Roero winemaking: From Barolo to Barbaresco, from Roero (Nebbiolo) to Roero Arneis. The vine trekking trail lies at around 260 meters above sea level and it allows hikers to experience vineyards plants to different grape varieties throughout their walk: Mostly Arneis but also Nebbiolo and Barbera. When they reach the Podio vineyard, they get to see vines from which our Langhe Nebbiolo DOC is made. At Bric Quercia, they walk through the vines where we grow grapes for our Barbera d’Alba Superiore. And at Bric Paradiso, they visit the vines used to produce our Roero DOCG Riserva. The trail is completely unpaved, which makes it easy to see the nuances of the soil types: From sandy soils and limestone to areas with more compact clay soils.