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Location: Vignale Monferrato, Alessandria. Piedmont, Italy.

The calcareous, marly hills of Monferrato are slightly northeast of Alba’s rolling Langhe country, between Asti and Alessandria. Here, the Piedmontese dialect and cuisine acquire distinct accents, and winemaking favors such intriguing natives as Barbera, Grignolino, Malvasia Rossa. Maestro of all three is Mauro Gaudio of Gaudio Bricco Mondalino. The Gaudio family, the name, by the way, auspiciously means “Bliss” in Italian, is deeply rooted in the area. The Gaudios have been making Monferrato wine for three centuries, and commenced to estate bottle under the present label in 1973; hence, the rigor and respect with which Mauro interprets his terroir and varieties.

The winery takes its name from the highest point of Mondalino hill (“bricco” or “bric," in Piedmontese). At 984 feet (300 meters) above sea level, the house and grounds made up of 37 acres (15 hectares) under vine offer a glorious view of the Monferrato appellation, sweeping across terraced vineyards, tiny villages and manicured land right up to the Alpine mountains in the distance. The vineyards enjoy excellent exposure on elevated, calcareous terrain (so-called white soil), geologically deriving from an ancient seabed and rich in fossils, with rainfall of around 15.7 inches. (400 mm) per year.

The winery has recently made major investments in new winery equipment including new stainless steel vats, a new refrigeration system, and new harvest containers (small, low bins containing a max. of 300 kilos of grapes), as well as a brand new tasting room that seats 60, with a view of the barrique cellar. The winery has also undertaken innovations in vineyard management with the aim of containing alcohol levels for maximum elegance. According to Mauro, “Global warming has brought about a constant increase in alcohol and we want to make sure there’s quality and concentration without alcoholic excess.” Finally, Beatrice Gaudio, the Mauro's daughter, graduated with a degree in Viticulture and Enology from Alba University on December 13th, 2011. Brava, Beatrice! One more promise for the future.