The centuries-old cellars of Gancia, the Italian sparkling wine brand, have earned a spot on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
Also known as the “˜Underground Cathedrals’, Gancia’s cellars are hailed as “a symbol of the enduring link between viticulture and the Piedmont area”. It was in these cellars that Carlo Gancia created the first Italian sparkling wine in 1865.
Carved out of Canelli’s calcareous tuff centuries ago, the cellars maintain a constant temperature of 12-14 degrees Celsius (54-57 Fahrenheit), said to be ideal for the preparation and refining of great sparkling wines.
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Gancia’s cellars have been chosen by UNESCO for recognition as a world heritage site |
The 100m long cellar – said to be the longest in Canelli – is part of an underground, secret labyrinth stretching for almost 1km, with over 600 sq m of museum and production space. To this day the cellars house soft grape presses, fermentation and conservation of the base wines used for Gancia sparkling wines.
The inclusion of these cellars on UNESCO’s World Heritage List signifies their “extraordinary cultural value”, said Gancia, and underlines the historical significance of the brand’s sparkling wine production and its birthplace in Canelli, the heart of Italy’s Asti region.
“True to UNESCO’s mission, Gancia will continue to preserve the history and architecture of the cellars for future generations,” the brand stated.
About Gancia
Founded in 1850 by Carlo Gancia, the creator of the first Italian sparkling wine, Gancia is an international leader in the production of sparkling wines and vermouth. With 2,000 hectares of vineyards and five million kgs of grapes vinified, Gancia, based in Canelli, in the heart of Italy’s Asti region, produces sparkling wine, still wines and aperitifs distributed to over 60 countries. The Gancia sparkling wine portfolio ranges from sweet to dry, and from Charmat method to prestige vintages fermented more than five years.
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