February in the vineyard, between love and pruning. Discover the story of the Bacialè and the “wrong couples”!
February is the month of Valentine’s Day, and in the Langhe, love has always been intertwined with the land, the vineyard, and rural life. But beyond roses and hearts, these hills also bring back a term that smells of dialect and bygone times. This month, our Piedmontese word to explore refers precisely to this world: it is the Bacialé, the matchmaker.
In the 1950s, when many men were left alone in the countryside because women moved to industrial cities such as Alba, Turin or Genoa, the fate of the hills rested in the hands of a few. Thus was born this peculiar figure: a mediator of affection, a Cupid in jacket and hat who tried to unite hearts and farmhouses. His task was not an easy one: he traveled from village to village, gathered information about young people to be married, and introduced the “right” couples.
It was a profession from another time, based more on feeling than calculation. People often said: “L’amor a l’é nen ‘n mesté, ma ‘na gràssia” (love is not a job, but a grace). And so the Bacialé sought that grace among the hills, bringing together unions that often lasted a lifetime.
In our own way, we too believe in this spirit of union: between man and vine, between those who come from afar and those who have always lived in the Langa.
Valentine’s Day and the “wrong couples”
When thinking of February, it is almost impossible not to think of Valentine’s Day: a special occasion to celebrate love. The legend of Saint Valentine, the saint who united lovers by defying the Emperor, reminds us that love always finds its way, even when everything seems against it. And so, let us raise a glass to all the “wrong couples”: those who work on weekends, those who celebrate on Mondays, those who do not follow the world’s calendars but only the one of the heart.
At Agricola Marrone, our doors are open all year round — from Wednesday to Monday in the low season and 7 days a week during peak months — to welcome all lovers outside regular hours. For every couple that finds itself, even just for a day, among our hills.
And shifting our thoughts from Valentine’s Day to the spring to come, work resumes in the vineyard with winter pruning. This is one of the most important moments of the year, because precise and balanced cuts will determine the quality and health of the future harvest.
Pruning a vine is like cultivating a mature love: you must know how to remove what is superfluous to make room for what truly matters. The experienced hand of the winegrower guides every decision, evaluating cane by cane, while February’s cold accompanies the patience of the craft. Stakes and support wires are checked, the soil is prepared, diseases are prevented — all with the calm and dedication that only winter can teach.
Carnival and Moscato: sweetness from the Langa
But February in the Langa is also, and above all, synonymous with Carnival, with its fried and indulgent aromas (bugie, castagnole, and all the rest). In Piedmont, we call them bugie: strips of sweet fried dough. A must on the tables of adults and children alike, plain or filled with jam or chocolate, and perfect when paired with a glass of Moscato d’Asti. With its straw-yellow color and fine perlage, this sweet and aromatic wine releases notes of white flowers, peach, and orange blossom, accompanied by a pleasant freshness that makes it light and lively. Ideal with Carnival desserts, but also to celebrate every small winter joy.
Open all year round
Even when it’s cold outside and the vines are resting, the Marrone Winery is always alive. Whether snow is falling or the sun is shining, we welcome you with a glass in hand and the aromas from the kitchen of our chef Paolo, with Langhe wine tastings, genuine flavors, and views that know how to warm the heart. We look forward to welcoming you: for a February to be lived among vineyards, love, and the Piedmontese dialect.