Our rooms:



Cascina Desderi will offer 7 apartments of different shapes and sizes by August 2004. As these lines are written, the 6 apartments are being built in the old farmhouse. In Piedmontese called a cascina. What is typical for this kind of building, is that the farmer’s quarters occupy one end of the house while the stable, barn, shed and hayloft would be in the opposite end. Cascina Desderi is 22 x 11 meters on two floors + a portico, so the total square meter is 500.

Each apartment is named after a Piedmontese type of grape, and will be designed as follows:

Appartemento Barbera is named after the vineyard’s own grape. 100 sq. m located on the first floor: One large living- and dining room with an open kitchen. 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Fireplace. Private entrance and balcony, with view towards south and west, of the vineyard, Monferrato Hills and the French Alps from a private, partly covered balcony with panorama windows.

Appartemento Cortese is named after the white grape typical for Monferrato. 42 sq. m located on the first floor adjacent to Barbera. Living room, pantry kitchen, bedroom and bath. Fireplace. The upper landing of the old staircase has been converted into a small dining area in front of the private balcony. Southern vistas towards the vineyard and Monferrato. (There is a door between Barbera and Cortese, so these 2 apartments can be combined to a total of 140 sq. m with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths).

Appartemento Dolcetto is named after the red grape – the ”sweet, little one”. And this is really a cute, little apartment just over 50 sq. m, with one bedroom, living room with dining area, full kitchen and bath. Fireplace. Entrance via a private balcony on the 1st floor. View of the Monferrato and a glimpse of the French Alps in the south and west. (There is a door between Cortese and Dolcetto, so if combined with Barbera, these 3 apartments can total ca. 190 sq. m, with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths and numerous living rooms.

Appartemento Moscato is named after the sweet grape that is used in the bubbly Asti Spumante. This apartment is situated on the ground floor, is 50 sq. m+, with one bedroom, living room with dining area, a full kitchen and bath. Fireplace. Private terrace with vistas towards south and east – the vineyard and the Monferrato Hills.

Appartemento Brachetto is named after the red grape that is used in a rare and unique red wine that is sparkling. The apartment is 38 sq. m, situated on the ground floor between Moscato and Nebbiolo: Living room, pantry kitchen, bedroom and bath. Fireplace. This is the smallest of the apartments with a large private terrace outside. Southern exposure towards the vineyard, pool and Monferrato. (There is a connecting door into Nebbiolo and to the hallway facing Moscato, so if these 3 apartments are combined the total square meters are 150, with two bedrooms and 3 baths).

Appartemento Nebbiolo is named after a historic grape dating back to the 13th century.
This is the ”fog-grape” (nebbia = fog), which is used in the highly acclaimed Barolo wine. Nebbiolo is the most unique apartment on the farm. The old stable has been converted into an ”all-room” where the kitchen is taking up the bulk of the space. We have teamed up with the chef of the Ristorante Il Campanaro. Duilio is in the process of designing a gourmet kitchen where he one day himself will give cooking classes to groups and individuals (maximum 15). The kitchen offers a big open fireplace, a forno (pizza oven), numerous gas ranges, instruction table and various kitchen equipment fit for the finest restaurant. 12 persons eat comfortably inside, while additional tables are placed outside under the covered portico. In the opposite end of the kitchen is a living room area, a double alcove and bath with his and hers. (If the Nebbiolo is combined with the adjacent Brachetto, Nebbiolo gets its own lounge and bedroom with bath. If all 3 apartments on the ground floors are combined, the total square meters are 150 with 2 bedrooms, an alcove and 3 baths.)

The entire farmhouse with all 6 apartments can be combined and used as one unit, ideal for f. ex. a group of 15-16 persons, for families with children the number of beds may be increased to a maximum of 20. The kitchen in the Nebbiolo apartment has been designed with chefs, food and beverage managers, wine and cooking clubs in mind, offering an opportunity for a stay in Italy accentuating food and wine and how to prepare it a la Piemonte or the Italian way. Cascina Desderi has connections with numerous chefs and restaurants and can custom make a program where a local chef will give cooking classes, wine tasting, arrange visits to selected restaurants and shopping for produce at local markets and wine tours with tasting at different vineyards.

Casa Grignolino: The seventh apartment is situated on a pasture between the cascina and the vines, and is named after the Grignolino grape – a red grape that is used to produce a rose like wine. This red wine that is served cold like white wine in the summer, and is often accompanied with Fritto Mista – a Piedmont specialty where all ingredients are lightly fried and battered tempura style. The apartment is located on the first floor above the new cantina – the production hall where the grapes are brought in for the initial fermentation (in temperature controlled steel tanks). The apartment is 80 sq. m, consisting of a large living & dining room with an open kitchen, 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Fireplace. One large terrace and one balcony with vistas east, south and west – of the vineyards, Monferrato and the French Alps. Grignolino is ideal for those seeking privacy while still getting the service of Cascina Desderi.

The standard equipment in all apartments, is as follows:

Separate bedrooms with comfortable beds and Norwegian down comforters
Tiled bathrooms with toilet, bidet and shower
In the apartments with 2 bathrooms, one has a tub
Tastefully furnished living rooms with dining table to a minimum of 4
The 5 large apartments offer open, spacious kitchens with sufficient equipment and utensils; micro oven, coffeemaker, fridge/freezer, toaster and water heater
The three largest apartments offer dishwasher (Barbera, Nebbiolo and Grignolino)
All apartments are equipped with radio, stereo, vacuum cleaner, hairdryer, towels, bed linen, pillows and Norwegian down comforters
Access to laundry room at given times
Each apartment offers a private balcony or terrace
All apartments have radiator heating from October 1 to March 15
Wood for fireplace (1 kg. per day) is included from October 1 to March 15 (outside this period wood can be purchased at the farm, as well as additional wood)


Prices per week:

Week 28 – 45 2004:
Appartementi Brachetto & Cortese (2) : € 750 **
Appartementi Dolcetto & Moscato (2) : € 850 *
Appartemento Nebbiolo (1) : € 950 ***
Appartemento Barbera&Casa Grignolino (2) : € 1250 **
Week 46 – 13 2004/2005:
Appartementi Brachetto & Cortese (2) : € 550 **
Appartementi Dolcetto & Moscato (2) : € 650 *
Appartemento Nebbiolo (1) : € 750 ***
Appartemento Barbera&Casa Grignolino (2) : € 950 **

* For 2 persons. For additional person (max 2) € 50.00 per person (each) per week.
** For 4 persons. For additional person (max 2) € 50.00 per person (each) per week.
*** Max 2 persons due to the gourmet kitchen. If a separate bedroom and living room is required, the Nebbiolo can be combined with the Brachetto (a total of 100 sq. m). Special rates are offered during certain periods. Contact us for Italian cooking classes with an Italian chef who will instruct and give courses in everything from pasta to pizza to local Piedmont specialties.

To rent the entire Cascina Desderi (6 apartment) and/or the Casa Grignolino (one separate and freestanding casa) please contact us. The wine cellar – the cantina – can also be rented if renting the entire cascina, and special events and occasions can be planned there.

Inclusions: Italian sales tax (IVA). Equipment, services and items according description. Cleaning once a week. Bed linen, Norwegian down comforter and towels.

All square meters of the apartments are approximate only, as the final rooms
divisions had not been completed as this web site was designed.