It all began in the 1930s when Giovanni Torello purchased the Castello di Grillano with its historic cellars, vineyards, and the two farmhouses "Carlotta" and "Rivarola." Giovanni was the grandfather of Francesco, the current owner, a descendant of the Genoese family of the Marchesi Rovereto. With the departure of the old tenant farmers, Francesco’s father, Paolo, started personally managing the vineyards, leaving behind the industrial activities the family had pursued in Genoa. The young Francesco, a globetrotting engineer, occasionally helped during summer vacations, but in 2003, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. With passion and entrepreneurial spirit, he fully committed himself to winemaking. This marked the beginning of a vast project to restore the vineyard and renovate the cellars. The buildings were restored and modernized, and an old farmhouse was transformed into the Locanda. The next generation ─ Filippo and Federica ─ not only love life lived in harmony with nature but also share a passion for the land, wine, and hospitality. They are now fully engaged in carrying forward the great dream of the Castello di Grillano, which began with their great-grandparents almost a century ago.

The Guest House, located within the organic winery, is the ideal place for a stay immersed in nature, in the tranquility of the Alto Monferrato Ovadese hills, where the days, from sunrise to sunset, are still marked by the tolling of bells. Open all year round, equipped with a comfortable seasonal private pool, it offers modern and comfortable accommodations, ideal for a weekend, a week, or more. Guests will have the opportunity to taste our organic wines, produced from typical vineyards, an authentic expression of the Piedmont region. Tastings can take place in our historic cellar or on the panoramic terrace, surrounded by a unique atmosphere. You can also enjoy a swim in the private pool, organize a barbecue in the pine forest, or relax reading a book under a centuries-old tree. The surrounding area offers many sports activities, such as mountain biking, horse riding, golf, and trekking. Several water parks are located nearby. For an even more unique experience, you can bathe in the Orba stream, in the evocative "Grand Canyon" between Tiglieto (GE) and Molare (AL). Our strategic location, in Piedmont, at the border with Liguria and close to Lombardy, allows easy access to the Ligurian beach of Varazze (40 minutes away), the Roman baths of Acqui Terme (20 minutes), Serravalle Outlet (35 minutes), and cities like Milan, Turin, Alba, and Portofino in about an hour by car.

The Castello di Grillano is located in Ovada, a city nestled in the heart of a wide valley framed by the Orba and Stura rivers. Its location is truly privileged, just 34 km south of Alessandria, the provincial capital, and only 40 minutes from the sea in Genoa thanks to the convenient highway. Here, the gentle hills of Monferrato blend in striking contrast with the rugged features of the Ligurian Apennines. The landscapes are marked by the signs of history imprinted over centuries: quiet small villages often crowned by ancient castles. The roads of the Ovadese region form an itinerary of historic fortresses. Every village in the area has a castle, a medieval village structure, and remnants of ancient walls or archaeological finds. Each of these towns has its own fascinating and intricate history, much like that of Monferrato. A total of 21 castles form a circle, with the Orba River running through its diameter. Ovada is an ideal base for exploring one of the rare areas where the natural environment has remained untouched, as demonstrated by its diverse vegetation and still-abundant wildlife.