Infernot Cantina Cinque Quinti

via Dante Barbano, 46 - 15034 Cella Monte (AL)
Tel. +39 379 140.9381
E-mail: support@cinquequinti.com
https://cinquequinti.com/it/

In 2014, the wine-producing landscapes of “Langhe Roero and Monferrato” were declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cella Monte is located directly in the area of “Monferrato of the Infernots”. The Infernot is a small underground room carved into the rock, usually accessed from the cellar. The temperature and constant humidity of these small rooms, the absence of light, ventilation and noise guaranteed ideal conditions to preserve the bottles of the best wine. Unique in their genre, they are small architectural gems that witness the ancient knowledge of the farmers; they are present only in Monferrato. They were built between the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century by the local inhabitants who dug into the bare rock with pickaxes and chisels according to their taste. No two Infernots are the same: circular, square or rectangular, multi-chamber or with a corridor. The bottles are placed on continuous surfaces, steps or alcoves; the finishes of the walls can be more or less smooth or with natural splits. Many have a table at the centre hollowed out in the rock, friezes or embellishments. The sandstone with which they are made is called ‘pietra da cantoni’, which formed millions of years ago when the sea withdrew from the Po Plain. It is particularly compact and consequently suitable for extracting blocks used for the construction of buildings but at the same time easy to work and suitable for digging.