The new " Grappa & Cioccolato Store " by Mazzetti d’Altavilla and Baratti & Milano arrives in the capital of the Langhe.
A new, fantastic, 100% Piedmontese love story is about to unfold. The protagonists are, on the one hand, the spirits of one of the most historic grappa makers in the Northwest and, on the other, the chocolate of an equally ancient company, always tied to its homeland. Mazzetti d’Altavilla and Baratti & Milano, 340 years of history and tradition between them (founded in 1846 and 1858, respectively), are preparing for a new adventure to share together in an example of a concrete partnership between entrepreneurs from distinct sectors who come together to create innovative and tantalizing formats.
Mazzetti d’Altavilla has been distilling Piedmontese pomace for seven generations to create distinctively local grappas, along with other spirits such as fine brandies, gin, and liqueurs, the fruit of a long-standing heritage of recipes.
Baratti & Milano is a symbol of quality chocolate, preserving an artisanal soul expressed through the exquisite selection of raw materials, the professionalism and passion of its master chocolatiers, the exclusivity of many products, and the elegance of its packaging.
The captivating combination of spirits and chocolate has a precedent outside Piedmont, more precisely in cosmopolitan Milan, where the first "Grappa & Cioccolato Store" opened two years ago. Much more than a shop, it is a space to discover intriguing new frontiers in the sensorial enjoyment of Piedmontese food and beverage specialties. And – if it is true that a winning team never changes – the now widely tested experiment lands this time in the capital of the Langhe: in fact, the city of Alba (Cn) will host (the opening is scheduled for Saturday 30 April) in the historic heart of the city the new Grappa & Cioccolato Store, the second in partnership with Baratti & Milano and the fifth spirits shop under the Mazzetti d’altavilla after the openings in Milan, Marcallo (Milan), Casale and Altavilla Monferrato (Altavilla).
A new flag is ready to be placed on the capital of the Langhe, located at the edge of the Casalese in the area of the Piedmont Wine Landscapes declared a World Heritage Site in 2014. In the very central Via Vittorio Emanuele, known by all the people of Alba (and beyond) as “Via Maestra” and as a place for strolling and shopping in the city, at number 13 a hymn to the most gluttonous Piedmont has been born, capable of “seducing the palate” of visitors who increasingly flock, even from abroad, to Monferrato and the lands of Langa and Roero.
The reasons that led the two historic Made in Italy brands to open the new store in Alba are varied. For example, the city's role as a global gateway for wine and food tourism on the Piedmontese slopes; its centrality to the areas of origin of the prized pomace of Barolo, Barbaresco, Arneis, and other grape varieties that have long been distilled by Mazzetti d’Altavilla; and its proximity to the areas of origin of the excellent hazelnut varieties used by Baratti & Milano in the production of historic chocolates such as cremini and gianduiotto.
What can locals and tourists find at the Grappa & Cioccolato Store Alba?
A vast selection of spirits such as grappa, brandy, liqueurs, bitters, gin, fruit liqueurs , and an extra-delicious range of pralines, chocolate bars, cremini (a Baratti&Milano specialty), and sweets, available in a colorful assortment that can also be used to make truly appealing and popular gifts.
And if the eye is interested, the Alba Store will offer all those curious to see a scenic and eco-friendly: the design concept embraces an innovative approach developed by expert Paolo Scoglio, who specializes in designing architecture in symbiosis with nature, both in Italy and abroad. According to this study, the store ceases to be a 'container' housing displays and products, becoming a total architecture in which the physical space merges with the furnishings, lighting, products, and user experience. A space that, through continuous, sharp lines, draws inspiration from nothing less than the terroir , connoting the product's provenance, climate, soil morphology, winemaking tradition, human labor, materials, and colors. The design translates into the choice of natural oak, air-oxidized Corten steel, and lines of sustainable, highly efficient LED lights... in short, a futuristic yet warm treasure chest, an experiential place where natural, age-old materials are interpreted and reimagined in a minimalist, green style.
In this context, the original element is given by the possibility of finding and composing gift ideas by taking advantage of suggestions for combining the perfumes and aromas of spirits and chocolates, always experimenting with new "sensory pairing" proposals that are so enthralling to Italian and foreign palates.
The Grappa & Cioccolato Store Alba (Tel. 0173 208815 – email: grappastorealba@mazzetti.it) is open (7 days a week) from Saturday 30 April in via Vittorio Emanuele 13 (Via Maestra) with the following opening hours: Monday (3-7pm), Tuesday to Sunday (10am-2pm and 3-7pm).
