Montabone
Montabone is a municipality with 347 inhabitants (as at 31 December 2012) in the Italian province of Asti (AT ), Region Piedmont. The name has the meaning "Great Mountain", which is probably due to the fertile soil to Montabone and therefore agricultural origin. The first mention of Montabone dated from the year 1040 AD
Location and population structure
Montabone is located on the hills which is the northern boundary of the Val Bormida. Around one third of the population lives in the winding streets of the village. The remaining inhabitants are situated in small hamlets and farms on the surrounding slopes.
Neighboring municipalities are Acqui Terme, Bistagno, Castel Boglione, Castel Rocchero, Rocchetta Palafea and Terzo.
The municipality covers an area of 8 km ².
Language
Official and media language is Italian. Colloquial language is a dialect Südpiemontesischer.
Economy
Montabone lives to a large part of the wine industry. Mainly the white Muscat, Brachetto, Dolcetto and Barbera are grown. Some of the local winegrowers process your harvest grapes into wine. In Montabone vines for the Dolcetto d' Asti, a red wine are grown with DOC status. The berries of the grape varieties Pinot Noir and / or Chardonnay may be processed for sparkling wine Alta Langa. The Muscat grape for the Asti Spumante, a sweet DOCG sparkling wine with a low alcohol content as well as for semi-sparkling wine Moscato d' Asti DOCG is also grown here. From the vine Brachetto Brachetto d' Acqui the sweet sparkling wine is produced. In Montabone also vines of Barbera for the Barbera d'Asti, a DOCG red wine with status, as well as for the Barbera del Monferrato are grown.
Marginal is the proportion of trade, industry and commerce. However, holiday farms emerged in recent years, as more regional products which, besides also offering guest rooms.
Arts and culture
Every year on 17 January, at a celebration held in honor of the patron saint San Antonio. On May 8, the parish feast of San Vittore is committed.
Worth seeing is the village of Montabone. On a narrow area, the stone houses cluster on the hilltop. Center of the village is the Piazza Grande. The village ( center) is self-contained and to enter through a stone gate. The beautifully decorated church located in the village center and is well worth a visit.