Kuentz-Bas’ Trois Châteaux wines come from the vineyards around the village of Husseren-les-Châteaux, situated beneath the ruins of three ancient lookout towers. In medieval times, these towers—the Trois Châteaux—guarded against invaders, but today they keep watch over a sea of vines...

During a recent trip to Alto Piemonte, I was not in the least bit prepared for the way in which the village of Oira, population 100, would steal my heart and have me plotting an early retirement to one of the abandoned stone houses on its hillsides. Until then, I’ll be reminiscing about its small community, single church, and dairy cooperative, and, of course, the vineyards...