Demonte

Inhabited by just 1,846 residents in Piedmont’s southwest province of Cuneo, Demonte’s alpine terrain shapes a highly specific agricultural sanctuary. The steep valley microclimates here foster 18 protected denominations. Local specialties include the tender Fagiolo Cuneo IGP, a bean cultivated within a restricted zone of 247 municipalities, alongside the sharp Raschera DOP and Bra DOP cheeses that mature in these high pastures. The distinct alpine temperature swings of this Cuneo enclave concentrate sugars in the crops, yielding thin-skinned legumes and herbaceous cheeses whose qualities are directly linked to these specific high-altitude conditions.