The name refers to an area in which a certain style of production is used for Barbera d'Asti DOC, the pre-eminent wine in the area, although Moscato d'Asti DOCG is just as important. The Communes involved in the route include Castagnole delle Lanze, Coazzolo, Costigliole d'Asti, Isola d'Asti and San Martino Alfieri.

The itinerary is shaped like a figure 8, with one of the rings around the larger Commune, Costigliole, and the other between Costigliole and Castagnole delle Lanze. The other three Communes represent the end of the route, which comprises no less than 5 castles and beautiful historic centres. Of particular note are the castle of San Martino Alfieri, a private building with its own wine cellar, and a splendid nineteenth century royal palace, designed by Benedetto Alfieri, and Costigliole castle, formerly the residence of the Countess of Castiglione, adviser to the Savoy family in its relations with Paris and today the home of an international school of Italian cuisine and the Grinzane Cavour Award Cultural Park.
There are two vintage wine stores in the territory. One is located in the municipal cellars in Costigliole which also offers wines from other territories, in particular Piedmont Barbera DOC wines. The other is the Bottega del vino in Castagnole delle Lanze, which is flanked by a Museum of Peasant Culture.
The countryside surrounding these historic buildings is majestic providing some of the best views of Piedmont vine-growing along the course of the River Tanaro, which in the Isola and Costigliole (Motta) area has produced a land of exceptional fertility for vegetables, flowers and nurseries. The 'peperone quadrato d'Asti' is almost legendary but there are of course many other important vegetable crops, while the territory is also beginning to offer some sheep's milk cheese products. The distillation of grappa from marc is also one of the area's traditional activities.