Nothing certain is known about the etymology of the name, though many hypotheses have been suggested. Likely of Roman origin, the earliest document mentioning the small village dates back to 1152, followed by another in 1199.

Records confirm that during the Middle Ages, Quaranti was part of the County of Acqui under the direct rule of the Bishop of Asti. Over the centuries, the fief passed from the Marquises of Monferrato to the Dukes of Mantua, and later to the House of Savoy, mirroring the political shifts that shaped the region as a whole.

Today, the village is a member of the Associazione Nazionale Città del Vino (National Wine Cities Association) and, by number of inhabitants, is the smallest municipality enrolled. The Association’s mission is “to support towns in developing activities and projects linked to wine, local products, and gastronomy—initiatives that foster a better quality of life, sustainable growth, and new employment opportunities.”

In medieval times, the village was surrounded by defensive walls, now vanished except for a few remains, and developed around the classic ricetto. This fortified refuge was destroyed in 1250; today, the cellars that once formed part of it house a Brachetteria, a wine shop dedicated to local production.

The main church, dedicated to Saint Lawrence, dates to the second half of the 18th century, though its present façade was rebuilt in the 19th. Inside, visitors can admire a monumental marble altar from 1737, several paintings from the same period, and a series of later decorations and artworks.

The bell tower was originally one of the old castle towers, later reworked and adapted.

Just outside the village, in a privileged panoramic position, stands the Romanesque Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Built in brick around the year 1000 and expanded in the 1600s, it remains a cherished landmark. Every year on October 16, it becomes the destination of a traditional religious procession.