LANGHE’S GIFTS

Discover how Piedmont’s best-known wine is made and uncover its tastiest secret on this full-day excursion to the countryside from Turin.

Meet your private guide and driver at your accommodation and begin your day with a scenic ride, through gently rolling hills, to the quaint old town of Barolo. Along the way your guide will fill you in on the history of Langhe and explain why this UNESCO-listed landscape is known as one of the world’s most prestigious wine producing regions.

Upon arrival, you will drop in at a well-established cantina of one of Piedmont’s oldest Barolo producers. Founded in 1761, this winery prides itself on having pleased the palates of kings and tsars through the ages and was selected as the national beverage supplier for major cultural and political events. In 1861 the estate won the honour of providing the wines for the official dinner celebration for Italy’s unification. Since 2008 the winery has been run by a prominent, forward-thinking family, well aware that its strength relies on a quasi-religious observance of traditions and respect for local wine-producing methods. Over 250 years of devoted effort have gone into producing the glass of Barolo you will sip here so be sure to make the most of your tasting!

Later, rejoin your driver and set off for an award-winning estate, situated south-west of Alba. The land belongs to a local family that has been producing wine since the 1930s and owns some of the region’s most highly regarded vineyards. Here, accompanied by a member of staff, you will explore the property and cellar, hear about the different stages in the wine-making process and discover the characteristics of the terroir and climate that make wines produced in Langhe so special. You will also get to know the strict regulations that define the production of Barolo which must contain 100% Nebbiolo grapes and be aged at least 38 months before being released. But every winery has its own precious formulas which you will have the chance to unravel and applaud! Enjoy a guided tasting of the estate’s wines, then rejoin your guide and driver and head for a nearby town for some free time for lunch.

In the afternoon you will reach the home of a trifulau, a professional truffle hunter, located between Alba and Asti. After an introduction to the history and practice of truffle hunting and an explanation of the different types of truffles to be found in each season, you will take part in an unforgettable adventure as you nose your way through the woods. It is actually the trifulau’s dogs who will lead you on the trail, while they follow this unique and precious scent, digging out aromatic treasures.

Truffles are one of the world’s most expensive, sought-after delicacies. They are the fruiting bodies of subterranean fungi that rely on a symbiotic relationship with trees. Nature has chosen to bestow these rare gifts with particular generosity on the unspoiled hills of Piedmont. A favourable climate, fertile soil, dense vegetation of poplar, hazelnut and oak all contribute to the growth and flavour of the delicious black and much prized, rare white truffle.

With guidance from your truffle seeker, you will identify different plant species, understand the ideal habitat for truffle growth, find out why truffles are considered an icon of the slow food movement and discover how dogs are trained to detect these woodland treats. After the hunt sit down to a truffle tasting washed down with a glass of wine before riding in comfort, through the splendid Piedmontese landscape, back to your hotel in Turin.