La Dolce Vita Wine Tours

Slow Food, Comfort Food

Truffles for sale at the annual fiera del tartufo (truffle fair) in Alba
No October tour in the Langhe is complete without a visit to the truffle market
Artisan food stands crop up everywhere on the streets of Alba in October
The Alps rise behind nebbiolo vineyards
The village of Barolo, birthplace of the eponymous wine
Where Barolo wine was originally created: the Marchesi di Barolo estate
The Marchesi di Barolo family crest in their historic cellars
Our tastings cover both traditional and modernist wineries, such as Ceretto
Monforte, a Barolo commune where more structured, powerful Barolos are made
A lineup of Barolo cru at Conterno Fantino in Monforte
The second half of the tour moves to Parma, home of Prosciutto di Parma
Parmigiano Reggiano also hails from Parma
Going behind the scenes at a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese producer
The cheese aging rooms
Where there’s aged cheese, there’s authentic balsamic vinegar, thick as syrup
The aging loft for aceto balsamico di Modena at Manicardi, which also makes Lambrusco
The vinegar barrels are made of various kinds of wood to impart different flavors
Fruity, frizzante Lambrusco, the perfect match for ham, cheese, and the rich cuisine of Emila Romagna
Some Lambrusco producers use the champagne-style metodo classico to create the fizz
Lambrusco ranges from pale pink to deep violet in color, and from bone dry to semi-sweet.
A hands-on cooking lesson in Emilia-Romigna’s beloved pasta.