La Dolce Vita Wine Tours

Trufflemania

Rooftops and autumn mist in the Langhe hills of Piedmont
Barbaresco vineyards hug the Tanaro river. Alba is in the distance.
First stop: The Marchesi di Gresy for a Barbaresco tasting
The ridges of Barolo, with Serralunga Castle and Ceretto’s glass cube
The castle of Barolo
A tasting at the Marchesi di Barolo, birthplace of the wine
Marilena Grasso, our host at the family-run Silvio Grasso winery
The charming town of Alba is our home base on this tour
Alba’s famed white truffle (tartufi bianchi) takes center stage in October’s fair
Truffle hunters (trifolau) sell their wares at the famed truffle market in Alba
Booths with local cheese, salumi, and porcini also pop up around the truffle fair
Piedmont’s cheese country is the Alte Langhe, the hill highs towards the Alps
Our buffet lunch at a DOP cheese farm in Murazzano
The village of Diana d’Alba overlooks a dolcetto vineyard near our truffle walk
Awaiting orders: a truffle hound in a Renault, the car of choice for truffle hunters
Carlo with his truffle dogs
A bicycle tire patch does the trick on Carlo’s well-worn boots
On the hunt in a hazelnut grove, one of the trees that attracts truffle growth
Goal accomplished, she awaits her treat.
The precious white truffle, worth its weight in gold.

Dispatches from the wine road
– Livin' La Dolce Vita

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