Truffles and Wine Treasure

One of the prime wine areas of Piedmont consists mainly of the Monferrato and Langhe hills and the well known towns of Asti and Alba within Southern Piedmont. Asti being famous for its Palio and of course the sparkling wine known simply as “Asti” formerly Asti Spumanti. The town of Alba regarded by many food and wine lovers as the capital of the truffle and the wines of Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera d’Alba and Dolcetto d’Alba. The area is not only the base for such international names as Gancia, Martini, Cinzano and also Gaja but it is also home to much smaller wine producers being family owned and family run vineyards. It is here where the whole process of making wine is the main focus of every-day life from the point early in the year when the vines are carefully pruned and then nurtured until the grapes are ready to be harvested in the autumn. The Truffle Fair held in Alba in October each year, being just one of the many highlights and indeed delights of this particular area.