Truffles

Truffles

Piemonte

Piemonte

Gourmet Piemonte

Although this tour is shown as departing throughout the year the Autumn is the best season to visit as the Truffle season is what this region is famous for.

This is an enjoyable short break for “foodies” taking you to Italy’s greatest culinary region. Here you’ll indulge in fine dining, go hunting for the famous white truffle (in the truffle season), taste superb Barolo wines and visit Alba, (if you are there on a Saturday) for one of Italy’s most renowned food markets and be able to stock up on some superb ingredients for your festive entertaining! Piemonte, meaning “at the foot of the mountains” is literally hugged on three sides by the Alps, and on a clear day you can see Mont Blanc and even the Matterhorn, seemingly so close that you can reach out and touch them.

We will arrange for your party to spend a morning experiencing how to hunt truffles and have a light but utterly delicious tasting lunch made with the truffle hunter. You’ll stay in Bra, at a boutique 4* winery hotel, with an excellent traditional trattoria, and a short walk to some truly delightful classic cafés and the wonderful rustic restaurant run by the Slow Food Association.

In the beautiful regional capital Alba, you’ll visit the market famous for its truffles, where the streets will literally be perfumed with the heady scent of this precious and expensive white tuber. Amongst the produce here are the region’s cheeses, Bra, Tomme and local Castelmagno, cured meats (including wild boar) and at, another speciality too, hazelnuts. The local pasta Tajarin is also a great delicacy.

Chocolate, as we know it today, was first created in Turin and this area is still well known in Italy for chocolate. One of your visits is to a small chocolate maker still upholding these traditions. Vermouth, too was first created here and the region is famous for its Grappa – we can also take you to enjoy a visit to a fascinating leading artisan distiller.

We will make a reservation for you on one of the evenings at the main “Slow Food” trattoria in Bra. Slow Food is an eco-gastronomic organisation that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. To do that, Slow Food brings together pleasure and responsibility, and makes them inseparable. Their annual festival is held in Turin every other October where 100’s of small food producers come together to promote bio diversity. (We can also arrange for you to attend this if you wish)

Of course as this an Arblaster & Clarke Wine tour you’ll also visit one of our favourite small wine estates in the area, where you will taste great Barolo, as well as superb examples of Dolcetto d’Alba and Barbara d’Alba.]
If you have time, we recommend staying on for a few days at the end of the gourmet tour in Turin. There are many galleries to visit and the classic café too. Definitely try a ‘Bicerin’ – the delicious local hot drink of coffee, chocolate and cream!

Itinerary:

Day one – Thursday

• Pick up at Turin airport, for transfer to Bra. Check into 4* boutique winery hotel. Table booked for dinner at the Slow Food restaurant (choose and pay on the spot).

Day Two – Friday

• The hotel specialises in the most delicious breakfasts you will encounter anywhere in the world. There is a long menu of locally produced sausages, cheeses and salamis to choose from – for you to choose from and order (no ghastly international buffet breakfasts here!)
• Our local gourmet guide will meet you for a full days gourmet touring.
• First, you will taste chocolate at an artisan producer, then travel to meet a truffle hunter and his dog for a truffle hunt searching out the famous white truffle (in autumn – though at other times of year black truffles can be found instead), then enjoy a basic but tasty pasta lunch with him in his hut in the woods.
• In the afternoon you will be taken to see the top butter producer of the region.
• Before dinner, you will be welcomed to a tasting of the excellent Barolo wines of the pioneering estate, Ascheri.
• Evening: We will book a table for you at the excellent traditional trattoria owned by the winery, where you can choose from the menu and treat yourself to your favourite wines from the wine list.

Day Three – Saturday

• This morning your guide and driver will collect you at the hotel to take you to the famous Alba market, where in the autumn the streets are heavy with the heavenly scent of the white truffle. She will take you to the best stands for local cheeses, salamis, proscuitto and parmesan … where you will be able to savour tasty mouthfuls of these lovingly created local foods and buy of course if you wish.
• At lunchtime we will book a table for you at the other highly renowned slow-food restaurant in the region – or to a simple wine bar as you prefer.
• In the afternoon your gourmet guide will take you to an artisan distiller to taste the powerful marcs!
• This evening you are free to explore Bra, with its beautiful traditional cafes – where every drink ordered arrives with a tasty plateful of pretty appetisers.

Day Four – Sunday

• Return transfer to Turin or Turin airport for your return flight or to check into a hotel in Turin.

Itinerary Includes:

3 nights, 4* boutique hotel, private mini-bus transport, private gourmet guide, truffle hunt, and one lunch, all tastings. Meet and drop off at Turin airport. (Early booking essential for all autumn dates). A smaller party will incur a higher price.

Prices from:

£695 based on 8
£835 based on 6
£1135 based on 4
£2035 based on 2 participants