Fall Wine Routes: Piedmont, Italy

Piedmont is one of Italy’s most famous wine areas. The Piemonte, or Piedmont region, borders France in northwestern Italy. It is known for not just for its wines and fall truffles. It is also famous for its gastronomy and sites. There are mountains with ski resorts in the west and north, the city of Turin, and smaller villages in the wine country that are truly a site to see.

This month, we are sharing some of our favorite wine areas to see. These are great destinations for a fall trip. Wine country never stops moving, even as the tourist season in many destinations slows to a winter of closures. Piedmont, in particular, is booming in the fall due to truffle season. It’s a wonderful time to visit and experience all that this northern Italian region has to offer.

Getting to know Piedmont

Piedmont, land of mountains and great lakes, is one of the most elegant cities in Italy.

Visiting Piedmont is exciting at any time of year. In the fall, particularly, as truffle season starts and the harvest winds down. The hills of Langhe and Monferrato, are perfect locations to enjoy nature, good food and amazing wine.

Piedmont is a red-dominated wine region. Grapes like Barbera, Dolcetto, and Nebbiolo make up over half the total wine production. Piedmont has more DOCGs (17) and DOCs (42) than any other region in Italy. Turin and the region as a whole are also the area with the most Michelin rated and starred restaurants in the country! It’s a true haven for food and wine lovers.

Tailor made tours

Full day truffle and wine tour in Piedmont

This private guided tour in the Asti and Monferrato area, also part of UNESCO World Heritage, is a great treat. Here, they produce Barbera d’Asti, and the unique black and white truffles (black truffles from February to September, white truffles from mid September to early January).

Today, meet your truffle hunter near Asti to enjoy a unique experience. To begin, you will discover everything about truffles. First, local traditions, growth environment, overview of truffle varieties and characteristics. After, we will start a guided tour with the “trifulao” (truffle hunter) and his dog. To follow, we will head to the will truffle grounds. Here, you may experience a real “truffle picking” along a scenic trail. To finish, truffle tasting! A fresh truffle will be shaved on a local cheese and enjoyed with some salami and wine.

To continue the day, we can visit the city of Asti. This city in Piedmont has a pleasant medieval atmosphere. Medieval towers, gothic churches, baroque buildings and old squares.

Finally, visit a Barbera d’Asti producer. Barbera, a fine violet red-coloured and highly acidic wine, is being considered the third great “B” of Piedmont after Barolo and Barbaresco. To conclude, we will vsit a winery in the Monferrato region and enjoy a final wine-tasting.

Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Tour

During your stay in Piedmont, we will arrange for a fabulous Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Tour: Enjoy a private guided tour with a driver and guide to discover the most genuine products of Piedmont’s enogastronomy: sought-after wines, cheese and chocolate. Visit the town of Cherasco, a beautiful baroque town known for its snail farming and fine chocolate production. You will love visiting a local chocolate producer where you can try all different kinds of chocolates, included the renowned baci di Cherasco (Cherasco’s kisses). Visit cheese refiner in Bra, the town where the Slow Food Movement was born in 1989. This producer has energetically dedicated itself to locating, aging and commercialising the finest cheese produced in the area for generations. Of course, you’ll get to taste some delicious cheese.

Your next stop will be the Barolo region with a possible stop in La Morra to enjoy the spectacular view. You will also get to visit the Falletti castle and the Regional Enoteca of Barolo, or Grinzane Cavour to admire the exteriors of a XIII century castle. Your last stop will be at a Barolo vineyard in one of the 11 villages dedicated to making this wine (Barolo, La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba). Your driver will then accompany you back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Our favorite places to stay in Piedmont

Relais and Chateaux Castello di Guarene

This amazing hotel is actually built in an 18th century palace commissioned by a local nobleman. He commissioned the building of this splendid new residence to his own personal taste, surrounded it with gardens and oversaw the furnishing work on what was to be a sumptuously decorated interior.

Today, the palace continues to make people’s dreams come true. Preserved as it was in its heyday, with all its works of art intact, it is now also home to a top-class hotel. An essential stopping point in any itinerary of the Baroque highlights of Piedmont, it stands out among the very best places to stay in the region.

Sumptuously furnished antique-style bedrooms, haute cuisine, fine wines and the latest modern technology combine with historical heritage to offer the visitor a truly unique experience.

Nordelaia

Many a hotel might claim to be in tune with nature, but as a working wine estate in the heart of pastoral Piedmont, Nordelaia can’t help but nail that harmony. The rooms take inspiration from the flora and fauna that surround, they celebrate local craftsmanship and Italian heritage. Each room offers its own unique character and feel. Some lead directly to the garden, while others offer breath-taking views from their terraces. On the top floor apartments create wonderfully relaxing and private places to escape.

La Villa Hotel

Set amid rolling hills this boutique hotel in Piedmont is surrounded by spectacular scenery and some of the finest restaurants in Italy. La Villa Hotel is the ideal country hideaway; each room in the 17th-century building has been decorated with impeccable taste blending historic features with the modern essentials.

Fall wine routes, tailor made

A tailor made wine lover’s vacation in Piedmont is a dream come true.

We handle every aspect of your vacation in Piedmont from the moment you land until your departure. We work with you to make sure your travel dreams and wishes come true!

Contact us for more questions and to start planning your tailor made wine vacation!