1. A flying winemaker… perhaps

In an improvised “battle of the giants”, who would win on the Italian soil when it comes to the best wine around?  Even the most talented and experienced flying winemaker would alas tell you that this competition is pointless, every corner of Italy producing simply superb wine. It cannot be denied, however, that Piedmont ranks supremely high on every connoisseur’s list – wine growing dating back to ancient Rome, the culture and history of wine being written on the sunny slopes that dot the Piedmontese scenery.

Where to start then? From Gattinara to Erbaluce, Gavi to Fara, rows of vineyards colour the background, but it’s the southern counties that produce Barolo, Asti, Barbaresco and Dogliani that are perhaps best known. Let’s embark on a discovery trip along the shores of divine taste.

3. What’s in a name? Barolo

Exploring the small hamlet of world-famous Barolo and its surroundings, time is sweet on your hands: the gentle caress displayed by neat rows of Nebbiolo grapes embraces you as you meander through the area. Whether it’s an ancient castle, a renowned wine estate or a storybook hamlet, you’ll find yourself wondering why you haven’t chanced upon this treasured marvel before. Sometimes called “the king of wines”, Barolo exudes complex and powerful aromas, its 100% Nebbiolo grapes a vibrant combination of liquorice and dried rose. Given its high tannin content, the Disciplinare rules that Barolo wine must be aged for at least 38 months, while the Riserva requires 62 months. Enjoy a tasting while perusing along the pretty villages of Barolo and surrounding La Morra, Monforte d’Alba or Serralunga d’Alba, indulging in a delightful meal while sipping on a treasure.

And if you need a pause from your decadent pantagruelian experience, hop into WiMu, the wine museum located in Barolo. Perhaps the most challenging museum example you could think of, its task is not merely to explore wine production and the soil that yields this potent marvel (marine sediments in Piedmont? That’s right!), but it is considered a place “to talk about our relationship with wine”. An aim achieved via guided tours, interactive installations, a wine-wanderer game (for families as well), along with three floors packed with interesting displays and, of course, blissful wine tastings that are pure pleasure.  

5. A taste for - not – all seasons

The availability of truffles may vary depending on the year – wetter seasons may yield more types than drier, hotter ones, and you cannot stumble upon a truffle, as you would with a humbler mushroom, but what is certain is that truffles can only be picked at certain times of the year, strict regulations being in place.

From the end of September to the end of January you can pick white truffles, from the end of September to the end of December it’s hooked black truffles time and December to mid March for fine black varieties. You will need to resort to expensively trained dogs and a certified ricercatore to try your luck – there exist 4,000 of them in Italy. Or you may go on an organised truffle hunt.

Once they are extracted – rigorously by hand – truffles only last for a short period before they become inedible – hence their astonishing prices. The other key factor is that white truffles cannot be grown – while the darker variety has seen some experimentations in this sense, sometimes taking as long as eleven years to reach a minimum degree of  availability. The rarity of truffles contributed to their astounding price, so why not have a go at a speciality? The powerful intensity of their taste will be revealed in full.