Wine, Cooking, Truffles & Castles in the hills of Langa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Langa and Roero regions of Piedmont are in one of the most important wine production areas of Italy. Hilltop villages like Barolo, Monforte and La Morra (and their vineyards and wines) are the reasons why many tourists visit and why UNESCO recognized the importance and uniqueness of this area by listing it as a World Heritage Site in 2014. Tourissimo takes you behind the scenes and makes you part of our Piedmontese family. We take so much pride in showcasing Piedmont because it is literally our own backyard!
This week is all about having incredibly unique cultural experiences that you will never forget. You will live the Italian life as we hike, taste, and even cook our way into the region that saw the birth of the Slow Food movement (literally 20 miles from our hotel stay).
The tour is designed around the region of Langa, which is divided into two parts: Bassa (low) Langa and Alta (high) Langa. Bassa Langa is all about wine production and Alta Langa is dense with forests, hazelnut fields and gaming. We have designed this tour around one of Slow Food’s credos: care about farming. We start by walking through farmland, fields and vineyards. We meet the producers (who are often farmers themselves) and then make our way into the kitchen in real Italian fashion, geared with aprons and ready to get our hands dirty!
The hikes are moderately challenging and they will only occupy part of the day, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy the lively villages in the countryside, as well as Alba and our beautiful hotels.
Let Tourissimo share Piedmont with you, a region that strives to reach enological and gastronomical perfection thanks to the hard work of its pragmatic and humble inhabitants.
- Walking among vineyards full of Nebbiolo grapes in the Barolo production area
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (Barolo Vineyards)
- Hilltop villages of Barolo, La Morra and Monforte
- Hiking along rolling hills and valleys covered with hazelnuts trees
- Alba’s lively market and fashionable center
- Views that stretch as far as the Alps
- Some of the best regional food in Italy, including truffles, cheese and hazelnut Gianduja chocolates
- Two bases in 4 star hotels with Spa
- Dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant
- Meet winemakers and immerse yourself in the authentic wine and farming culture of Piedmont
- Learn about the history of Barolo wine right at its birthplace
- Find out how traditional cheesemaking techniques are being kept alive
- Go truffle hunting with a real trifulau
- Hands-on cooking class with mamma Giovanna at the Marrone Winery Estate
- Visit a small town to learn about the Babaciu tradition
- Get acquainted with the enology of the region with the most DOC and DOCG wines in Italy (over 60)
- Learn about Slow Food and its Piedmontese roots
Day 1
Where: La Morra
Terrain: Hilly
Hike: 3 hrs
Meals: L, D
You will be greeted by your guide at the Milan Malpensa Airport (or different one if requested) and upon arrival at our hotel we’ll have an aperitif in the beautiful garden, sampling the wines of the Marrone Winery along with some small appetizers. Welcome to Piemonte! Tonight’s welcome dinner is only a short walk from the hotel. The Bovio family’s restaurant is a fine example of the good food and good wine of La Morra.
Hotel Suggestion: Corte Gondina
Day 2
Where: La Morra
Terrain: Hilly
Hike: 3 hrs
Meals: B, L, D
Beautiful, rolling hills filled with Nebbiolo grapes form the backdrop for today’s tranquil hike. During lunch we will have a brief wine class which will prepare you for all of the wines we will be experiencing throughout the week. If the weather conditions are good, the wine class will take place on the beautiful, panoramic terrace. After the wine class we will hike to the village of Barolo for a visit to the WiMu (Wine Museum) inside the Barolo Castle. We’ll also visit the Enoteca Regionale di Barolo (regional cellar of Barolo), where you will have an instructive explanation of the Barolo wine production area. Dinner will be at the Osteria “More e Macine,” which specializes in good wine producers of the region.
Hotel Suggestion: Corte Gondina
Day 3
Where: La Morra
Terrain: Rolling
Hike: 2 hrs
Meals: B, D
Today, we’ll have a walking tour of Alba, the capital of the white truffle area, also nicknamed the town of a hundred towers. Only a few of these fine red-brick towers have survived, but they still give the town its distinctive appearance. Of Celtic and Ligurian origin, called Alba Pompeia by the Romans, the town has kept a spiral-shaped medieval plan. We’ll stop at a local vegetable market to hand-pick the ingredients for today’s cooking class. After some free time for shopping we’ll head back to the Marrone Winery for our cooking class with mamma Giovanna. For dinner we’ll enjoy the delicious feast we prepared together, perfectly paired with wines from Marrone Winery!
Hotel Suggestion: Corte Gondina
Day 4
Where: Benevello
Terrain: Hilly
Hike: 3 hrs
Meals: B, L, D
We will accompany Gianni Monchiero, a fourth-generation trifulau (truffle hunter), and his trusted dog on a truffle hunt among the fields and hazelnut trees. This is an experience you will not soon forget! The white truffle of Alba is a delicacy that has made these hills famous among chefs worldwide. Afterwards, you’ll transfer by bus to your new hotel in the Alta Langa area, which has wilder landscapes and new hiking possibilities. There will be free time to unpack, rest and have an aperitif at the swimming pool. Dinner will be at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.
Hotel Suggestion: Villa d'Amelia
Day 5
Where: Benevello
Terrain: Hilly
Hike: 2 Hrs
Meals: B, L, D
We will meet Roberto, a naturalistic guide that will be our host for a day on the Alps. We will transfer to the village of Montegrosso Grana to learn about the "Babaciu" tradition, where the locals immortalize the dead in straw. We then visit the site of the Castelmagno cheese Consortium, La Poiana, where cheeses of all the small producers of the valley are aged in the proper way, and where we’ll learn more about the famous Castelmagno cheese. Today’s lunch will be in Pradleves at a local trattoria. Roberto will then take us to the San Magno Sanctuary to take in the sights.
Hotel Suggestion: Villa d'Amelia
Day 6
Where: Benevello
Terrain: Rolling
Hike: 3 Hrs
Meals: B, L, D
On today’s hike take in the beautiful scenery of the Alta Langa: hazelnut trees, grass fields and the lower Alps connecting to the seaside. Lunch will be in a trattoria in the Borgomale castle. Hike toward Cortemilia, the hazelnut capital, for a guided visit and free time for a coffee and some hazelnut specialties in one of the bars in the center. Spaghetti dinner in a cozy and young restaurant not far from the hotel.
Hotel Suggestion: Villa d'Amelia
Day 7
Where: Benevello
Terrain: Rolling
Hike: 3 Hrs
Meals: B, L, D
Today we’ll experience real country life: we’ll walk in the vineyards and enjoy snacks and good wine outdoors. Visit, tasting and lunch in Castellinaldo at the Marina and Emilio Marsaglia Winery, which has a cozy ambience, good food and excellent wines. You’ll have time in Alba for shopping. Our celebration Dinner will be at the hotel restaurant and prepared under the supervision of chef Damiano Nigro (one Michelin star).
Hotel Suggestion: Villa d'Amelia
Day 8
Where: Benevello
Terrain: Departure
Ride: None
Meals: B
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your scheduled flight. Guides can help you with your travel plans to make sure you will have a safe trip home.
How to Get There
Airport/s - Milan Malpensa (MPX), or Turin Caselle (TRN)
Other transportation - Private transfer by Tourissimo from the airport to the first Hotel Upon request, guests can be picked-up elsewhere (additional cost).
How to Depart
Airport/s - Milan Malpensa (MPX), or Turin Caselle (TRN)
Other transportation - Private transfer by Tourissimo from last hotel to the airport.
Tour Level
Recreational/Active/Athletic - Recreational: hikes range from 2 to 3 hrs along rolling and hilly terrain.
Climate Data and Best Time to Go
April: temperature average 8C (46F) low / 18C (65F) max - precipitation probability 16%
May: temperature average 13C (55F) low / 23C (73F) max - precipitation probability 13%
June: temperature average 20C (68F) low / 26C (79F) max - precipitation probability 6%
July: temperature average 18C (64F) low / 28C (82F) max - precipitation probability 8%
August: temperature average 17C (62F) low / 27 (80F) max - precipitation probability 8%
September: temperature average 13C (55F) low / 22C (72F) max - precipitation probability 10%
October: temperature average 7C (45F) low / 16C (61F) max - precipitation probability 12%
We also run a Winter Truffle and Barolo program with alpine or cross country skiing on the Alps.
This program usually runs from Saturday to Saturday
Info about food and wine, and Slow Food products
The Langa region is a true paradise for gourmands. The territory offers first class ingredients, that together with the traditions handed down from generation to generation, allow you to enjoy the authentic Langa dishes. Actually, in this area there are still many family run trattorias that defy the passage of time. The egg pasta used to prepare the tajarin, or plin, ravioli is homemade and the precious veal meat from the Province of Granda (name of the province of Cuneo in local dialect) is the basis for the preparation of ancient recipes like hand chopped raw meat, cold veal with tuna sauce and red wine braised meat. The simplest dishes are usually the most delicious and they look like they have been specially created to espouse the most precious autumnal ingredient, the Alba White Truffle, which will enhance their perfumes and tastes. In fact, the movement Slow Food was born in Bra (near Alba). The regional wine production boasts the most DOCG appellation of any other region of Italy, and during the week we will learn about Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Arneis and many other indigenous grapes. Barolo wine (which is produced with the best nebbiolo grapes) will be presented to us by local producers who will describe hard work and passion that are behind the fancy labels.