Fog, hazelnuts, white truffles and some of Italy’s greatest reds: Piedmont cooks slowly and pours well.
The place
Piedmont means “foot of the mountains”. The region sits in the north-west corner of Italy, with the Alps on three sides and France and Switzerland beyond them. Turin is its capital, but its food and wine heart lies further south, in the rolling hills of the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato. Their vineyard landscapes were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014.
This is Nebbiolo country. The grape makes Barolo and Barbaresco, two of the most admired wines in Italy. Barbera, Dolcetto and Moscato fill the rest of the hills, and hazelnut orchards grow between the vines. In autumn, the woods around Alba give the prized white truffle.
Three plates and their glasses
Tajarin with butter and truffle + Langhe Nebbiolo
Tajarin are thin, golden ribbons of egg pasta, rich with yolks. In autumn they are tossed in butter and topped with shavings of white truffle. A Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo (about €26.50) has the rose, cherry and earthy notes that echo the truffle, and its acidity cuts through the butter.
Agnolotti del plin + Barbera d’Asti
These small pasta parcels are pinched closed by hand (plin means “pinch”) and filled with roast meat. They are served with the roasting juices or simply with butter and sage. Braida Barbera d’Asti “Montebruna” (about €15.20) is the everyday wine of the region. Its bright acidity and soft tannins refresh the palate after each rich mouthful.
Bonet + Moscato d’Asti
Bonet is a baked custard of eggs, milk, cocoa and crushed amaretti biscuits, finished with caramel. A dessert wine must be sweeter than the dish. Saracco Moscato d’Asti (about €15.50) is lightly sparkling, low in alcohol and full of peach and orange blossom. It lifts the custard instead of weighing it down.
One bottle to start with
Start with the Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo. It comes from one of Italy’s most respected co-operatives and shows what the grape is about: pale colour, a scent of roses and red cherries, firm tannins and fresh acidity. Serve it at 16–18 °C with food. For more on the grape, read our guide to Nebbiolo.
If you visit
The International White Truffle Fair of Alba runs every Saturday and Sunday from 10 October to 6 December 2026. The truffle market, tastings and cooking shows take place in the old town. Many wineries in the Langhe welcome visitors, but most ask you to book ahead.
More terroir → · See all twenty bottles →
Photo: Pixabay
Prices were checked in October 2026 and can change. Please drink responsibly. L’abus d’alcool est dangereux pour la santé, à consommer avec modération.