The Modern Nomads

If you are visiting Italy and you love wine, and we love wine, then you want to take a trip to Italy’s Barolo wine region. This region is located in the northern Italian region of Piedmont, just south of Alba, and even has UNESCO World Heritage status. And while this was our primary purpose for visiting this region we found out a few more interesting facts about this beautiful part of Italy. But first let’s talk about the wine!

What is Barolo you ask?

If you aren’t familiar with this area, the Barolo wine region is arguably the most famous DOCG in Italy. It is been referred to as both “the king of wines” as well as “the wine of kings.” Barolo is a red Italian wine from Piedmont region of Italy. The Barolo wine region refers to the specific area around the town after which it is named. And wines from the Barolo DOCG must be produced with 100% Nebbiolo.

Barolo also has one of the toughest aging requirements in Italy. Even the “standard” Barolo must be aged for a minimum of 38 months, spending at least 18 months in barrels made from oak or chestnut. Those labeled as “Riserva” have been cellared at least five years before released. This region is unique and the clay-based soils found within this area are possibly the secret ingredient behind Barolo’s unmistakable taste.

Where we stayed:

I must say that this entire area is probably one of the most beautiful wine regions we have traveled to. With rolling hills, soaring castles, and small towns it is the perfect area to stay while touring this iconic Italian wine region.

We stayed just outside of the city of Alba at the small boutique hotel, Relais Villa d’Amelia. Relais Villa d’Amelia occupies the beautiful nineteenth-century ‘Cascina Bonelli”, a renovated farmhouse located in the heart of Piedmont’s Langhe region.

Situated on a hillside, you can enjoy views of vineyards, spectacular hazelnut groves, and even in the distance you can see the Alps. The area is absolutely stunning! The restaurant was outstanding as well!

Italy is the world’s second-leading producer of hazelnuts:

Just outside Alba, in Italy’s Piedmont region, the hills are covered with rows of trees and vines. And while this area is renowned for its wines, it is also home to a delicate variety of hazelnut. Piedmont’s prized nut, the nocciole del Piemonte are even considered some of the best in the world! Hazelnuts more commonly are used to add a flavor to baked goods but are also used in many savory dishes and sauces. And if you are a fan of Nutella you may be interested to know that in 1964, the first jar of what we now call Nutella was sold from a bakery right here in Alba! 

The diamond of Alba – The White Truffle:

Considered a rare find, similar to a diamond, the white truffles in this region are world renowned. They even have an annual auction in Alba that bidders from all over the world come to. This exclusive truffle auction has been held in Alba for more than 90 years. But bring you pocketbook, these are some of the most expensive truffles you will find worldwide.

I love truffles and while Pete is NOT a fan of the taste (or smell), we both enjoyed learning about the world of truffles. And we were both astonished at the ridiculous amount of money that people pay for them! A poster showed one winning bidder paid 143.000 Euro (that’s over $150,000 USD) for a white truffle weighing in at only 750 grams (just over 26 oz)!

Located nearby is the Castle of Grinzane Cavour. Built around the middle of the 11th century, this beautiful property sits on top of a hill overlooking the stunning panoramic views of the Langa hills, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is even a truffle museum located in the castle.

Now for the best part – the wine tastings!

Our first stop on tour of this area was the the actual town of Barolo where we stopped at Bogogno, a local boutique winery. We did a tasting of their wine and went to the rooftop of their building to enjoy the view while we learning a little more history of the area from our guide.

The last stop was the best. We visited the Costa Di Bussia winery and got a full tour of the vineyard, the winery and the highlight was the wine museum they have on site. They are pationate about their wine and the tasting was one of the most memorable ones we have had. Not only did we seem to have bottomless wine glasses, they served multiple dishes to compliment the tastings.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Alba, exploring the Piedmont Region, and learning about Barolo wine. This area was so beautiful and relaxing which was exactly what we needed after the bustling city of Milan. The only thing we would have changed would be we wished we had more than 2 nights here so we definitely have this on our list to return to!