Lush vineyards and truffle woods blanket the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato hills, making this corner of Piedmont a foodie Shangri-La. Wine tours and truffle hunts top the to-do list for visitors eager to taste the area’s premium Barolo and Barbaresco wines and prized white truffles, along with cooking classes, market tours, and dining experiences. The scenic countryside—just a hour from the bustling city of Turin—is also a popular spot for hot air balloon rides, hiking and biking, and hill-town hopping between Alba, La Morra, Barolo, and Acqui Terme.
This wine and truffle hotspot is a gourmand’s paradise in the fall, when local vineyards are harvesting grapes and the woods are thick with some of the world’s most precious fungi. This is also the season for local food festivals, including Alba’s White Truffle Fair, which takes place in October and November. Summer visitors can enjoy the cool temperatures in these high hills and a variety of musical events, including Monforteinjazz, Barolo’s Collisioni Festival, and the Alba Music Festival.
With rolling hills topped by medieval villages and remote wineries, this corner of Piedmont is a challenge to explore if you’re using public transportation. You can reach the largest cities, Alba and Asti, by train or bus; from there, you’ll need to rent a car or hire a taxi to visit the outlying hilltowns and wineries. Experienced cyclists can opt to take the steep hills on two wheels, but come armed with a good map as it’s easy to get lost on the winding country roads.
The Langhe-Roero and Monferrato area is a hotspot for contemporary art. A bright chapel painted by Sol LeWitt and David Tremlett sits deep in a vineyard, and Chris Bangle’s many “Big Benches” invite visitors to climb on oversized seats to take in the view. Artist residency programs have also taken over dozens of tiny hamlets, former farmhouses, and even plots of grapevines. Art Mapping Piemonte maintains an updated guide to all the contemporary works displayed in the region.
