The Hills

Langhe, Roero, Monferrato: the hills of Piedmont, candidates for UNESCO recognition, are fragrant with white and black truffles, great wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco and Moscato d’Asti, and confectionery made with Piedmont hazelnuts.  This is the birthplace of the Slow Food movement and the location of the University of Gastronomic Sciences, in Pollenzo, and the Banca del Vino. Here, among castles, mediaeval towns and historic houses, you can discover the innovative WI.MU, the Wine Museum created by François Confino, in Barolo; experience the thrill of hunting for truffles, travel along the Wine Trails and discover refined wine shops and modern wine cellars with centuries of tradition, or let yourself be tempted by cheeses such as Robiola di Roccaverano, the only DOP goat cheese, or by cured meats, such as the Bra Sausage and the ‘Filetto Baciato di Ponzone’. Pride of place in trattorias and gourmet restaurants is given to dozens of traditional hors d’oeuvres, including veal in tuna sauce and raw meat salad from choice cuts of Piedmontese beef;  ‘ravioli del plin’ and handmade tagliolini, truffle risotto, ‘bagna caoda’ and braised beef in Barolo; the deserts include zabaglione, ‘baci di dama’ (ladies’ kisses), ‘amaretti’ (macaroons), ‘Cuneesi al rum’ chocolates, ‘paste di meliga’ (cornflour cookies) from Monregalese, Krumiri biscuits from Casale Monferrato and those Gianduiotti chocolates made from the inspired combination of Piedmontese hazelnuts and chocolate. Throughout the year in the hill towns there is a series of hundreds of festivals and great food and wine events: in Alba, Vinum, the most important event for wine tourists; the Douja d’Or national wine competition in Asti; the biennial Cheese event, with cheeses from all over the world on show in Bra, the National Chestnut Festival in Cuneo and the International Truffle Festival in Alba in October/November, climaxing with the Worldwide Alba White Truffle Auction.