LANGHE OF BARBARESCO AND BAROLO

Arrival in the area. In the afternoon you will reach the truffle ground where Piercarlo and his Tabui (in Piedmontese this word indicates the truffle hunter's faithful dog) await you. Going through the woods in search of truffles, be it white or black, is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and intense experiences that the Langhe area can offer. Check-in and hotel accommodation.

After breakfast, you will meet a representative of the Tourist Office who will accompany you to discover Neive. A suggestive walk through the alleys of one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Among baroque houses, churches and villas with splendid gardens we will climb up to the castle floor where you can enjoy, climbing the renovated Clock Tower, an unforgettable view of the UNESCO World Heritage areas of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato. A stop at the Museo della Donna Selvatica, a tribute to the work of Romano Levi and his sister Lidia who for over sixty years, continuing the tradition of their ancestors, have produced a unique Grappa, embellished by the colorful poetic labels drawn by hand by Roman. The walk will end with a visit to the historic cellars of the Neive Castle. The visit to the cellars begins in the ancient access, where the centuries-old wine press and the imposing press preserve the historical memory of the work done. This is followed by the entrance to the cellars carved into the rock, where the wines rest at a naturally controlled temperature and in large and small wooden barrels. These are important wines that come from an area appreciated for the production of a great red from Piedmont: Barbaresco. There will also be tasting sessions, in the beautiful garden in front of the cellar or in the wine shop used for sale. Free afternoon.

We recommend a visit to Barbaresco, a village that gave its name to the famous wine (we recommend the climb to the tower), Treiso and the spectacle of the Rocche dei Seven Brothers, a chasm in stark contrast to the hills covered with vineyards created by the erosion of the water that over the centuries he dug the hill. The legend tells of seven blasphemous brothers who, struck by divine wrath, sank into the deep gorges of the Fenoglian fortresses of the Resistance, also known, right after that episode, as the Rocche dei Sette Fratelli. We then recommend climbing up to the Donna di Langa viewpoint and rest area, which takes its name from the monument that aims to enhance and honor the hard work of women on the hills told in Beppe Fenoglio's books. Returning to Neive, Transiting through Mango make a stop at the Vineyard of the pastels. In this vineyard owned by the Anfosso Piercarlo Farm, it is possible to freely access to admire a curious artistic installation: the giant pastels that have taken the place of the wooden poles at the end of the rows of vines. Stop at the Cappella del Moscato, a rural church repainted by the British artist David Tremlett with the Wall Drawing technique. Last stop at the Giant Bench of Coazzolo.

After breakfast, after about half an hour on the road, you will reach the Barolo production area. We recommend a visit to La Morra, a small town famous for its suggestive "belvedere" which offers a view of incomparable beauty over the vineyards of the Bassa Langa. A must walk to the colorful Barolo Chapel, the elder sister of the Moscato Chapel you saw yesterday. Do not miss the wonderful Cedar of Lebanon, a centuries-old tree planted by the Falletti Counts that has been the reference point for the inhabitants of the area for more than 150 years. Another visit tip is Grinzane Cavour with its castle: an imposing castle with a medieval brick structure. In one wing of the house is the bedroom of the statesman Camillo Benso Count of Cavour, who was mayor here for 8 years and who chose it as his home during the Risorgimento. Alternatively we recommend a visit to Serralunga d'Alba: slender and majestic, the castle dominates one of the most beautiful and intact villages of the Langhe and is surrounded by the hills of great wines. The manor is also considered one of the best preserved examples of a fourteenth-century noble castle in Piedmont. For lunch we have booked you a table at a family-run winery. An opportunity to learn about production techniques and to deepen the culture linked to Barolo wine. The experience includes a visit to the cellar and tasting combined with traditional dishes, which takes place in the room on the first floor, with a breathtaking view of the Barolo hills.

After breakfast, some free time for the latest purchases or to learn more about some aspects left out in the previous days. We recommend a visit to Alba, the capital of the Langhe, which will amaze you with its lively and elegant medieval center, the towers and the scent of chocolate among the streets that will not leave you for the whole visit. The "King" of the city, however, remains the white truffle, which alone can attract tourists and gourmets from all over the world. The historic center, dating back to the Neolithic, sees an urban structure of Roman origin and medieval monuments and will continue among the various churches scattered throughout the city and other important historic buildings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.