Piedmont is known for its excellent food – truffles, pasta, sausages, hams and cakes. The region’s cuisine is among the most renowned in Italy. The landscape is green and rolling with plenty of sunshine for the world-famous grapes. For at least a century, hazelnut cultivation has been an integral part of the agricultural landscape.

The quality of the wine produced in the region is second to none when it comes to the food. We will therefore experience and learn about food & wine in combination. Local food culture combined with the finest local wines. This is both educational and exciting. This is also one of Italy's richest regions, both economically and not least in terms of wine and food.

Piedmont is history, art and culture. The region has a formidable architectural heritage where the contrasts between tradition and artistic masterpieces stand out uniquely against each other.

Piedmont means "at the foot of the mountain." With its dazzling beauty, rich culture, picturesque villages, and outstanding food and wine, Piedmont is a destination that will delight any traveler.

The region is surrounded by majestic Alpine mountains and rolling hills, providing a spectacular backdrop. From the snow-capped peaks of the Alps to the lush vineyards of the Langhe area, Piedmont is renowned for its natural beauty. Explore the picturesque villages dotted across the landscape, such as Asti, Alba and Barolo, and experience authentic Italian charm as you stroll through the cobbled streets and discover local artisan shops and cozy cafes.

We like to combine a trip to Piedmont with one of the beautiful lakes Como, Garda or Maggiore. They all have magnificent nature, beautiful views and a cool climate. Figs, olives and subtropical trees grow here. You will find magical gardens and parks, beautiful villas and fashionable hotels. There is a very special atmosphere here - with turquoise water in which the mountain peaks towards Switzerland are reflected.

Both Lake Como and Lake Maggiore are easily accessible from Milan to Piedmont. The lakes are formed by water from glaciers. To the south they are surrounded by hills while to the north they are bordered by the Swiss Alps. Lake Maggiore is located in the middle of the border between the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont.

We organize vineyard visits with wine tasting and lunch. We like to go by bike where the farms are close together. It is a great way to see the beautiful landscape and share an experience between vineyard visitors.

We are sommeliers (winemakers) and personally know many of the farms in the area after many group tours in the district. The cozy wine and truffle town of Alba can be a nice base, but it can often be great to spend the night together at a winery. There are countless possibilities here.

There are wine festivals, truffle festivals and many other exciting events in the region. We can arrange cooking classes, blind tastings, master classes, grape pressing, and participation in the harvest to name a few examples.

Piedmont and the Langhe and Monferrato regions have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List due to the culture surrounding the traditional method used to make wine. The wines from here are known worldwide and are often used in cooking, for example in hearty stews with meat that are typical of the area. We mention famous wines such as Barbaresco, Barbera, Barolo, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo – and we will get to know these better during the trip.

 

Piemonte-hasselnøttkaken, eller Torta di Nocciole delle Langhe, er mer enn bare en dessert – den er en ekte smaksbærer av regionens identitet:

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1. Hyllest til nøtten som satte Langhe på kartet

• Piemonte – spesielt området Langhe – produserer verdens beste hasselnøtter, kjent som Nocciola Tonda Gentile delle Langhe.

• Torta di Nocciole ble tradisjonelt laget for å utnytte denne lokale skatten, ofte fra egne trær, og kaken ble en feiring av innhøsten.

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2. En kake for folket

• Den er enkel, rustikk og uten glasur eller pynt, akkurat som mange av de tradisjonelle rettene fra regionen.

• Ingrediensene er få og ærlige: hasselnøtter, egg, sukker – noen ganger bare det. Det gjør kaken både tilgjengelig og ekte.

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3. Sterk lokal identitet

• I byer som Cortemilia og Alba, arrangeres egne festivaler og konkurranser dedikert til kaken og nøttene.

• Mange familier i området har sin egen variant, gjerne overlevert fra generasjon til generasjon.

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4. Symbol på Piemontes balanse mellom enkelt og edelt

• Piemonte er kjent for sine rike mattradisjoner og luksusprodukter (Barolo, trøfler), men samtidig verdsettes det enkle, hverdagslige.

• Hasselnøttkaken representerer akkurat det – det beste av det enkle.

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En klassisk oppskrift:​

Ingredienser:

• 200 g ristede hasselnøtter (helst "Nocciola Tonda Gentile delle Langhe" om du får tak i)

• 150 g sukker

• 4 stk egg (romtemperert)

• 1 ss hvetemel (kan sløyfes for en glutenfri variant)

• 1 ts bakepulver (valgfritt, for litt luftigere kake)

• En klype salt

• (Valgfritt) Revet sitronzest eller et par dråper vaniljeekstrakt

Fremgangsmåte:

1. Forvarm ovnen til 170°C og smør en rund kakeform (ca. 22 cm) eller dekk med bakepapir.

2. Mal hasselnøttene fint i en kjøkkenmaskin. Ikke for mye – de skal ikke bli til smør.

3. Skil eggene:
   – Pisk eggeplommene med sukkeret til en lys og luftig blanding.
   – Bland inn hasselnøtter, mel, salt, (vanilje eller sitronzest), og eventuelt bakepulver.

4. I en annen bolle, pisk eggehvitene stive og vend dem forsiktig inn i røren.

5. Hell røren i formen og stek i ca. 35–40 minutter, eller til kaken er gyllen og en tannpirker kommer ut ren.

6. Avkjøl på rist og dryss gjerne med melis før servering.

📝 Tips:

• Server med en skje pisket krem, mascarpone eller zabaione (eggkrem).

• Denne kaken har få ingredienser – kvaliteten på hasselnøttene er det viktigste.

• Holder seg saftig i flere dager og smaker nesten bedre dagen etter!

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🍾 Vin som passer til hasselnøttkake:

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1. Moscato d’Asti (DOCG)

• 🥂 Lett perlende, lav alkohol (ca. 5%), søt og aromatisk.

• Smaker av fersken, appelsinblomst og honning.

• Perfekt kontrast til de ristede nøttene og sødmen i kaken.

• Serveres godt avkjølt.

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2. Brachetto d’Acqui (DOCG)

• 🍓 Rød, lett musserende dessertvin med smak av jordbær og roser.

• Nydelig om du liker en mer bærpreget, fruktig match.

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3. Passito di Erbaluce (DOCG)

• Laget av tørkede hvite druer (Erbaluce).

• Mer kompleks sødme, med hint av tørket frukt og nøtter.

• Elegant sammen med nøttekake, spesielt hvis du serverer den med krem eller mascarpone.

🍷 Vinklassifisering i Piemonte

Italia har et nasjonalt klassifikasjonssystem som skal beskytte opprinnelse og kvalitet på vin. I Piemonte er det spesielt viktig, siden regionen produserer mange av Italias mest ikoniske viner.

 

Klassifikasjoner:

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1. DOCG – Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita

   • Den høyeste vinstatusen i Italia.

   • Strenge regler for produksjonsområde, druer, avkastning, modning, lagring, alkoholnivå og sensorisk godkjenning.

   • Piemonte har 18 DOCG-viner, inkludert:

     • Barolo DOCG

     • Barbaresco DOCG

     • Asti DOCG

     • Roero DOCG

2. DOC – Denominazione di Origine Controllata

   • Også regulert og geografisk beskyttet, men med noe mindre strenge regler enn DOCG.

3. IGT – Indicazione Geografica Tipica

   • Brukes sjeldnere i Piemonte, men tillater mer frihet i druevalg og stil.

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🍇 Viktige druesorter i Piemonte

 

Røde druer:

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1. Nebbiolo

• Den mest ikoniske druen i Piemonte.

• Brukes til Barolo og Barbaresco, kjent for kraft, syre og lagringsdyktighet.

• Duft av roser, tjære, kirsebær og jord.

• Lyst på farge, men rikt på tanniner og kompleksitet.

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2. Barbera

• Mest plantede druen i regionen.

• Frisk, saftig, med høy syre og lavere tanniner enn Nebbiolo.

• Lager alt fra hverdagsviner til mer strukturerte utgaver, som Barbera d’Asti Superiore.

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3. Dolcetto

• Betyr "den lille søte", men vinen er tørr.

• Fruktig, mørk, med lavere syre og moderat tannin.

• Drikkeklar tidlig, typisk vin til hverdags og lokal mat.

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4. Grignolino og Freisa

• Lokale spesialiteter – lette, krydrede, ofte litt perlende.

• Freisa er i slekt med Nebbiolo og kan være kompleks og rustikk.

 

Hvite druer:

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1. Cortese

• Druen bak Gavi DOCG – friskt, mineralsk og sitruspreget.

• Populært som aperitiff eller til sjømat.

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2. Arneis

• Fra Roero-området.

• Floral og fruktig, med preg av pære, mandel og hvite blomster.

• Tidligere kalt “den lille vanskelige” (arneis betyr omtrent “luring” på dialekt), fordi den er vanskelig å dyrke.

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3. Moscato Bianco

• Aromatisk drue brukt til Moscato d’Asti DOCG og Asti Spumante DOCG.

• Lav alkohol, lett perlende, søt og ekstremt populær verden over.

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Piemonte i et nøtteskall:

• Nebbiolo er kongen, men Barbera er hjerteblodet til folket.

• Regionen er kjent for sin kombinasjon av kvalitet og mangfold – fra verdensberømte lagringsviner til ferske, fruktige dråper laget for matbordet.

• Hver ås og dal har sine mikroklima og jordtyper, noe som gjør at samme drue kan gi vidt forskjellige uttrykk fra sted til sted.

The truffle – and especially the white truffle from Piedmont – is a culinary icon, a treasure from nature that carries both mystery and prestige:

What is a truffle?

Truffles are a type of underground fungus that grows in symbiosis with the roots of specific trees, such as oak, hazel and poplar. They come in several varieties, but the white truffle from Alba (Tuber magnatum Pico) is the rarest and most sought after in the world.

📍 Where does it come from?

• Piedmont, particularly the areas around Alba, Langhe, Roero and Monferrato, is home to the world's most famous white truffle.

• The region has perfect conditions: calcareous soil, oak trees and a humid, forested terrain.

🕰️ Season

• The white truffle is in season from October to December.

• Then the iconic International White Truffle Festival is held in Alba, where gourmets, chefs and truffle traders from all over the world gather.

💎 Why is white truffle so special?

• Intense aroma: earthy, garlicky, musky, with hints of parmesan and gas (in a good way!). You can smell it before you see it.

• Cannot be cultivated: Unlike black truffles, white truffles have not been successfully cultivated commercially – they must be found in the wild.

• Hunting with dogs: Trained truffle dogs (trifolao) search for truffles in the forest. It is a traditional practice that is often passed down through generations.

• Price: A large white truffle can cost several thousand euros – it is often more expensive than gold per gram!

🍽 How is the truffle used?

• It is eaten raw, thinly sliced over hot dishes such as:

  • Homemade tajarin (Piedmontese egg pasta)

  • Risotto

  • Eggs (e.g. poached or fried)

  • A simple dish with butter and parmesan is enough – the truffle takes center stage.

• The heat from the dish releases the scent – truffles are more about aroma than taste.

🌿 The importance of the truffle in Piedmont

• It is a symbol of luxury, but also of down-to-earth tradition – a bridge between peasant culture and gastronomic greatness.

• The Piedmontese have a strong relationship with truffles: it's about nature, respect and patience.

• Many local families make a living partly from truffle hunting and selling in season – and the knowledge of hunting, storing and evaluating is part of the region's heritage.

If Langhe is your main destination and you want to visit both Barbaresco and Barolo (preferably on two different days), we recommend staying overnight in Alba. This makes logistics easier – especially for those who want to cycle between the vineyards.

For those who want to delve a little deeper into an area and want to stay overnight in a vineyard, we have many great places to recommend. We collaborate with selected accommodations and know where to stay and eat.

We know the region well and offer guided tours both by bike and by minibus. We facilitate leisurely cycling on quiet roads through the vineyards, an experience that requires local knowledge and planning. Our selected routes are like cycling through postcards.

For those who prefer transportation by car or bus, we offer flexible packages from small groups to larger tours. Alba is only two hours from Milan Malpensa, and with three full days we also recommend setting aside one for Roero – the wine region on the other side of the Tanaro River.

We have formal wine education (sommelier and WSET) and emphasize imparting both wine knowledge and the history of the region. If you want to venture a little off the beaten track, we can also include less visited wine regions – or a relaxing end at Lago Maggiore, which is only half an hour from the airport.

We know Piedmont after many years of experience and help you find the solutions that suit you best – whether you want to experience the most during a long weekend or just enjoy good days with good wine, food and beautiful nature.

It's amazing how much you can fit in a small suitcase or bag. As long as you pack wisely and plan well. The weather can be very variable, especially in spring. Summer (July and August) can be very hot. Here are some tips for things to keep in mind when going to Piedmont. A bit dependent on your travel style, of course. Here is the list:

1. Thin wool sweater (for cycling)

2. Waterproof and waterproof jacket (and pants)

3. Good shoes (gore tex - muddy in wet vineyards)

4. A small bag with a water bottle and extra clothes

5. Sunscreen & sunglasses

6. Power bank (beautiful scenery = lots of photos)

7. Extra shift for dinner in the evening

8. Light, bright clothes for warm days

9. Warm clothes for spring and autumn

10. A sun hat/cap may be a good idea in the middle of the day

Contact us and we will guide you through the region and tailor it to your wishes.

If you book a trip through us, you are in safe hands. We will give you great experiences and memories for life.