Piedmont ’14

This summer I was lucky to be invited to a wedding in Tortona, North-West Italy, region of Piedmont. What better reason could I possibly have found to add a few days to the trip and to explore Italy’s most important wine region (along with Tuscany of course..!)

Piedmont (or Piemonte in Italian) is producing the worldwide celebrated Barolo wines which are unique in their characteristics of high acidity and tannin levels as well as for the aromas of roses and tar. Italy’s indigenous red grape varieties Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto find their best expression here, along with a number of white varieties like Arneis, Cortese and Moscato.

And food.. oh glorious food of Piemonte! Did you know that Alba – a town of only 54 km² total area and a population of around 32,000 people – is the world capital of truffles? And that it has “only” 14 Michelin-starred restaurants? Rather than writing an essay on all of the culinary delights (non-Michelin, but still awesome) which I was lucky to enjoy during my trip, I will simply let you browse the photo gallery and see for yourself.

WARNING: contains mouth-watering images!! 😉

Producers visited: Ceretto & Giovanni Rosso

June 2014

First glasses of Dolcetto & Arneis in Alba

At Cerreto winery in just outside of Alba

The view of the viewing platform in shape of a grape.. First stop at Ceretto Winery.. What a view!

300L Fusto oak barrels

Botti, the huge traditional Italian oak barrels

The hospitality zone with a tasting area featuring a million dollar view — at Ceretto Winery

Arneis and single vineyard Barbaresco & Barolo on tasting

Thick legs of Ceretto Bricco Rocce 2009 single vineyard Barolo

View of the Ceretto vineyard & winery

Centro Storico restaurant in Serralunga d’Alba – one of the two meal highlights on this trip

Entrance into Vinoteca Centro Storico

Fantastic lunch at Centro Storico in Serralunga d’Alba – owned by Alessio & his wife, impressive winelist. Clockwise: fresh burrata with tomato & basil, linguine al ragu, veal steak to die for & an obligatory espressito to finish the feast.

Giovanni Rosso winery in Serralunga where 2012 Barolo vintage is ageing in a concrete vat

..while 2013 Barberra is occupying a stainless steel one

What’s the best reason to be stuck between a forklift and a steel tank?

The answer is – wine tasting!

Tasting and tasting and tasting….. tough job 🙂

Giovanni Rosso winery with concrete tanks on the left and stainless steel on the right

As a real wine geek you do what you have to do… tasting the soil of Barolo. Tastes like limestone/clay – how surprising!

A vine in the Giovanni Rosso’s Cerretta vineyard

Having a close look at the flower set on the vines – Thanks to Evan for the fantastic tour!

My designated driver is taking a well deserved break at The Sol LeWitt & David Tremlett Chapel in Brunate, on the vineyards of La Morra, belonging to Ceretto Winery