Piedmont, Italy
Superb wine, food and landscapes
Langhe, Piedmont is a UNESCO designated area in Piedmont, in Northwest Italy. It is known for its elegant and powerful red wines, black and white truffles, its food and its spectacular beauty. It has beautiful rolling hills punctuated by medieval hilltop towns like La Morra, Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba, Barbaresco and Nieve.
A Must Place to Visit
La Morra, Langhe and Surrounding Wine Towns, Northeast Italy
Arrive in Piedmont in northwest Italy by air, train or drive via Turin or Milan. Head for the Langhe region, which is in the heart of wine country and home to the Nebbiolo grape for Barbaresco wine and Barolo - the "king of wines". Visit the medieval hilltop towns like La Morra, Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba, Monforte d’Alba, Barbaresco and Nieve.
All these towns are only a few kilometers apart and each town is quite easy to drive to (albeit sometimes with steep hairpin roads) and the vistas are spectacular on a clear day. I would call it ‘layered and moody’ on a rainy day but equally as beautiful. In October, arrange your visit to take advantage of the truffle festival in Alba. You can even arrange a tour go out and find your own truffles.
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Map photos from Wikivoyage (map left) and Pinterest (map right)
 Castello Falletto, Barolo |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 Alba Truffle Market |  Barolo |  Uve Restaurant, La Morra |
 Barolo |  Nieve, Piedmont |  Alba store window |
 Wine Tasting Menu |  La Morra |  Barolo Wine Museum |
 |  Enoteca Regionale Barbaresco Wine Tasting Church |
Wine Tasting Rooms in La Morra and Barbaresco
There are many wine bars and restaurants where you can stop in to taste wine in the Barolo and Barbaresco communes. To really appreciate and experience the wide range of wine producers’ offerings in these areas, visit one of the following that showcase a majority of the producers in the region.
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Cantina Communale di La Morra– a fabulous place to learn about and try wine produced in La Morra. You can taste and buy wine from almost 70 different producers in La Morra, including barolo wine, and also nebbiolo, dolcetto and barbera wines. It is located in the 18th century palace of the Marchesi di Barolo in the town square of La Morra. If visiting in June, check out the annual “Hill Barolo” event when the new barolo vintage is presented, winemakers attend and there is an informal dinner and music with spectacular views of the countryside. If you are visiting in the fall, investigate the Autumn Festival in La Morra. Cantina la Morra
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Enoteca Regionale del Barbaresco– located in a beautiful 19th century church built by the inhabitants of Barbaresco to give thanks for the excellent wine produced near this small village. Showcasing over 130 producers’ wines for sale, a selection of wine from a variety of producers is available for sampling each day. Learn about the characteristics of Barbaresco wine and what distinguishes it from Barolo wine. Well worth a visit, and extend your stay to include a stop in one of the many great restaurants in Barbaresco!
Enoteca del Barbaresco
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Produttori del Barbaresco– a cooperative of over 50 wineries in Barbaresco. It was founded in 1958 with 19 members to help small wineries by banding together. Over time the Produttori del Barbaresco has elevated the quality of Barbaresco and now there are nine crus or single vineyards. In great vintage years a part of the production of each vineyard is set aside for an additional year of aging and for bottling as a single vineyard Riserva. Some of the best examples of Barbaresco wine produced in the area can be purchased and tasted in their public tasting room. Check out the Trattoria Antica Torre, a restaurant nearby where many winery people eat.
Producttori del Barbaresco