Piedmont Truffle Bike Tour

Welcome to Piedmont! Your guides will meet you at the Tortona train station for a transfer to Monferrato, the sleepy wine region finally awakening to claim its place on prestigious wine lists worldwide. Meet our friend Michela at her historic family winery for a home-cooked lunch and a chance to taste some of the area’s undiscovered vintages. After, we’ll explore the vineyards by bike, following a scenic ridge through the wildly successful new Nizza DOCG wine region churning out top-quality Barbera. Our destination is the luxurious Relais San Maurizio where we’ll unpack for the next three nights. Our first dinner together is a fitting introduction to this gourmet capital featuring traditional dishes and great wines.

Today we ride through the heart of the Langhe hills, descending to the lower slopes where the perfect marriage of soil and sunlight nurture the Nebbiolo grape. Generations of winemakers have refined this world-famous wine on these very hillsides surrounding the ancient tower of Barbaresco. In the village of Barbaresco itself, pause for a coffee and some superb people-watching: renowned winemakers mingle with vineyard workers, chefs, and worldly wine-lovers—all characters drawn to the region during this time of year. We’ll meet a young Barbaresco producer for a relaxed lunch and tasting at a private estate. After lunch, transfer back to our hotel or continue biking to its luxurious front doorstep. Retreat to the bar or soak in the spa before a truffle-themed dinner at our friend Fabrizio’s classic ristorante.

Ride into the wildest parts of the Langhe: narrow roads, crumbling medieval towers, and endless hazelnut trees line our route. The area’s remoteness made it a hotbed of Resistance activity during WWII, and monuments to these partisan fighters still punctuate the hilly landscape. But today is all about nocciole (hazelnuts), and our destination is our friend Isabella’s hazelnut farm. After a hazelnut-themed lunch of sweet and savory dishes, a ridgeline ride serves up some of the best views in all of Piedmont. This evening, we’re treated to a Michelin-starred meal at La Ciau del Tornavento, where the impressive wine cellar lends itself to thoughtful wine pairings with our dinner.

Say goodbye to San Maurizio as we ride towards the Barolo region and all its gourmet spoils. Though both black and white truffles are found in Barolo, the white truffle—with its fleeting season and more pungent flavor and aroma—is considered a treasure, with demand (and a price tag) to match. That makes our mid-morning meeting with our local friend quite literally priceless: we’ll join him and his truffle-sniffing dog on a hunt for these elusive morsels. On the other side of one more climb is a mouthwatering plate of tajarin pasta at our friend Massimo’s hilltop trattoria, followed by a thrilling descent to our boutique hotel on a historic Barolo estate. This evening you are free to explore Alba, the gourmet capital of the region and home to a world-famous truffle fair. Your guides are happy to offer recommendations and help secure reservations.

Our bikes bring us through the heart of Barolo, with famous cru vineyards every mile of the way. The first ride of the day climbs through one winemaking town after another, bringing us to the medieval town of La Morra. From here on out it’s officially Barolo heaven: our route passes renowned estates on the approach to Barolo, where the castle of the Marchese di Barolo stands as a focal point. Lunch at our favorite local producer isn’t complete without wine pairings, then complete the loop back to our hotel—an estate once owned by the King of Italy. Tonight, we dine like royalty at our final dinner prepared by a private chef.

Challenge yourself with an optional morning loop ride or take a stroll through the estate before enjoying one last breakfast on-property. Your guides will then transfer you to the train station in Asti as you head on to your next destination.