During Autumn the lush hillside slopes that surround Alba are covered with an abundance of grape vines. Come fall the town is filled with thousands of gastronoms and gourmets eager to taste the exotic rich truffles available. Alba can be reached by railway and has all the facilities you could ask for, including top class hotels, the best restaurants and car hire and wine tasting, Alba has everything. When I visited in April the grape growers were just starting up again after an extended winter: so first they undertake the task of clipping the vines and then burning the clippings. Smoke from the fires fills the air with the beautiful scent of the countryside and rural life. The hotel we stayed at was a lovely surprise, the balcony had picturesque views of the surrounding countryside and the excellent breakfasts were priced very reasonably. The Hotel Langhe is situated at the outskirts of the city about a mile from the train station.

Alba White Truffle the center of the town is both cosmopolitan and elegant and absolutely Italian in essence. With it’s top fashion boutiques which purvey beautiful furniture and clothing and wonderful food shops that offer what Alba is most famous for: excellent white wine and delicious truffles. The Nebbiolo grape is primarily used to produce Barolo wine a serious wine which is often left to age and mature for lengthy periods of time. Surprisingly you can buy a wide variety of Barolos which are over 10 years old at very reasonable prices ranging between 20-30 euros usually.On being taken into the wine cellars of these stores you are instantly immersed in an aroma which is as ancient as the tradition of wine making itself and I was was quite overcome by the experience almost feeling like a count!

Alba Italy the location of Alba is famous for being the only place worldwide where the delicious white truffle grows and in this region they are very specific about the manner in which and how white truffles should be sold. Between the months of February to July you will not be able to purchase fresh white truffles because they are out of season. The restaurants have fresh white truffles on the menu between September to December. If you should wish to try white truffles out of their growing season  they are preserved in a wide variety of foods which include:truffle pâté, truffle oil, truffle butter, and cream of truffle. My personal favourite being honey steeped with white truffle. Particularly if it is spread on a hot baguette with Brie cheese – simply lovely.

Alba Cathederal the world renowned ’slow food movement’ was conceived in Piedmont and restaurants across Alba proudly display their allegiance to it. The whole idea of ’slow food’ was conceived in opposition to that of ‘fast food’ – after the opening of McDonald’s close to the Spanish Steps in Rome. By far my fondest memory of ’slow food’ was when I enjoyed a herb-infused risotto at the Ristorante Osteria Lalibera in Alba part of a wonderful meal I ate there. The town centre of Alba boasts medieval towers and cobbled streets and it is beautiful for a relaxed stroll especially after a good meal. You can find excellent local wines at wonderful restaurants with a price tag as low as only ten euros. Without a doubt Alba is an enchanting city where you can indulge in the sweetest flavours of life.

Sponsors