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Alba and langhe area - truffle and red wine

If you are travelling to Italy and Langhe and Alba is not included in your itinerary list then you are committing a sin! Oh yes, this hilly city located in the North of Italy (Piedmont) has the most charming effect on travelers. For centuries this place has been the haven for supreme quality truffle and red wine. The white truffles of Alba are famous for its rich aroma and taste. Demand for white truffle can be traced to almost every food-loving country in the world. Langhe deserves the place it has received as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.

Alba is the capital of the Langhe area and this place too is famous for wine production. Majority of the red wine produced in this region use the Nebbiolo grapes that render the light red color. The famous Barolo wine is made from the Nebbiolo grapes and is in great demand all over the world. Apart from the wine production or the truffle cultivation, the Langhe and Alba region is also famous for various tourist attractions.

Some of the places for tourist attraction include The Roman City and its remnants, Palazzo Comunale, Towers built during the 14th and 15th century, Romanesque Alba Cathedral of San Lorenzo (Duomo), The Gothic church of San Domenico, and The Baroque church of St. John the Baptist (it houses the famous Madonna of the Graces).  Tourists can even visit the F. Eusebio Municipal Museum of Archaeology and Natural Science.

The economy of this region is not only dependent on cultivation but also includes wine production. There are a total of around 290 wineries producing an average of 61200 hl of wine annually. The wines from Italy are vastly divided into DOC and DOCG. DOC wines include the Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto whereas DOCG wines include Barolo, Barbaresco and Moscato. Despite all the cultivation and industrial activity, you will fall in love with the natural beauty offered by this quaint little hilly town.

There are several travelers who love coming back to this exquisite hilly town and soak in the natural beauty, food and laid-back life offered by Langhe and Alba. It won’t be surprising if you decide on buying a small villa on the hills and spend your holidays in the lap of nature. Escaping the maddening crowd of the cities and settling in this small wine producing hilly town can be quite a wise decision.