The region of Piemonte is closely associated with food and wine.  It is, after all, home to the Slow Food movement as well as Barolo and Barbaresco.  But one part of Piedmont that is not usually identified with this region is the Lake District to the north. Here are some of the most charming lakeside towns in Piemonte. 

The Langhe is a magical paradise of undulating hills, elegant red wines and treasured truffles. The Bassa Langa (at a lower elevation) is known for its acclaimed Barolo and Barbaresco vineyard sites and the charming town of Alba. Although it merits much more than a day trip, it is possible to get a quick “taste” in just 24 hours. Here it goes!

From July to August and beyond, summer in Piemonte means music festivals, food and wine walks, cultural events, and traditional sagre. These two months are full of events, so we’ve gathered some of the most important, biggest, and highly-anticipated ones of the season.

So, you want to do some Piemonte wine travel? Well, you are in for a treat. From the rolling Langhe hills to the rich, savory red wines the region offers, an Italian wine travel experience is unlike any other. To the uninitiated, a Piemonte wine adventure can be intimidating, but once you have these basic tips down, you’ll feel ready to conquer wine country.

A pale face gazing out of a dimly-lit window; footsteps on the tower stairs; cries of revelry from a party held long ago: Piemonte is full of castles and ancient forts, and every good castle comes with its ghost story.

The villa sits in the center of a green grass hollow. In the silence, dragonflies flit in the fountains of Neptune, vineyard workers harvest grapes on the slope by the Villa, and a sweeping cityscape and Alpine mountains set the backdrop. It is just as the queen wanted it.

For the Piemontese, September means more than colorful trees and the return to school. September is synonymous with vendemmia, or the grape harvest, and its brilliant reds, golds, and purples of vineyards and ripened grapes. As with all important life moments, it's celebrated with festivals. Here are some of Piemonte's best.

The northern zone of Alto Piemonte has nothing to envy of its southern cousins, the Langhe and the Roero, with its excellent wines and beautiful landscapes, and differences that make it unique. A new project by the local tourism board plans to create a network of trails and enogastronomic points of interest.

Cantè j’Euv delight participants and onlookers in March every year with its traditional songs, dances, and toasts, making it one of the Roero’s oldest traditions.

Carnevale: The name evokes parades of masked characters, unbridled indulgence, and festivities that last for days. This ancient Italian tradition goes far beyond Venice. Discover three of Piemonte’s unique carnivals and the traditions behind the revelry.

2013-10-18The first magazine dedicated to wine tourism in Piemonte will have a stand at the International White Truffle Fair of Alba. It's an active and fun stopping point at the Fair where we give you, wine lovers, the chance to tell us about wine and travel.

At Borgo Ascheri in Bra, 360 degrees of hospitality

In the heart of the Roero is the city of Bra, the Zizzola monument sitting in its courtyard on a hill overlooking the city. In the center of this town, the warm and welcoming hotel Borgo Ascheri affords its guests every degree of comfort. Here, find consistent high quality from the wine cellar and the osteria to the lodgings and every detail of “project hospitality.” The family spirit is practically tangible in this hotel that gives tourists an unforgettable experience.

From its beginnings with just 20-some members, today the Regional Wine Shop 'the Hills of Moscato' gathers the wine production of almost 100 wine makers in the zone, coming from three provinces – Cuneo, Asti, and Alessandria – for a total of 52 municipalities.

”The castle’s winehouse is a great treasure chest that contains all the beauty and uniqueness of the Langhe Moscato. It’s a prestigious showcase for producers from 52 different communities, many of them small companies that produce this king of sweet wines. But overall, the winehouse is a place for humanity and culture – truly one-of-a-kind. After visiting Mango and its Enoteca, we understood what it meant to love your land and value its products"

Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato candidates for UNESCO World Heritage sites

The pyramids of Egypt and the Australian Great Barrier Reef; the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America and the Great Wall of China – hopefully, a new name will be added to this eminent list: the viticultural countryside of the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato. The extraordinary beauty of the vineyard-covered hills of Lower Piedmont, in fact, may soon be included among the marvels of the UNESCO, the international organization of the United Nations whose principle mission is to identify, protect, and safeguard the great natural wonders and cultural heritages of the earth so that future generations may enjoy them.

Ferruccio Ribezzo serves up excellence in Monforte d’Alba

"To do something good in life, you've got to do what you love, otherwise you'll do everything without a soul. This is both a secret and a recipe." So goes the philosophy of Ferruccio Ribezzo's work, a name in the Langhe that is synonymous with high quality gastronomic production and tourist accommodation. From the Antica Dispensa to the vinegar factory (acetaia) at Monforte Acerba, from Hotel Villa Beccaris to Palazzo Martinengo, Monforte d'Alba is not lacking in choices of luxury travel accommodation.