There are certainly many reasons why you'd like to come to Barolo in the fall, after the grapes have started their turn toward wine. A quick walk in the vineyards of the Langhe should be all it takes. All you need to do is to find a road and take it out of town. On foot. Then, glancing back at Barolo castle in the distance, you find a vineyard to make up the front of your picture, with the castle nobly peeking from the fog, and there you have it. Piemonte perfection.
My favorite Italian wine is Barolo, hands down. It's made from the Nebbiolo grape, found pretty much exclusively in the region of Piemonte. The grape is named, they say, after the autumn fogs that settle into the vineyards. It is a grape that is difficult to grow--and difficult to drink young.
Let's start with pictures. Let them tell the story of this fascinating land. Then I'll tell you where to stay to get the full experience.
From Barolo Castle to vineyards and a cozy Restaurant
There are quite a few places to stay in Barolo, the top rated of which is an agriturismo just north of town called Palas Cerequio.
If you'd like to stay in place with some history (and some stairs), you might do like we did and stay at the 17th century tower called Torre Barolo, one of our recommeded places to stay in Italy.
If you want to wake up to a November breakfast of truffled eggs and other delightfully local things to eat, try a little place in Monchiero we discovered called Tra Arte & Querce, where we had this Breakfast of Champions. Staying in a truffle hunting, wine collecting family's b&b isn't a bad idea in the Langhe.
Italy's Best Breadsticks: Grissini of Piemonte
Wine Tasting in a Cuurch: Barbaresco
Zoom out of the map to see other historic wine towns: La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba and Monforte. Notice the dotted lines, representing small roads, "white" roads, and trails, mostly through vineyards.
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