No one is more excited than the Casa Mia team when Italian truffle season gets going each year. Not only are all the different truffle types delicious additions to local dishes, it’s an excellent excuse to travel to some of Italy’s lesser-visited areas to see where these truffles are being harvested.
While you will find Italian truffle on the menu in major cities like Rome, Florence and Milan, nothing compares to getting out into the countryside and seeing where the truffles come from. Most often found in the northern regions of Piemonte, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna, spending some time during your Italian trip in quieter destinations is a great way to get to know Italian truffles better. Keep reading for all our tips on how to plan your perfect truffle experience:
The Italian Truffle Season
When we talk about truffle season, what do we mean? There are some truffle varieties that come to maturity in the spring and summer, but generally the most flavorful and most widespread have their season in the fall and/or winter. Make sure to read our guide to the different types of Italian truffles for more details on the white and black truffle season here.
Fall and Winter
The Alba white truffle season in Piedmont runs from October to January and black truffle hunters tend to focus their efforts around the same time. This doesn’t mean you can’t visit at other times of the year, but for us, late fall into early winter is the best time to plan a trip focused on truffles.
Yes, this means the weather is colder and sometimes wetter than earlier in the year, but trust us, walking through the quiet forests on crunchy fallen leaves to go truffle hunting or digging into a huge bowl of steaming pasta topped with truffle in a cosy restaurant is such a special experience.
This is also the time of year when the small towns and villages in truffle country spring to life. There is a strong correlation between truffle areas and top quality wine production in Italy, so at the point when black and white truffle varieties are at their best, the vineyards will have been harvested for the year.
Harvest season means lots of local festivals with celebrations of local produce which adds to the fun for visitors. You can really make the most of a trip this time of year, which will give you a glimpse of another side of Italy that many visitors don’t get to see.
Spring and Summer
If a fall or winter trip is not possible, early spring is also a good time to visit. The truffle hunters will still be out and there are some truffle varieties that are at their best at this point in the year so you won’t be truffle-less! The only time we don’t recommend planning a truffle-focused trip is in the summer. Not only do the hot temperatures make it less enjoyable, truffles aren’t in season and everything is very quiet – time to head to the beach instead.
Where to Stay
Now that you know when to visit, the next question is where should you stay?
The Langhe Region
If it’s your first time delving into the world of truffles, we recommend basing yourself in the Piedmont region, specifically the rolling hills and forests in the Langhe. The Langhe area consists of a mix of valleys and tall hills and is famous for its exceptional wines as well as truffles and hazelnuts.
As the Langhe region is relatively small, you can explore all of it quite easily. One option is to stay in the small town of Barolo or in the surrounding vineyards, where you can enjoy the famous red wine made here as well as all the local truffles.
However our favorite place to stay here has to be Alba. Not only are you in the heart of the Langhe, making it easy to explore the countryside, the medieval historic center is incredibly charming. Spend your days exploring and then come back to some of the best restaurants serving local cuisine – with plenty of truffles on offer!
As a bonus, in October the annual Alba white truffle fair takes place with lots of different events, tastings and more taking place. So, if you’re a real truffle enthusiast, this is the place to be.
Planning a truffle experience?
Looking for where to stay in the town of Alba in Piemonte? Discover all of your accommodation options here including the best hotels, B&Bs and apartments and more.
If you need any help planning your trip to Italy, don’t hesitate to contact us – our team is waiting to hear from you.
Monferrato
Alba is fun but can be busy and on the more expensive side at the peak of the Italian truffle season.
A great alternative is Monferrato. Neighboring the Langhe, Monferrato is home to Asti and Canelli where excellent sparkling wines are produced, as well as the rich Barbera red wine. It also has wonderful black and white truffles, so if you’d prefer a quieter atmosphere, Monferrato is the area for you.
There are just as many opportunities to go truffle hunting and do tastings here so you won’t miss out, and you can easily visit Alba too.
Piedmont Connections
If you stay in Monferrato or the Langhe region, the nearest major city is Turin but the international airports of Milan will generally be the best connection option for flights in and out of Italy.
As these regions are fairly remote, public transport options are limited both for reaching the area and exploring it, so your best option is either to rent a car or arrange for a private driver to really make the most of your trip. If you arrange a truffle hunting experience, vineyard exploration or tastings with us, we always offer pick up and drop off to ensure you can fully enjoy all aspects of the day.
From Piemonte you can easily reach other parts of Italy too. For more truffles, head east to Emilia-Romagna where you can find plenty of delicious truffles along with other famous products like Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamic vinegar. You can also head north towards Veneto or further south to Florence for more fantastic local wines and cuisine.
Truffle-Themed Activities
Part of enjoying your Italian truffle season is making the most of the many truffle-related activities on offer.
Truffle Hunting
As truffles are not lined up in neat rows ready to be harvested, it is still necessary for truffle hunters to head out with their trained dogs so see what they can find that day. Growing in the roots of certain trees, when the conditions are just right, the dogs follow their nose, searching for the distinctive aroma.
You can join one of these hunters on special truffle hunting tours, where you follow them as they explore the beautiful woods and learn about the whole process. This hasn’t really changed for centuries as truffles have resisted any type of large-scale cultivation, so joining one of these tours is a must-do for anyone interested in Italian truffles.
Check out our blog post here all about what to expect on one of these experiences for more information.
Tastings and Wine Pairings
Some truffle hunting tours include a provision to allow you to try what you find, but due to the uncertainty of truffle hunting, it’s much better to arrange a dedicated tasting experience.
Visit a local restaurant to try local specialties that are enhanced by truffles, prepared by people who care deeply about what they do. Try a little white truffle raw on top of a delicate vegetable appetizer, a black truffle-infused risotto or pasta sauce, or maybe a rich steak smothered in black truffle shavings. Depending on your budget and how much you love truffles, you can have an entire meal where truffle is the feature!
Don’t forget about the wine pairings either. Many truffle varieties are found in areas renowned for their wines, so it is no surprise that these wines can enhance the flavor of truffles when paired well. In regions like Piemonte, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna you can also get to know the vineyards and wineries better by visiting and tasting some of the best Italian wines.
Cooking Classes
If you’re more of a hands-on person, you could arrange to join a cooking class to learn about local dishes and how truffles can be used to enhance them.
The content of our cooking classes varies from day to day, as our focus is always on seasonal and fresh local ingredients which guide the menu choices. During truffle season though, you can guarantee that we will add as much truffle as we can!
We can also arrange tailored experiences that are designed to meet your specific preferences, perhaps combining truffle hunting with a cooking class or vineyard visit – get in touch to start planning your own custom experience here.
Enjoy Italian Truffle Season With Casa Mia
If you’re looking for help arranging your perfect truffle experience, we’re here to guide you and arrange all the different activities you would like to enjoy. Talk to us today to understand how we can help you create your ideal truffle-focused trip in Italy; from going out into the woods with local truffle hunters to tasting fresh truffles and pairing them with fantastic wines, we’ve got you covered.
