La Piazza Blog & Stories
Highlights from Marc’s Bike Tour in Piedmont
Highlights from Marc’s Bike Tour in Piedmont
One of the great benefits of my job at Ciclismo Classico is the opportunity to travel on our bike tours and experience the world through the eyes of our guests. Not only does it give me a unique perspective on their desires and wishes, enabling me to help service our clients better, but it also affords me the chance to explore the world and enjoy all the amazing adventures that our trips have to offer!
Piedmont Landscape
This past month, I traveled to Piedmont for two weeks to meet with our local guides and join our Piedmont: Land of Barolo and Truffles tour. And all I can say is – what an incredible trip it was! After spending a few days prior to the trip in Asti, it was time for me to head to Torino and join the group at L’Ostelliere Albergo. What a great spot to begin our cycling journey through Piedmont. The property is stunning! As we approached the hotel via a winding rural road, you could hear the oohs and aahs from the guests as the path opened up to this gorgeous villa set among endless vineyards.
The highlight of the night was dinner at the old barn behind the main house. The restored stone barn has been turned into a delightful space, having maintained its rustic roots in a charming updated setting with an open-air lofted ceiling and unique lattice work incorporated into the design. Our private dining room featured a picturesque balcony that allowed us to enjoy the striking sunset before we began our delicious meal of regional fare “ including the œmountain of gelato that was presented for dessert! Talk about a œwow moment! As was being joined by Luca Abrate, a local wine producer, who brought bottles from his local vineyard to serve at dinner.
Mountain of Gelato in Piedmont
The next morning we were blessed with a little extra time to sleep in due to the cold morning temperatures before we set out on our first real bike ride of the trip. Our guides Federica and Enrico led us on a rolling route that concluded with a memorable entry into Enrico’s hometown of Acqui Terme. Our scenic approach took us over an ancient cobblestone bridge set alongside the backdrop of old Roman aqueduct. What a sight! Especially when we got to see it in its full glory later that evening all ablaze with light.
We were also fortunate to stumble upon a chocolate festival that was happening in the center of town directly outside our hotel. The streets were filled with vendors exhibiting all types of chocolate treats and concoctions. There was even a vendor inside our lobby, sculpting a giant block of chocolate, and encouraging guests to stop by and sample the shavings as he meticulously worked on his creation.
Surrounding by vineyards in Piedmont
We spent two days riding around the undulating terrain of Acqui Terme, surrounded by boundless vineyards, enjoying visits to local secret spots, and taking advantage of the famous geothermal waters.
One of my favorite moments had to be our private dinner at La Schiavia. Enrico’s friend Roberto has an invite-only family restaurant that he opens up for Ciclismo guests and hosts a pasta-making lesson followed by delectable dinner cooked by his mother and father. It’s a real family affair! We learned all about making fettuccini and were treated to chef Roberto Abrile’s house specialty: cipolla a la coque.
This unique dish is created by shelling out an onion, stewing the contents, putting it back in it’s shell, adding batter on the top and roasting it in the oven. It is then presented to each diner at the table, one at a time, as the waiter individually takes off each onion lid! You really can’t beat the genuine level of service and hospitality that you experience at Roberto’s!
After another phenomenal day of riding, we encountered another exciting local treat. I have to admit, this is the beauty of having such local guides “ we get to experience all of these local-only encounters. This time, we met another friend of Enrico’s, Mario, for an Italian lesson and coffee tasting at the cozy little bar Haiti near our hotel. He taught us all about how espresso is served, the differences between different versions, and the meaning behind café corretto (coffee with grappa) – the stimulant in the coffee and the alcohol in the liqueur balance each other out, hence it is œcorrect.
All of these special moments are just enhanced by the amazing climbing in the hills of Piedmont. As you make your way toward Alba, you can’t imagine how breathtaking the landscape is! As you cycle along each hillside, you are treated to views of the Alps – at times covered in a light haze that is striated with a bright palette of multi-colored layers. It’s almost surreal. Surrounded in every direction by vineyards, you realize that you are fully ensconced in the land of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Lest we forget one of the most important features of the Piedmont region “ the WINES! This area is renown for some of the boldest wines in the world. And we had the chance to taste some of these bad boys on this trip!
Upon arrival in Alba, where the lingering smell of Nutella permeates the air, we had the chance to delve into some of these delicious wines. Here in Alba it is all about Barolo and truffles!
Shaving truffles at dinner
During dinner at the Eno Club, we enjoyed a remarkable tasting of a 2004 vintage Barolo along with an unbelievable meal that included the ritual shaving and weighing the truffle.
The following day, that same theme continued. During our loop ride outside Alba through the Nebbiolo vineyards, we stopped to meet Carlo and his dog Stella in a grove of walnut and hazelnut trees for a truffle hunting demonstration. It is fascinating to watch the dog’s ability to detect the scent and start digging in the ground for the treasured item. It’s then Carlo’s job to stop her immediately before she does any damage to that prized fungi. It was definitely a unique experience to witness!
As was our next stop along the ride for a visit to the DOCG facility to learn more about this governing body and the qualifications required for a wine to be authenticated. In addition to the explanations about southern facing vineyards, how different soil types affect the grape, the varied terrains in the region, we delighted in a tasting of three of the newest Barolo qualifiers. What can I say? They may be new, but they are still pretty amazing!
Now enough about local culture, wine and truffles¦let’s talk about the cycling and my favorite climb on the trip! The Superga climb! What better way to end your cycling vacation than spending the last day in the saddle climbing one of the toughest of the tour? And the view at the summit makes it all worthwhile, including the famous Basilica. Even better is the long and thrilling descent into the Po River valley. From here it’s just an easy ride along a hard-packed dirt path back into Torino for our final night’s celebration. Now that’s a great day on the bike and a perfect end to a journey through Piedmont. You should definitely put this cycling vacation in Piedmont on your wish list if you have yet to join us here!
Basilica atop the summit of Superga
Piedmont Landscape
This past month, I traveled to Piedmont for two weeks to meet with our local guides and join our Piedmont: Land of Barolo and Truffles tour. And all I can say is – what an incredible trip it was! After spending a few days prior to the trip in Asti, it was time for me to head to Torino and join the group at L’Ostelliere Albergo. What a great spot to begin our cycling journey through Piedmont. The property is stunning! As we approached the hotel via a winding rural road, you could hear the oohs and aahs from the guests as the path opened up to this gorgeous villa set among endless vineyards.
The highlight of the night was dinner at the old barn behind the main house. The restored stone barn has been turned into a delightful space, having maintained its rustic roots in a charming updated setting with an open-air lofted ceiling and unique lattice work incorporated into the design. Our private dining room featured a picturesque balcony that allowed us to enjoy the striking sunset before we began our delicious meal of regional fare “ including the œmountain of gelato that was presented for dessert! Talk about a œwow moment! As was being joined by Luca Abrate, a local wine producer, who brought bottles from his local vineyard to serve at dinner.
Mountain of Gelato in Piedmont
The next morning we were blessed with a little extra time to sleep in due to the cold morning temperatures before we set out on our first real bike ride of the trip. Our guides Federica and Enrico led us on a rolling route that concluded with a memorable entry into Enrico’s hometown of Acqui Terme. Our scenic approach took us over an ancient cobblestone bridge set alongside the backdrop of old Roman aqueduct. What a sight! Especially when we got to see it in its full glory later that evening all ablaze with light.
We were also fortunate to stumble upon a chocolate festival that was happening in the center of town directly outside our hotel. The streets were filled with vendors exhibiting all types of chocolate treats and concoctions. There was even a vendor inside our lobby, sculpting a giant block of chocolate, and encouraging guests to stop by and sample the shavings as he meticulously worked on his creation.
Surrounding by vineyards in Piedmont
We spent two days riding around the undulating terrain of Acqui Terme, surrounded by boundless vineyards, enjoying visits to local secret spots, and taking advantage of the famous geothermal waters.
One of my favorite moments had to be our private dinner at La Schiavia. Enrico’s friend Roberto has an invite-only family restaurant that he opens up for Ciclismo guests and hosts a pasta-making lesson followed by delectable dinner cooked by his mother and father. It’s a real family affair! We learned all about making fettuccini and were treated to chef Roberto Abrile’s house specialty: cipolla a la coque.
This unique dish is created by shelling out an onion, stewing the contents, putting it back in it’s shell, adding batter on the top and roasting it in the oven. It is then presented to each diner at the table, one at a time, as the waiter individually takes off each onion lid! You really can’t beat the genuine level of service and hospitality that you experience at Roberto’s!
After another phenomenal day of riding, we encountered another exciting local treat. I have to admit, this is the beauty of having such local guides “ we get to experience all of these local-only encounters. This time, we met another friend of Enrico’s, Mario, for an Italian lesson and coffee tasting at the cozy little bar Haiti near our hotel. He taught us all about how espresso is served, the differences between different versions, and the meaning behind café corretto (coffee with grappa) – the stimulant in the coffee and the alcohol in the liqueur balance each other out, hence it is œcorrect.
All of these special moments are just enhanced by the amazing climbing in the hills of Piedmont. As you make your way toward Alba, you can’t imagine how breathtaking the landscape is! As you cycle along each hillside, you are treated to views of the Alps – at times covered in a light haze that is striated with a bright palette of multi-colored layers. It’s almost surreal. Surrounded in every direction by vineyards, you realize that you are fully ensconced in the land of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Lest we forget one of the most important features of the Piedmont region “ the WINES! This area is renown for some of the boldest wines in the world. And we had the chance to taste some of these bad boys on this trip!
Upon arrival in Alba, where the lingering smell of Nutella permeates the air, we had the chance to delve into some of these delicious wines. Here in Alba it is all about Barolo and truffles!
Shaving truffles at dinner
During dinner at the Eno Club, we enjoyed a remarkable tasting of a 2004 vintage Barolo along with an unbelievable meal that included the ritual shaving and weighing the truffle.
The following day, that same theme continued. During our loop ride outside Alba through the Nebbiolo vineyards, we stopped to meet Carlo and his dog Stella in a grove of walnut and hazelnut trees for a truffle hunting demonstration. It is fascinating to watch the dog’s ability to detect the scent and start digging in the ground for the treasured item. It’s then Carlo’s job to stop her immediately before she does any damage to that prized fungi. It was definitely a unique experience to witness!
As was our next stop along the ride for a visit to the DOCG facility to learn more about this governing body and the qualifications required for a wine to be authenticated. In addition to the explanations about southern facing vineyards, how different soil types affect the grape, the varied terrains in the region, we delighted in a tasting of three of the newest Barolo qualifiers. What can I say? They may be new, but they are still pretty amazing!
Now enough about local culture, wine and truffles¦let’s talk about the cycling and my favorite climb on the trip! The Superga climb! What better way to end your cycling vacation than spending the last day in the saddle climbing one of the toughest of the tour? And the view at the summit makes it all worthwhile, including the famous Basilica. Even better is the long and thrilling descent into the Po River valley. From here it’s just an easy ride along a hard-packed dirt path back into Torino for our final night’s celebration. Now that’s a great day on the bike and a perfect end to a journey through Piedmont. You should definitely put this cycling vacation in Piedmont on your wish list if you have yet to join us here!
Basilica atop the summit of Superga
