Piedmont: Barolo & Truffles
Gourmand’s bicycle tour of Italy’s greatest wine region
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- What to expect
- Travel planning tips
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Savor all the beauty and pleasures of Piedmont, considered Italy’s greatest single wine region, on this unforgettable eight-day bicycle tour. Our route traverses the region’s most important and distinct vineyard centers of Gavi, Acqui Terme, Alba, and lower Monferrato. We’ll be fortified on our journey by sumptuous meals pairing great wines with delightfully complementary Piemontese cuisine, a blend of northern Italian and French influences, with truffles and mushrooms as seasonal key players. In the fall, the cycling tour may coincide with the “Fiere del Tartufo,” the International Truffle Fair, which attracts gourmands and top chefs to the fairytale towns of Alba, Moncalvo and Acqui Terme. Here we savor the delicacies produced by local culinary artisans and experience the enchantment of the Tartufo Bianco, the revered white truffle!
Tour Essence
- Less-traveled, gorgeous country roads
-
Dinners at top restaurants in Alba and Acqui Terme
- Introduction to world-famous local wines
- Meet with a truffle hunter & his dog for a lecture on truffles
- Emerald valleys and vineyard-laden hillsides
- Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera
- Private wine tastings by our local hosts and sommeliers
What to Expect
Terrain
RollingStart Location
GaviEnd Location
PenangoMileage
Average Daily: 35 miles Total: 248 milesElevation
Average Daily: 2,705 ft Total: 18,940 ft
Once you have a trip confirmed, we will feed you a steady diet of additional pre-departure information that includes: How to train, prepare, pack and all the wonderful, inspirational and practical things you want and need to know before you go! Our Travel Advisors will be available to help plan your pre- and post-tour travel.
- Van support
- Expert, bilingual guides
- Guided walking tour of Alba
- Truffle hunting demonstration
- 3 wine tastings
- Cycling clinics
- Shuttle at the end of the tour
What’s Included
- Use of our exclusive carbon road bike, La Classica Ribelle (or Equivalent Carbon Road Bike)
- Garmin Edge Explore GPS loaded with the GPX tracks of your rides
- Two water bottles
- Saddle bag with repair kit
- Optional: Map holder on handlebar
Pedal Options
- Flat pedals
- Half-toe pedals (without straps)
What’s Not Included
- Helmet
- Optional: clipless/SPD pedals with shoes
- Optional: your own saddle
- All accommodations
- All breakfasts
- 2 lunches
- 5 dinners
Exemplifying the best of European biking tours, we’ll cycle lesser-traveled country roads through the emerald valleys and vineyard-laden hillsides of Barolo and Monforte, framed by majestic views of the Alps, and of Dolcetto, Cortese and Moscato. We’ll stop to discover both world-famous local wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera, shared by vineyard owners and sommeliers. The castles of Monferrato, each guarding a unique medieval village, the famed thermal waters of Acqui, and the hypnotic geometry of the Nizza hills are among the many highlights on our glorious route. We’ll visit the world’s most famous bicycle museum of champions, join a local truffle hunter and his dog for a demonstration, enjoy five-star meals in Alba and in Acqui Terme. No bicycle tour brings you closer to the spirit, the people, and the treasures of the Italy’s famed Piedmont!
2024
Start Location
GaviFly Into
Turin-Caselle AirportEnd Location
PenangoFly Out Of
Turin or MilanMonterotondo di Gavi
Meals Provided
Lunch, DinnerAverage Mileage
13 milesElevation Gain
870 ftRiding Terrain
RollingMeals Provided
Lunch, DinnerAccommodations
L’Ostelliere Villa Sparina
Situated in the gentle hills of Gavi and surrounded by beautiful vineyards and untouched nature, the 5-star Villa Sparina Resort has a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. You’ll love the charming rooms, bursting with personality and designed to pamper your soul and rejuvenate your spirit.
Gavi to Acqui Terme
Meals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAverage Mileage
37 milesElevation Gain
3,025 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with some gradual climbsMeals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAccommodations
Villa la Madonna
Villa La Madonna is a family-run 4-star boutique hotel and vineyard nestled in the green hills of Acqui Terme, located close to the historical center. The rooms are warm, personal, and charming, with effortless elegance. You can relax at the spa and outdoor pool. The hotel is part of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the world hotel community.
Acqui Terme
Meals Provided
Breakfast, LunchAverage Mileage
37 milesElevation Gain
2,400 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with some steep and short climbsMeals Provided
Breakfast, LunchAccommodations
Villa la Madonna
Villa La Madonna is a family-run 4-star boutique hotel and vineyard nestled in the green hills of Acqui Terme, located close to the historical center. The rooms are warm, personal, and charming, with effortless elegance. You can relax at the spa and outdoor pool. The hotel is part of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the world hotel community.
Acqui to Alba
Meals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAverage Mileage
40 milesElevation Gain
3,630 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with two gradual climbsMeals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAccommodations
Hotel Calissano
The Hotel Calissano is a 4-star accommodation set in a former 19th-century winery. It is located just 1 km from the Romanesque Alba Cathedral and 8 km from the Castle of Grinzane Cavour, a UNESCO World Heritage monument. The hotel is near the central Piazza M. Ferrero, considered one of Piedmont’s most beautiful squares. It is also known as “the drawing room of Alba” because it is a popular meeting place for people from the town and surrounding areas. Every year, this town of Roman and medieval origins attracts thousands of connoisseurs and tourists who come to enjoy its excellent wines and cuisine and the heady aroma of the White Truffle of Alba.
Loop to Barolo
Meals Provided
BreakfastAverage Mileage
35 milesElevation Gain
2,500 ftRiding Terrain
Several 1-2 mile climbsMeals Provided
BreakfastAccommodations
Hotel Calissano
The Hotel Calissano is a 4-star accommodation set in a former 19th-century winery. It is located just 1 km from the Romanesque Alba Cathedral and 8 km from the Castle of Grinzane Cavour, a UNESCO World Heritage monument. The hotel is near the central Piazza M. Ferrero, considered one of Piedmont’s most beautiful squares. It is also known as “the drawing room of Alba” because it is a popular meeting place for people from the town and surrounding areas. Every year, this town of Roman and medieval origins attracts thousands of connoisseurs and tourists who come to enjoy its excellent wines and cuisine and the heady aroma of the White Truffle of Alba.
Cioccaro di Penango
Meals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAverage Mileage
49 milesElevation Gain
3,575 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling hillsMeals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAccommodations
Relais Sant’Uffizio
Relais Sant’Uffizio is a luxurious retreat located in the heart of Asti’s Monferrato and Langhe regions. This beautiful 16th-century property boasts a stunning red-brick building, surrounded by landscaped gardens and a small chapel. Guests can enjoy a dip in the outdoor swimming pool or relax on the sun terrace, which comes equipped with sun beds and parasols. The property also features a spa center for ultimate relaxation and a gourmet restaurant that has been awarded with 2 Michelin stars.
Loop to Vignale Monferrato
Meals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAverage Mileage
37 milesElevation Gain
2,940 ftRiding Terrain
Hilly with a tough climbMeals Provided
Breakfast, DinnerAccommodations
Relais Sant’Uffizio
Relais Sant’Uffizio is a luxurious retreat located in the heart of Asti’s Monferrato and Langhe regions. This beautiful 16th-century property boasts a stunning red-brick building, surrounded by landscaped gardens and a small chapel. Guests can enjoy a dip in the outdoor swimming pool or relax on the sun terrace, which comes equipped with sun beds and parasols. The property also features a spa center for ultimate relaxation and a gourmet restaurant that has been awarded with 2 Michelin stars.
