Piedmont: Barolo & Truffles
Gourmand’s bicycle tour of Italy’s greatest wine region
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- A thorough daily itinerary
- Details for exact accommodations
- 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
- Sumptuous dinners at Enoclub in Alba and Schiavia in Acqui Terme
- Introduction to world-famous local wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco & Barbera with our local hosts and sommeliers
- 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
- 3 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 Touring 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 at the famous restaurants Enoclub in Alba and La Schiavia in Acqui Terme, and conclude our Piedmont bike trip at the elegant and romantic Relais il Borgo da Beppe. No bicycle tour brings you closer to the spirit, the people, and the treasures of the Italy’s famed Piedmont!
2023
Start Location
GaviFly Into
Turin-Caselle AirportEnd Location
PenangoFly Out Of
Turin or MilanMonterotondo di Gavi
Average Mileage
13 milesElevation Gain
870 ftRiding Terrain
RollingAccommodations
L’Ostelliere Villa Sparina
The Villa Sparina Resort is where hospitality comes to life. The hotel is located in the gentle hills of Gavi, dotted with vineyards, surrounded by untouched nature in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Charming rooms bursting with personality of the Ostelliere will pamper your soul and revitalize your spirit.
Gavi to Acqui Terme
Average Mileage
37 milesElevation Gain
3,025 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with some gradual climbsAccommodations
Il Sambuco Innamorato
Il Sambuco innamorato is a small piece of paradise nestled in the green hills of Acqui Terme and close to the historical center. The quality of the environment, the silence and peace of this place is ideal for those who want to get away from the stress of every day.
Acqui Terme
Average Mileage
37 milesElevation Gain
2,400 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with some steep and short climbsAccommodations
Il Sambuco Innamorato
Il Sambuco innamorato is a small piece of paradise nestled in the green hills of Acqui Terme and close to the historical center. The quality of the environment, the silence and peace of this place is ideal for those who want to get away from the stress of every day.
Acqui to Alba
Average Mileage
40 milesElevation Gain
3,630 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling with two gradual climbsAccommodations
Hotel Calissano
Set in a former 19th-century winery, the Hotel Calissano lies 1.1 km from the Romanesque Alba Cathedral and 8 km from Castle of Grinzane Cavour, a UNESCO World Heritage monument. The hotel is also located near the central Piazza M. Ferrero, one of the most beautiful squares in Piedmont, known as “the drawing-room of Alba” because it is a meeting place for people from the town and surrounds. Each year thousands of connoisseurs and tourists are attracted to this town of Roman and medieval origins by its great Wines and excellent cuisine, and the heady aroma of the White Truffle of Alba.
Loop to Barolo
Average Mileage
35 milesElevation Gain
2,500 ftRiding Terrain
Several 1-2 mile climbsAccommodations
Hotel Calissano
Set in a former 19th-century winery, the Hotel Calissano lies 1.1 km from the Romanesque Alba Cathedral and 8 km from Castle of Grinzane Cavour, a UNESCO World Heritage monument. The hotel is also located near the central Piazza M. Ferrero, one of the most beautiful squares in Piedmont, known as “the drawing-room of Alba” because it is a meeting place for people from the town and surrounds. Each year thousands of connoisseurs and tourists are attracted to this town of Roman and medieval origins by its great Wines and excellent cuisine, and the heady aroma of the White Truffle of Alba.
Cioccaro di Penango
Average Mileage
49 milesElevation Gain
3,575 ftRiding Terrain
Rolling hillsAccommodations
Relais Sant’Uffizio
The Relais Sant’Uffizio is located in the heart of Monferrato, surrounded by vineyards and pretty red-brick villages, tucked away in the green hills.
Loop to Vignale Monferrato
Average Mileage
37 milesElevation Gain
2,940 ftRiding Terrain
Hilly with a tough climbAccommodations
Tenuta Montemagno
Tenuta Montemagno RELAIS & WINES is located in the heart of the Monferrato hills, Unesco heritage, among vineyards, crops and historical places. An ancient 16th century farmhouse, restored to its former glory through a meticulous restoration, is today a relais in Monferrato, a place of hospitality to offer a unique and unforgettable experience to its guests.
