Guest Post by Aimee Cebulski
For red wine
lovers, the Piedmont region tucked in Italy's northwest corner beckons
longingly. Home to some of the country's
best wines made from hearty Barolo, Barbera and Nebbiolo grapes, the country
rolls endlessly through shades of green, gold and all manners of red when
grapes are on the vine.
Encompassing more
than 25,000 square kilometers and featuring fantastic foodie towns like Alba
(home of the Slow Food Movement) and Turin, Piedmont is everything people come
to Italy for. Countless charming
communities fill the landscape, almost forming a “connect the dots” type
experience as you travel on winding country roads from town to town.
Bordered on three
sides by the Alps, this part of Italy is a feast for the senses and the wine
does not disappoint.
One of the best
ways to experience the local wine is to stay on an “agritourismo.” These bed and breakfasts are situated on
working wineries where guests are treated to a first-hand look at the
operational effort required to produce a great bottle of wine. Depending on the facility, guests can
participate in harvest activities, talk with support staff and of course
partake in any number of tastings!
One of the most
lovely in the region is located in Serralunga d'Alba – Cascina Meriame, home to
the Paolo Manzone winery.
This five-room house offers cheery, bright and spacious rooms, each decorated
with a different theme and color palette, all with views over the central
courtyard. Out the window are miles of
all shades of green and a castle on the hill across the way (it seems as if
each small town in this region comes with either a castle or some sort of large
tower). Look to one side and you can see
workers heading out on tractors for the day; you might even catch the winemaker
himself heading out to battle recently sprouted weeds.
The climate and
soil here facilitates varieties not found anywhere else in Italy such as the
Nebbiolo, Barbera and Barolo, yielding bold, juicy reds that linger long after
the conclusion of the meal. This unique clay-limestone soil, which is actually poor
for growing other things, is a perfect fit for these vines and vineyards are
often planted in an amphitheater shape, which attracts, concentrates and
maintains heat. This perfect combination
allows a total exploitation of the area's sunlight, but also protects the vines
from wind and prevents any sudden temperature drops.
Of course you
need some hearty and fresh meals to balance the large amount of wine available
all throughout Piedmont. One great tip
is trying a different trattoria each day for lunch. After an afternoon siesta back at your
agritourismo, head out to one of the countless Osterias (more traditional
sit-down restaurants) where you will enjoy multi-course family style meals,
more likely surrounded by tables of locals celebrating a birthday than
tourists.
A yummy choice in
the Piedmont region is Osteria da Gemma in Roddino. This unassuming stone building sits tucked
back in a maze of the cobblestone streets, not on the main square . . . if you
park by the main square, seek out a small walkway to the right and find the
entrance marked by a wooden sign. If you
get lost, follow the locals or your nose!
Each harvest, Piedmont produces a
bumper crop of grapes producing delicious wines that often cost three or more
times the price in the United States. If
your time in Italy allows it, a detour to this little slice of heaven will
yield rich rewards for your palate and leave you happily (almost) drowning in a
sea of red!
Contributor Aimee
Cebulski has been furiously catching up on lost time as a traveler after a
five-year battle with fear of flying grounded her dreams of visiting far-flung
destinations in her mid-20s. Now, she’s
proud to have 52 stamps in her passport and considers each new one a triumph
over fear. She’s worked as a freelance writer and
photographer for almost 15 years and currently calls San Diego, California
home. Her work has been featured in a number of travel, business and lifestyle
magazines, websites and photo galleries.
She recently combined her love of travel, new cultures and writing with the release of The Finding 40 Project, a book about
women turning 40-years-old around the world.
Twitter: @Finding40Book
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/FindingForty
