Become a truffle hunter for the evening during an exclusive sunset truffle experience. Learn all about hunting truffles and meet the locals — and their dogs — who dedicate their lives to wild truffle hunting. Sample truffles to find out what all the fuss is about and three local wines.
After a warm welcome from Alberto or Gianluca, your experienced trifolau (truffle hunter) guides, and their trusty dogs, Etan, Katt, or Bull, climb into their car to be driven to the Piedmont woods, where they usually hunt for truffles. Soak in the beautiful vineyards and scenery during the drive.
On arrival at the woods, get a short introduction to the history and art of truffle hunting. Discover how trifolaus train and develop such close relationships with their four-legged friends. Then, learn about different types of truffles and their symbiotic relationships with trees.
After all your truffle-related questions have been answered, follow the dogs' noses through the woods in search of these elusive mushrooms. You'll know when the truffle hunting dogs have found something as they start digging at the base of a tree, rooting out the truffle with their fine-tuned noses.
If you're lucky, maybe they'll unearth the most famous white truffle in the world — Tartufo Bianco d'Alba — which is only found in Piedmont, making it one of the rarest and most coveted truffles around. Enjoy watching the truffle dogs at work as the sun sets over the surrounding Italian countryside.
After working up an appetite gathering truffles, it'll be time for an aperitif. Head to a local winery in Gavi to sample three of their wines, all awarded the DCOG Gavi di Gavi quality label. Tuck into truffle chips, focaccia bread, and local cheese and cured meats with black truffle grated on top.
Having gained a new appreciation and understanding of truffles, be driven back to the meeting point.