Going to Piedmonte, Italy in November- anyone have any reccs. on winery visits?
We are looking at : Elio Grasso, La Spinetta, Vajra, Gaja, Pira, Braida, Aldo Conterno, Elio Altare, Sandrone. Marchesi di Barolo, Michele Chiarlo so far... we are there a week, but won't have time for all of these...some of these have web sites and do visits by appt.- some I am having trouble finding info for visits- would love anyone's input.
We are staying in Alba, to be centrally located to Barolo, Asti, etc...

I would also try to visit Bruno Giacosa if you are able.

Nothing to add, Miss Jazin, other than it's nice to see you back here. Regards to your husband.

If you have the American Express Platinum card, use their free concierge services. They had people calling and writing in italian to get us into everywhere we wanted to go. Rivetti (La Spinetta) was the hardest and they didn't confirm until after we left and had no email access to know we had an appointment.

Eat some angnolotti with tartufo for me!

If you are looking for a thin crust pizza (NY/NJ style), find the Todds shoe store (near the Cinima in the old town) and across the alley is a lttle pizzeria that had carafes of local village barbera, barbersco, barolo.... Splurge on the truffle pizza and you will be amazed! Sit outdoors if possible.

Just make sure there isn't a busload of Germans there in front of you at Marchesi or your tour reservation for 2 means nothing...

After that experience, I'd add instead Vietti, Rocche dei Manzoni, Scavino, Conterno Fantino and Prunotto.

Enjoy!

Joe

When setting up these appointments for Italian wineries, are you planning on winging it? Or do you have a guide taking you around that speaks Italian?

Joe- in Alba

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If you are looking for a thin crust pizza (NY/NJ style), find the Todds shoe store (near the Cinima in the old town) and across the alley is a lttle pizzeria that had carafes of local village barbera, barbersco, barolo.... Splurge on the truffle pizza and you will be amazed! Sit outdoors if possible.

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I have to second Joe's note about Alba. The little shoe store has more Tod's shoes than you will ever see in one place with decent prices. With the tax back they are about 15% less than in the US. The pizzas at the place next to the Cinema were excellent.

Here's a link to my trip notes from Piedmont.Wine Tripping in Piedmont

Gaja is close to an impossible visit unless you get in through someone in the trade. Bruno Giacosa would be a great visit. We tried hard to get in there but the timing just didn't work out. They were definitely open to visitors. At each visit allow lots of time because they won't rush through it. We tasted at tables with Riedel glasses in each of the wineries so that should give you an idea of how they manage it. Two hours minimum for each winery visit plus lots of travel time in between for the narrow, twisty roads. Get someone who speaks Italian to drive you around and help with translation. Most people in Piedmont speak some English (many fluently) but I think you get more out of it if they can elaborate in Italian. Enjoy, I fell in love with the people, wines and food of Piedmont.

We are off to Tuscany in Sept. and I've already looked at all of Jazin's notes. Too bad we can't coordinate our trips!!