Piemonte

During your visit, you will want the full experience of Piedmont.  Piemonte’s Winelands is a beguiling area, which is hard to leave.  With its’ amazing history, scenery, food and wine, it is somewhere for all the senses.  It’s not just about its unique vineyards, stretching from Asti to Alba and beyond which have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Or its’ 25 Michelin starred restaurants. Or its’ many annual pageants, steeped in medieval folklore. Or shopping designer-style to flea-markets.  It’s about taking life at a quieter pace and having time to enjoy it.

Wine

With vineyards as far as the eye can see, a visit to Piemonte would not be complete without at least one tour of a local wine cellar. Let us help you build a self-drive itinerary using our local knowledge of the wines and wineries of the region. Alternatively, we can organise guided wine tours, either with Nicola herself or another local company.

 

Truffle Hunting

Piemonte is famous for truffles. In summer, the black truffles grow in abundance amongst the woodlands though many hunters wait it out until the Autumn and the appearance of the elusive white truffle, with it’s distinctive, earthy smell.

Whether you enjoy hunting for your own, or simply prefer them served to your table, truffles are an experience to be savoured at least once in your life.

Walking and Cycling Tours

The countryside around La Villa is excellent for walking and cycling – great scenery, quaint, sleepy villages, and gentle hillsides with a few steep ones dotted in between. For keen walkers, we have a number of routes around the hotel already mapped out and for casual cyclists a few mountain bikes for use. For the more serious-minded, we can arrange guided walking tours as well as guided bikes tours, including with e-bikes.

We are delighted to partner with Butterfield & Robinson on their tours throughout Piemonte.

Outdoor Sport Activities

There is a surprising number of golf courses close to The Villa, the best being Villa Margara and Golf Feudo d’Asti. Many of our guests bring their own clubs.

Other outdoor activities, such as horse riding, tennis, padel and go-karting are also available as are rafting and ballooning for the more adventurous.

Grappa

Where there is wine, there is grappa – at least in Piemonte. La Villa is a short walk from one of the most famous Grappa distilleries in the world, Berta and a short drive from one of the most unique, Bocchino.

Cheese

Great wine deserves great cheese and in this region we are spoiled for choice – robiola, toma, testun, gorgonzola, grano padano and even mozzarella. For cheese lovers, a tasting of this region’s finest is a must alongside its’ chocolate, hazelnuts, and even famous Amaretti biscuits. Using our contacts, we can create a unique day out for you, taking in the smells and tastes of the region.

Outdoor Markets

Food markets are a way of life in Italy and almost every morning you will find one set up in one of the nearby towns or villages. We have a weekly calendar of all the local markets so you can head out early and explore.