Barolo/Alba

We flew into Mikan MXP.
Yes, you need a car to explore all the nearby wine villages. I can’t imagine touring the Piemonte without one. Pick it up at MXP.
We toured the Pietro Rinaldi Winerynear Alba and wrote them in advance from their website.

We are planning a fall visit as well. My research quickly discouraged me from using the Turin airport so we will be using Milan's Malpensa airport. You'll find that most everyone will recommend a vehicle to move among the villages. There are wine tours available and I suppose whether or not you use one depends in large part in how much sampling you'll want to do and your level of interest in the whole process of producing wine.

You can get from Turin to Alba by train and pick a rental car there. The Buses from Malpensa and Caselle airports to Turin stop in front of Porta Susa railway station, but the bus from Malpensa takes much more.

We drove up from Genoa, stayed in Barolo and flew out of MXP. You will need a car.
My husband had arranged all the wine tasting ahead of time and our hostess in Barolo added a couple more calling for us to arrange the times. Wine tasting in the area is mostly by appointment. You can get a sense of all the local wineries at the towns Enoteca where you can also buy wine as most wineries don't offer retail sales. At least that was our experience.

I was able to easily get to Alba by train (via Milan, with change to bus in Asti). It was a short stay, so we were fine without a car, but you will want one. The driving looks easy, and you can easily avoid the highway driving by renting in town. And of course make use of drives/tours for wine tasting.

Thank you everyone for the insight and suggestions. Appreciate it!!

I visited the area last autumn just in time for the white truffle festival in Alba. What a great area! I stayed near Barbaresco at the Agriturismo Tre Stelle. There are only four rooms, all with private terraces overlooking the hills and vineyards of the Langhe. It is also a small winery and our host had an impromptu tasting for us as well as a tour of the wine making area in the cellar of the building. Breakfasts were wonderful and we received great recommendations from the owners regarding restaurants, enotecas and other towns to enjoy. Our stay exceeded our expectations.

As far as transportation, Turin is the closest major airport. I rented a car at the airport and drove to all our destinations. I feel that a car is a must in this area and the roads are not crowded with traffic. Taking a train necessitates transferring from the airport to the city (either by taxi or train and bus), waiting for the train to Alba and then finding a car rental office. Hertz is a 15 minute walk from the station. Taking the train is inconvenient and tak s about 3 hours. Traveling from the airport to Alba by car takes about 1:15 without any hassles.

The SFM train from Turin Porta Susa station to Alba takes 1 hours and 18 minutes, not 3 hours.
There is one departing almost every hour.

Dario, you still have to get to the train station from the airport.

If you are renting a car anyhow, why go through the hassle after a flight to get to the rail station, take a train and then try to find a car rental office in Alba? It is so much easier to get a car at the airport and drive to Barolo from there.

The bus from Turin to the parking lot in front of Porta Susa station takes 40 minutes.
I think the hassle of taking a train (!) is not worst than the hassle of renting a car and driving the whole Turin's ring road. It's quite obvious that a train would be easier.

Why? Pollution and ZTLs aside, one should avoid to drive abroad through the hills after a long flight. I'd rather go to Alba by train, sleep there, maybe take a tour of the underground roman ruins and get my car the next morning.

Of course a confident driver that doesn't suffer from jet-lag can make a different choice.

Philip and Dario, thank you both so very much for the informative suggestions. It certainly assist with the planning of my trip to the Barolo area. Much appreciate it!!