Piedmont Questions

You cannot do better than Art Suites, four (newly remodeled) rooms at the Rocche Costamagna winery in LaMorra, in the heart of Barolo country. Fabulous rooms with balconies; incredibly helpful and friendly staff; simple but excellent breakfast. easy parking on the street in front. Safe. They'll help with restaurants, but Bovia (45 euro tasting menu) is fantastic, as was LaTorri in a nearby town. Mare e Macine is a nearby place with great wines and simple food. For Bovia, make reservations a month in advance and ask for the patio or the room facing the patio.

Here are Mario Batali's recommendations http://www.mariobatali.com/exploreItalyDtl.cfm?rid=13

We have stayed at Cantina Rizzi twice, once in 2008, and in June of this year. It is just outside of Treiso which is on the outskirts of Alba. They have an apartment that, when we were there this year, cost 35 euro per person. There are three wonderful restaurants in Treiso just five minutes away. This June we visited Barolo and Barbaresco and loved it. I don't know if you have been to the Piemonte before, but it is wonderful and one of our favorite corners of Italy.

Thanks for the info so far, I will check out the place in la morra sounds right up my alley. Batali site is short but informative thank you. Tune out we will be in the region for two nights. Any reason to split the nights up and stay in two different areas within the region? Any suggestions on another area? Thanks!

I try to avoid at almost all costs spending only one night at a location. That's just not any way to enjoy Italy, imho. Happy travels.

Eric - Check out Mario Girabaldi's winery in Rodello. FANTASTIC experience and great wines! His Barolo is awesome and he makes a unique wine, Cento Uwe, made of 152 indigenous Italian grapes. It's a little gitchy, but actually quite nice. Read about it at <http://www.delhiwineclub.com/Wine_Feature/Piemonte.asp> Here's the wineries site: <http://www.vinigiribaldi.it/azienda_en.html> Enjoy Piemonte. It's my favorite part of Italy!

If you're foodies and into Pietmontese wine, then I would think that one location in any of the Barolo towns for two nights would work well. As you probably know, you won't lack for great restaurants - we ate better there than anywhere we've been in Italy. Our trip to Italy that included the Piedmont was gluttonous! Two of the restaurants that I liked the most: La Ciau del Tornavento, in Treiso, just outside Alba, and Trattoria della Posta, in Monforte d'Alba. We stayed in a unique B&B in Monforte, Le Case della Saracca. They don't actually serve breakfast, you walk to a cafe in town for that. But the interior of the place is amazing - google for their very good website. And see tripadvisor for my effusive review (and other people's reviews too). The owner of the B&B set up two visits to wineries, people he knew; in many of the places in Piedmont, you can't just wander in, you need to set up the visit ahead of time. Podere Rocche dei Manzoni was a medium-sized vineyard, though small probably by California standards, interesting and ended with a wine tasting. Podere Ruggeri Corsini was even better; it's very small, and run by a woman, which is pretty unusual. She also provided us a tasting, but it was more informal. Enjoy your time in the Piedmont!

Without hesitation I commend you to stay in the unsung gem of Cuneo. The Hotel Royal Superga is just what you need as it is just off the magnificent main square and has parking. Then you MUST book a table at the Osteria della Chiocciola and choose the taster menu. Your thanks are anticipated. Lol