Origins

I was born and lived for 23 years of my life in a small town on the border between Monferrato and Langhe in the north-western corner of Italy, between the Alps and the Riviera, in the area of Piedmont that lies south of the river Po. It is largely a rural area, yet the furthest of the three cities of Genoa, Milan and Turin is little more than an hour's drive away.

It is one the most important wine districts in Italy. From our wonderful vineyards come the grapes for the renowned red wines, Barbera, Barolo, Dolcetto, Freisa, Grignolino and of course the Asti Spumante which is famous all over the world.

The charm of the region is carried by its gently rolling hills, tiny hilltop villages and broad fertile landscape of vineyards and fruit orchards. A network of mostly small roads connects these old villages and towns with each other.

We also have a wonderful cuisine to accompany its famous wines. The white truffles, "tartufi", are world-renowned. Now in October you can sample them in almost any restaurant or ‘trattorie’, especially in the Langhe region, centered around the medieval town of Alba.

(see below, white truffels)

The town of Alba

Our climate is mediterranean and mild - the Italian Riviera is only 30 miles away. The winters are short, and night temperatures in January and February only occasionally fall below zero. Spring and autumn are long and warm. The summers are hot and dry, although the hilltops are ventilated by a pleasant sea breeze.

Monferrato and Langhe have also has a strong literary tradition, including the 18th century Asti-born poet and dramatist Vittorio Alfieri, the novelists Cesare Pavese and Beppe Fenoglio and the Alessandrian Umberto Eco.

I miss my native area a lot, expecially in the autumn when the hills "show" their best colours and the air is filled with lovely odours and chants and chatting of the harvesters. I miss it in the summer when it is cold and rainy in the UK and hot and sunny there. I will go back ... sooner or later ...

(some of the photos above are courtesy of my best friend Giusy who still lives in this area)