The Piedmont region of Italy is one of the least visited and most underrated areas of Italy. I’ve traveled extensively through Italy and absolutely loved my trips through the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Puglia, Tuscany, the Dolomites, and more. Piedmont was one of those last frontier types of places that I had to finally see.
In a country that produces wine in almost all corners of the country, Piedmont is produces some of the most famous and best rated wines in the country. The wine region of Piedmont is by far the most beautiful wine region in Italy and perhaps in Europe. I thought Tuscany was nice, but Piedmont is in its own world. Huge rolling hills completely covered with vineyards, medieval villages, and incredible Italian foods of which the Alba truffle is its claim to fame are what you can expect when visiting the Piedmont wine region.
In addition, the town of Turin is also the gateway to the Piedmont and worth at least a few days visit. Throw in the fact that Nutella, Vermouth (Negronis yum), and various other famous Italian products all come from this region of the country.
Piedmont is totally underrated
Like I’ve already mentioned, I think Piedmont might be the most underrated part of Italy and certainly one of its least visited regions. While everyone flocks to Tuscany and parts of France, people are really missing out by not coming to Piedmont.
The views of the vineyards in Piedmont are among the top of anywhere I’ve seen and certainly is superior to Tuscany in my opinion. The food is absolutely delicious with such a wide array of different dishes.
Piedmont, while not cheap since it is part of Northern Italy is generally cheaper than Tuscany, especially to stay. The wines are fairly priced at restaurants and enotecas. You can wine taste
What makes Piedmont wines famous?
The region is known for its Barolo and Barbaresco wines; both are rich, full-bodied reds that take years to mature. Some of these grapes include Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. These grapes are used in both red and white wines from Piedmont. The most famous vineyards are located in the Langhe area, north of Alba. Here you will find vineyards dating back hundreds of years and some of the finest wines in Italy!
The history of Piedmont wine begins with Ancient Rome’s conquest of Gaul (modern day France). It was during this period that grape vines were introduced into the region and planted across the plains and hillsides.
The Langhe area is considered one of the most beautiful parts of Italy – here you will find rolling hills covered with green vines that overlook medieval castles and picturesque villages.
Different types of Piedmont Wines
The Piedmont region of Italy is the birthplace of Italian wine. It’s also the home of Grignolino and Nebbiolo, two grapes that are used to make some of the world’s most famous wines.
The Piedmont region is in northwest Italy, just south of the Alps and north of France. The northern part of Piedmont is known as Langhe, where you’ll find Barolo and Barbaresco wines. The southern part of Piedmont is called Monferrato and makes DOCG wines like Barbera d’Alba and Dolcetto d’Alba.
Here are some other red grape varieties you’ll find in Piedmont:
Barbera: This grape makes light-bodied red wines with a fruity aroma that can be floral or spicy depending on where it’s grown.
Dolcetto: Dolcetto means “little sweet one” in Italian, but these wines aren’t sweet at all — they’re medium-bodied with a rich flavor profile that goes well with food.
Grignolino: This grape comes from Grinzane Cavour in Langhe and produces a deep red wine with aromas of dark fruit and spice.
Incredible Views in Peidmont
I’ve been to countless wine regions in the world and never tire of the natural beauty of some of these landscapes. Amazing wine is of course the main highlight but it’s a nice accompaniment for me (I will drink most wines after all). While I think South Africa’s Cape wine region is the world’s most beautiful, I think the Piedmont region is definitely way up there as far as beauty.
Europe is also home to incredible wine regions like the Mosel wine region of Germany, Burgandy in France, and the Douro Valley in Portugal. However, I think the Piedmont was the most visually stunning of all of these regions to me.
From various viewpoints between Barolo and Alba, you can see vineyards that span the entire face of a hillside and stretches on for many kilometers. Many of these slopes have nothing but vineyards making it just a sea of green. Throw in beautiful villages like Barolo, La Morra, and Serralunga D’alba, and you have the perfect recipe for a beautiful wine region.
Words can only do so much to describe the beauty of the Piedmont so just take a look at these photos! The best time to take photos in the Piedmont is during sunset in my opinions. The orange hues bounce off the vineyards magically.
The most beautiful viewpoints in Piedmont
There are no shortage of beautiful viewpoints in Piedmont. You simply just need to drive around the region near Alba and you’ll be mesmerized.
If you can, drive in the smaller roads while cruising between winery to winery. These generally venture deep within the vineyards allowing you a closer view of the grapes.
The Strada del Barolo is probably one of the best viewpoints for starters. Venture here for your first glimpse of the wonderful Piedmont!
Where I went in the Piedmont Region
In total I spent 5 nights in the Piedmont region. This includes 2 nights in Turin, and 3 nights in the wine country. While in the wine country, I stayed in one town but drove to the nearby wine towns of Piedmont for my wine tastings and to enjoy the views.
I think this is the perfect amount of time to spend in the region. Unless you are a wine professional, you might get bored in the Piedmont after awhile.
These are some of the highlights of my trip:
- Turin (capital of the Piedmont)
- Alba
- Asti
- Bra Town
- Barolo
- Barbaresco
- Neive
- Serralunga d’Alba
Getting around the Piedmont area
The Piedmont region is quite small in comparison to other wine regions I’ve been to. Having traveled to Tuscany the year prior, the Piedmont is probably less than half the size. You can drive from one end of the wine region to the other in less than an hour. This makes wine tasting and seeing villages much easier in my opinion.
Nothing beats a Fiat 500 in Italy
You can get from Turin to Alba by train very easily but to really experience the magical aspects of the Piedmont, you’ll need to drive. The public transportation options when you’re in the wine country is limited. There are buses that travel from town to town but in my opinion, it’s not the best way to see the area.
I rented a car in Turin and drove to Alba before exploring the other towns in the area. The roads are in decent condition but you don’t need to drive far so it really isn’t much of an issue.
Rent a vespa to explore the Piedmont
If you don’t fancy renting a car, the next best option is to rent a scooter! I am an avid fan of scooters having driven them all around the island of Bali as well as the Cyclades islands in Greece.
A Vespa is an iconic Italian experience and nothing beats great photos while riding a Vespa overlooking the vineyards. The cost of renting a Vespa in Italy is absolutely crazy however. Expect to pay €70-80 a day per bike. Yes, I’m not joking. I don’t know why they charge so much for a bike when the cost of renting a car is half as much. You could also opt to rent another type of scooter which could be less than €50 a day (still crazy expensive).
I rented a Vespa for just the day and absolutely loved cruising around the Piedmont. Because of how small the Piedmont region is, the Vespa is a solid option (versus something like Tuscany where distances are too far).
How to get to the Piedmont?
There are a number of ways to get to the Piedmont. I actually visited the Piedmont as part of a trip through France and Italy. I took a bus over from Nice, France. There are many other ways to do this though.
Turin to Piedmont
Turin is the capital of the Piedmont and is the closest city to the Piedmont region. From Turin, it is a 1 hour drive to the heart of the wine country making this a very easy long weekend trip.
Similarly, if you do not want to rent a car, you can take the train from the Central Turin station to Alba or Asti. These trains leave once every hour and takes just over 1 hour. The cost of this train is under €10 one way.
Milan to Piedmont
Milan is the large international airport so this is another popular option for those that want to visit the Piedmont. From Milan, it is a 2 hour drive which isn’t that bad either. This is a great way to combine northern Italian highlights like MIlan, Lake Como, or even the Dolomites into one big trip.
The Duomo of Milan!
Wine tasting in the Piedmont Wine region
The beauty of wine tasting in the Piedmont is that, unlike many other regions, you can simply drive around, look for signs and pull over to sample some of the finest wines in the world.
It is true that the best wineries in the Piedmont require reservations, but not all of them do. Some of them are more flexible and will accept you even if you haven’t booked in advance. However, it is still a good idea to call ahead to check their availability. Here are some of the most famous wineries in this area:
Castello di Ama
This is one of the best wine-tasting locations in Italy and it can be found on the southernmost tip of Piedmont next to Lake Maggiore. The castle dates back to the 13th century and has been owned by the same family ever since.
It has been renovated over time and now presents itself as an elegant venue with beautiful views across Lake Maggiore towards Switzerland. Guests can enjoy a glass of wine on its terrace overlooking the lake or wander through its gardens which include a vineyard that produces grapes for its own wine production. Excursions include a visit to nearby Alba where there are plenty more delicious wines…