Alba may be a city of truffles, but it is also a city of wine. To be precise, 697 hectares of the territory of Alba are dedicated to Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato Bianco and Nebbiolo vines.

If you think you know the fizzy wine from Asti, then think again. The wine growing area in central Piemonte is a lot more diverse and interesting than a glass of white served up at office cocktail parties. The wine area is split in two, Basso Monferrato and Alto Ferrato.

Barbera Nizza is a Barbera d'Asti Superiore wine produced in a small area formed of 18 comuni in and around the town of Nizza Monferrato, province of Asti in Piemonte.

It is a zone of wine excellence inside the vast production territory of Barbera d'Asti This latter area comprises 118 comuni in the provinces of Asti and Alessandria.

The Azienda Vitivinicola Boffa Carlo is a traditional family wine business located in the centre of the town of Barbaresco in the heart of the famous wine zone in the Langhe. The company specializes in the production of great red Piemonte wines from 4 hectares of estate which grow Nebbiolo grapes, from which are derived two selections of Barbaresco ("Vigna del Casot" and "Vigna Vitalotti", Dolcetto grapes making Dolcetto d'Alba wine and Barbera making Barbera d'Alba "Vigna Buschet".

As almost complete beginners to the discipline of enology we have often wondered what difference each grape variety makes to the end product.

We have to admit that after price, location, the picture on the label and whether we're eating fish or not, the choice between 'nebbiolo' and 'pelaverga' leaves us somewhat perplexed.

The mountains start getting very big at Ivrea and the city is the ideal place from where to discover the Canavese territory. It is a fertile area of hills, woods and lakes, perfect for the cultivation of vines.

The most interesting wine area, however, is nearby Carema where Piemonte borders Valle D'Aosta.

Nizza Monferrato is the most important city in the Valle del Belbo, province of Asti. Originally the locality of Nicia, from the 16th century it became known as Nicea Palearum in reference to the reeds growing in this once swampy zone.

The 'Sentieri Pavesiani e del Moscato d'Asti' or Paths of Moscato d'Asti Wine is a route through the wine hills to the south east of Alba in the province of Cuneo.

Your reference point is the town of S.Stefano Belbo recognisable from all around by its ruined, medieval tower which once guarded everyone and everything along the River Belbo.