Piedmont – Truffles, Barolo & the Soul of Northern Italy

Piedmont is one of Europe’s finest culinary regions. Nestled between the Alpine foothills and rolling hills, this region in northwestern Italy combines great wines, elegant cuisine, and deep-rooted culinary traditions. Piedmont is particularly famous for its fine red wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as for its unique truffle dishes and “cucina povera” – down-to-earth, aromatic everyday cuisine.

History & Wine Culture in Piedmont

Piedmont’s wines were already appreciated by the Romans, but the region reached its peak in the 19th century, when Barolo began its triumphant rise under the influence of French oenologists. Today, Piedmont is one of Italy’s most respected wine-growing regions—with numerous DOCG and DOC wines, a strong terroir focus, and small family-run wineries that have often operated on the same hills for generations.

The region is characterized by a diversity of microclimates, soils, and altitudes – ideal for grape varieties with character.

Grape varieties & stylistics

At the heart of Piedmontese viticulture is the Nebbiolo grape. It produces tannin-rich, age-worthy wines with a complex structure. Barbera, Dolcetto, and white grape varieties such as Arneis and Cortese (Gavi) also play an important role.

Typical wine styles of Piedmont:

• Barolo DOCG – “The King of Wines”, complex, spicy, with great aging potential.

• Barbaresco DOCG – More elegant and approachable than Barolo, but with similar finesse.

• Barbera d’Asti / d’Alba – Fruity, juicy, with good acidity and versatile.

• Dolcetto d’Alba – Soft, dark berry, ideal with everyday dishes.

• Gavi DOCG (Cortese) – Fresh, mineral white wine with floral notes.

• Moscato d’Asti – Fruity, sparkling sweet wine with a low alcohol content.

Piedmontese cuisine: refined and earthy at the same time

Piedmont’s cuisine is a true feast for the palate: a blend of peasant simplicity and aristocratic refinement. Along with meat, butter, and cheese, mushrooms, rice, hazelnuts, and, of course, truffles play a central role.

Typical dishes from Piedmont:

• Agnolotti del Plin – Pasta filled with veal, pork and vegetables

• Vitello tonnato – Veal in tuna sauce, served cold.

• Tajarin al Tartufo – Fine egg pasta with butter and black truffle.

• Brasato al Barolo – Beef braised in Barolo.

• Bagna càuda – Warm anchovy and garlic cream for dipping raw vegetables.

• Bonet – A traditional dessert made with cocoa, amaretti and caramel.

Wine & Food: A Royal Combination

In Piedmont, the combination of wine and cuisine isn’t a gimmick, but a centuries-old cultural achievement. Nebbiolo wines like Barolo or Barbaresco reveal their full depth with braised dishes or truffle pasta, while Barbera pairs wonderfully with antipasti or vitello tonnato. White wines like Gavi or Arneis also perfectly complement the region’s finer, fresher dishes.

Top 10 Piedmontese recipes with wine recommendations – Enjoyment & Food pairing from Piedmont

Panna Cotta

Delicious cream dessert at its finest Wine with food can hardly be celebrated more refinedly [...]

26
Aug

Bonet

Piedmontese dessert tradition meets sweet wine Wine with food takes the perfect harmony between wine [...]

26
Aug

Paniscia di Novara

Hearty risotto enjoyment from Piedmont: Paniscia and wine with your meal Wine with food means [...]

26
Aug

Fritto Misto Piemontese

Italian classics in a golden dress – wine and food as a feast for all [...]

25
Aug

Carne Cruda all’Albese

Piedmontese raw food art – wine and food as a synphony of natural flavors Wine [...]

25
Aug

Vitello Tonnato

The perfect interplay – wine and food as a moment of pleasure Wine with food [...]

25
Aug

Bagna Cauda

Northern Italian pleasure – wine and food elegantly combined Wine with food is more than [...]

23
Aug

Tajarin al Tartufo

Piedmontese pasta art – wine and food in exquisite perfection Wine with food is at [...]

18
Aug

Agnolotti del Plin

Piedmontese pasta classic: wine and food in elegant harmony Wine with food plays a leading [...]

18
Aug

Brasato al Barolo

Piedmontese roast beef – wine and food in perfect harmony Wine with food and the [...]

17
Aug

Latest food recommendations for wines from Piedmont

Chili sin carne with cocoa & chickpeas

Aromatic hot food for every season Wine with food is a central keyword here, as [...]

21
Nov

Chestnut and lentil stew with root vegetables

Warming autumn cuisine and aromatic wine accompaniment Wine with food is the heart of this [...]

17
Nov

Caparrones con chorizo (red beans with paprika sausage)

Spanish soul food for wine and food lovers Wine with food means enjoyment through the [...]

06
Nov

Veal stew with herbs & parsnips

Delicately braised – finely seasoned – wintery delight Wine with food shows how harmoniously wine [...]

03
Nov

Hiffenmark doughnuts (with rosehip jam)

Franconian dessert meets wine and food Wine with food and fine doughnuts with rosehip jam [...]

31
Oct

Franconian Schäufele

Tender pork, crispy crust & Franconia in a glass Wine with food is a must [...]

29
Oct

Veal stew with porcini mushrooms & tagliatelle

Autumnal delight with fine veal and mushroom flavors A classic example of wine with food: [...]

28
Oct

Pasta al Tartufo Nero – Tagliolini with black truffle & butter

Noble simplicity – how luxury and understatement merge on the plate Wine with food shows [...]

20
Oct

Saddle of venison wrapped in herbs with celeriac puree & red wine shallots

Aroma composition meets elegance – a pleasure on a grand scale Wine with food means [...]

06
Oct

Stuffed peppers with wild mushroom risotto

Mediterranean meets forest cuisine – an aromatic fall dish Wine with food means finding the [...]

03
Oct

Saddle of wild boar with black salsify purée & port wine jus

Autumn cuisine with game, roots and elegance Wine with food always means searching for harmony [...]

02
Oct

Venison goulash with chestnuts & cranberry sauce

Autumn game dish with depth, warmth and elegance Wine with food thrives on balance, depth [...]

01
Oct

Venison medallions with juniper and red cabbage

Elegantly seasoned game meets autumnal coziness Wine with food requires a balance: powerful flavor with [...]

01
Oct

Pizza Funghi

Classic indulgence – for pizza and mushroom lovers Wine with food reveals its great strength [...]

02
Sep

Mushroom risotto with porcini mushrooms

Italian comfort in perfection: with forest scent and creaminess Wine with food shows its full [...]

30
Aug

Cantucci & Vin Santo

Italian dessert culture – to immerse yourself in and enjoy Wine with food becomes a [...]

29
Aug

Gnudi (ricotta dumplings with spinach)

Tuscan lightness: wine and food with Mediterranean freshness Wine with food means elegantly showcasing authentic [...]

29
Aug

Crostini Toscani (liver crostini)

Tuscan cordiality: wine and food in perfect harmony Wine with food means enjoying classics such [...]

28
Aug

Panna Cotta

Delicious cream dessert at its finest Wine with food can hardly be celebrated more refinedly [...]

26
Aug

Bonet

Piedmontese dessert tradition meets sweet wine Wine with food takes the perfect harmony between wine [...]

26
Aug

Paniscia di Novara

Hearty risotto enjoyment from Piedmont: Paniscia and wine with your meal Wine with food means [...]

26
Aug

Fritto Misto Piemontese

Italian classics in a golden dress – wine and food as a feast for all [...]

25
Aug

Carne Cruda all’Albese

Piedmontese raw food art – wine and food as a synphony of natural flavors Wine [...]

25
Aug

Vitello Tonnato

The perfect interplay – wine and food as a moment of pleasure Wine with food [...]

25
Aug