Culinary · Italy
White Truffle Hunt and Farmhouse Lunch in Piedmont
A morning in the Langhe woods with a trifolau — a licensed truffle hunter — and his Lagotto Romagnolo, who works the oak and poplar roots for Tuber magnatum, the white truffle of Alba. Hunts go out at dawn because the dogs work best in cool, damp air. Whatever the dog finds is weighed, shaved over lunch at the family farmhouse and poured alongside the hunter's own Nebbiolo.
- Alba
- Langhe
- Tuber magnatum
- Barolo
- Trifolau
- Truffle dog
Five things the morning covers
A hunt is a working morning, not a demonstration. This is what it actually involves.
- 01
The Lagotto Romagnolo at work
Italy's only purpose-bred truffle dog, trained from puppyhood. You follow the dog, not the guide.
- 02
White truffle, Tuber magnatum
The Alba white, in season October to December — the most valuable edible fungus in the world, never cooked, only shaved raw.
- 03
Black and summer truffles
Tuber melanosporum from December to March and the scorzone in summer, which keeps the hunt running year-round.
- 04
Alba truffle market
An optional stop at the International Alba White Truffle Fair on autumn weekends to see the lots graded and priced.
- 05
Langhe wine at the table
Barolo, Barbaresco or the hunter's everyday Nebbiolo and Barbera poured with the lunch you helped find.
What's included
- Licensed trifolau and his trained truffle dog
- Two to three hours in private woodland
- Four-course farmhouse lunch with truffle shaved at the table
- Langhe wine pairing throughout the lunch
- A small truffle to take home, vacuum-packed
- Return transfers from Alba, Turin or your Langhe hotel
How it works
- 1
Meet the trifolau at dawn
Coffee at the farmhouse, then into the family's own woods — locations are kept secret, even from us.
- 2
The hunt
Follow the dog through the oaks; when it digs, the hunter finishes the excavation by hand with a zappino.
- 3
Weigh and grade
Your finds are cleaned, weighed and graded so you can see how the market prices them.
- 4
Lunch at the farmhouse
Tajarin, egg, fonduta and raw beef, with your truffle shaved over each course.
When to go
October to early December for white truffles — the Alba fair runs across those weekends. December to March for black truffles, and May to August for summer scorzone.
Frequently asked questions
Will we definitely find a truffle?+
The dogs find something on most mornings, but it may be small or a lesser species. Lunch always includes truffle, bought by the family if the woods are quiet.
When is white truffle season?+
Roughly 21 September to 31 January by Piedmontese law, with the best quality and aroma from mid-October to early December.
How much walking is involved?+
Two to three kilometres on uneven, often muddy woodland slopes over about two hours. Sturdy shoes are essential; the pace is gentle.
Is it suitable for children?+
Yes, from about six years old — most children are more interested in the dog than the fungus, which is entirely the right response.
Can we buy truffles to take home?+
Yes, at the hunter's price rather than a shop's. A small truffle is included; more is vacuum-packed and declared for customs.
What if it rains?+
Hunts go ahead in rain, which dogs prefer. Only a storm or frozen ground cancels, in which case we move the date or refund.
Where does the hunt take place?+
In the Langhe and Roero hills around Alba, usually within thirty minutes of the town. Monferrato and San Miniato in Tuscany are alternatives.
Is the lunch vegetarian-friendly?+
Yes. Tajarin with butter and truffle, egg dishes and fonduta are the heart of the menu; tell us and the raw beef course is replaced.
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