Alba White Truffle World Auction 2023
An extraordinary event for promotion and solidarity
In the heart of the Piedmont region, where rolling hills are adorned with vineyards and charming villages, the Grinzane Cavour Castle stands as a historic backdrop to one of the most anticipated culinary events of the year: the World Truffle Auction. This annual get together draws truffle enthusiasts, chefs, and connoisseurs from around the globe, all eager to witness the auctioning of these elusive and highly sought-after culinary gems. While touring Piedmont, book your visit to this magnificent destination!
The castle of Grinzane Cavour, nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato, provides an idyllic setting for the World Truffle Auction. Dating back to the 13th century, the castle exudes a timeless charm that goes hand in hand with the exquisite nature of truffles. The auction takes place in the castle’s elegant halls, where buyers and sellers gather to partake in the centuries-old tradition of truffle trading.
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Truffles, often referred to as “diamonds of the kitchen,” are fungi, or mushrooms, that grow underground in symbiotic association with the roots of certain trees. Piedmont, with its unique soil and climate conditions, is renowned for producing some of the world’s finest truffles, particularly the prized white truffle (Tuber magnatum Pico). If the season is right, every tour of Piedmont should include a truffle hunt.
The World Truffle Auction showcases an array of truffle varieties, each with its distinctive aroma and flavor profile. The auction is a riveting spectacle, with truffle hunters, or “trifolau,” presenting their finds to potential buyers. Bidders, including Michelin-starred chefs, restaurateurs, and discerning individuals, engage in a lively and competitive process to secure these gastronomic treasures. The auctioneer’s gavel falls, signaling the exchange of truffles for impressive sums, as the world watches in awe.
The World Truffle Auction is not just a marketplace; it’s a celebration of culinary excellence. Renowned chefs from around the world gather to showcase their skills in creating dishes that elevate the truffle to new heights. Cooking demonstrations, tastings, and exclusive truffle-infused menus turn the event into a feast for the senses, providing attendees with an immersive experience of the truffle’s versatility and culinary magic.
Beyond the auction floor and gourmet experiences, the World Truffle Auction offers a deep dive into the local culture and traditions of Piedmont. Visitors can explore charming vineyards, attend wine tastings, and immerse themselves in the rich history of Grinzane Cavour Castle. The event becomes a harmonious blend of gastronomy, history, and the warmth of Italian hospitality. It is the perfect time of the year to tour Piedmont.
Over the years, the Auction has proved to be an extraordinary instrument of promotion and solidarity. We, as Centro Studi, in light of a series of climatically unfavourable years for the spontaneous growth of truffles, would like to stress once again the importance of protecting and cultivating natural truffle beds, by planting new potentially truffle-growing plants and, in general, fighting climate change
Antonio Degiacomi, President of Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo
The World Truffle Auction 2023 at Grinzane Cavour Castle is not just a culinary event; it’s a journey into the heart of truffle country, a celebration of exquisite flavors, and a testament to the passion and expertise of truffle enthusiasts worldwide.
Since 1999, each year in early November, the Grinzane Cavour Castle hosts the World White Truffle Auction, an event that attracts the participation, either in person or remotely, of renowned chefs and celebrated personalities from the realms of politics, culture and entertainment.
The auction is non-profit in nature, with the proceeds from the sale of the finest Alba White Truffle specimens being entirely donated to charitable organizations in Italy and around the world.
Over the years, with bids echoing across the planet and the heart of the event always centered at Grinzane Cavour Castle, under the guidance of exceptional auctioneers, the auction has raised over 6 million euros.
Truffle hunt & Wine Tour
Take part to an authentic truffle hunt in Alba, and visit selected local wineries in the Langhe wine region
On the afternoon of Sunday, November 12th 2023 the castle of Grinzane Cavour witnessed the unfolding of the 24th edition of the World White Truffle Auction at the Grinzane Cavour Castle.
Located in the heart of a UNESCO site, this event, organized by the Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour, attracted a high turnout of personalities from the world of cinema and television. The auction featured the most exquisite lots of Alba White Truffle, paired with large formats of Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG wines.
Philanthropists from Hong Kong, Singapore, Vienna, and – in a prestigious debut – Frankfurt, engaged in a spirited competition for these prized truffle lots. The event raised an impressive sum of €482,760. These funds will be dedicated to charitable initiatives worldwide.
The pinnacle of the event unfolded with the final lot, showcasing a 700-gram truffle accompanied by a second discovery weighing 250 grams, presented by Mario Aprile, the president of the Unione delle Associazioni Trifulau Piemontesi. This extraordinary lot skyrocketed to a historic price of 1.5 million Hong Kong dollars, equivalent to a staggering 184,000 euros. Within the halls of Grinzane, the auction hammer also descended upon three additional exquisite specimens of Alba White Truffle, weighing 150, 255, and 330 grams. These culinary treasures found new homes with Mariano Costamagna, an entrepreneur from Cherasco, an anonymous London-based benefactor connected through a representative present in the hall, and Guido Borghi, an entrepreneur from Varese
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Since 1999, the total amount raised from the auction exceeds €6.8 million, contributing to charitable projects in Italy and around the world.
Beneficiaries this year include the Fondazione Ospedale Alba-Bra Onlus, Fondazione Vialli e Mauro per la Ricerca e lo Sport Onlus, the Ukrainian population through the Razom committee, and the Every Child Is My Child Onlus project in Italy. Overseas, funds will support Mother’s Choice Institute in Hong Kong, Singapore Children’s Society in Singapore, Glückskind project in Vienna, and the German Youth Cup in Frankfurt, emphasizing the global impact of this remarkable event.
The autumn months are rich in events and prove to be among the liveliest in the region. The Alba white truffle auction and the Alba truffle market are just some of the protagonists, but the entire Piedmont is painted with bright and charming colours for all the travellers to admire. Start planning now your trip to Piedmont! Dive into the captivating universe of truffles at the renowned Piedmont wines. Discover all the tour that connect the exquisite culinary flavors of the region with curated wine and food experiences, ensuring an unforgettable trip with Piedmont Tours. Accompanied by guides and experts, you will meet the local and grow fond of the generous nature of Piedmont.
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