We stop in the Piedmont wine region of Northern Italy for an unforgettable harvest experience. Our hosts are the Gagliasso Family, who make an excellent Barolo that we found in New York’s famous Felidia restaurant. We join them for the nebbiolo harvest, a trip to the Alba truffle market, and an traditional harvest feast, complete with multiple courses, wine pairings, and lots of song.

The Gagliasso winery is located near the small village of La Morra. The most celebrated wine here is called Barolo, named after the nearby village of Barolo. It is made from the Nebbiolo grape, the same grape that is used in Barbaresco wines. Nebbiolo wines are powerful, elegant, and can be aged for many years. This region of the Piedmont is collectively called the “Langhe”, and the chalky soils found here produce what are considered the finest Barolos in Piedmont. The region is also famous for the white truffle, which is a type of fungus that grows under ground in the presence of certain tree species, notably oak, poplar, and beech. While we wait for the rains to subside, we take a visit to the famous white truffle market held in the nearby city of Alba.

Finally, the rains stop and the final day of harvest can commence. We are picking the final block in the Rocce del Annunziata vineyard. The hard work begins, of course, with a huge lunch.

With the harvest now completely over, it’s time to celebrate with the harvest feast. Sadly, this tradition is dying out in Europe with the modernization of the wine industry. But in the Barolo region, where small family vineyards dominate, it is still very much alive, and very special.