The day dawned sunny and peaceful which was more than I could say for the night prior which saw me awake for 3 hours wrestling with the jet lag demons. We enjoyed breakfast at our agriturismo then hopped back in the car to journey to our second winery, Ceretto. Ceretto is a family run vineyard located just outside of Alba and produces glorious Barolo wine in addition to Barbaresco and a lovely Arneis. They offer typical wine tastings as well as a wine trek which allows you to explore the entire property. I was intrigued by the idea of wine trekking so booked the experience months in advance (absolutely necessary). This turned out to be a very enlightening, educational experience both for myself and my children. We toured the vineyards, hazelnut orchards, and greenhouses which provide produce for the family owned restaurants in Alba. We received a rich history of the land and family as well as the wines that are produced there. An absolute experience of terroir.
Side note: bring comfortable, closed toe walking shoes. The paths are dusty. If the day is hot, also bring along a water bottle, sunscreen, hat, etc.
The trek lasted for approximately an hour and was followed by an hour long wine tasting in the air conditioned tasting room with magnificent views of the vineyards. The staff very graciously accommodated my children who enjoyed the views and the snacks of grissini and hazelnuts. We tasted a variety of exceptional wines during the tasting and before leaving I purchased a multitude of bottles. A few to keep and consume during our trip but many, many to send home. The Arneis was a crisp, refreshing white, perfect for summertime drinking. Cases of Barolo were also sent home to age in the wine cellar. I also purchased two special bottles of Barolo Prapo. This was first produced by Ceretto in 1976, the year I was born. These bottles will kept and one will be opened on each of our daughters’ 21st birthdays. (They will be ruined for mediocre wine!)
Following the tasting we went back to the agriturismo for a lazy afternoon of lying by the pool, snacking and napping. Dinner was enjoyed on the patio as we snacked on our assorted meats, cheese, fruits and vegetables, played games and enjoyed each other’s company.
The cost of doing business (3 people):
Wine purchased from Ceretto: €1089
Gelato: €4.50
Groceries for dinner: €16
Desserts: €4
Parking: €2
Lunch: complimentary
Lodging in Piedmont for two nights: €336
