This Destination in Italy One of the Country's Best-kept Secrets-With Prized White Truffles, Michelin-starred Restaurants, and the 'King' and 'Queen' of Wines

"I moved to Bra, a small town in the Piedmont region of Italy, when I was 21 to get a master's degree in food culture and communications from the University of Gastronomic Sciences. Back then, my relatively limited knowledge of food came from binge-watching Ina Garten and collecting a mountainous pile of cookbooks that threatened to take over my bedroom."

"Even with my wildly untrained palate, the wine floored me-round and rich, full of berries, cherries, maybe even chocolate. I never wanted to drink anything else. And it was cheap. When I got back to the U.S. and realized the Barolo I'd grown accustomed to ordering for 2 euros a glass cost nearly $100 a bottle, I felt personally victimized."

A newcomer to Bra, a small Piedmont town, studied food culture and communications while discovering regional cuisine and wine. Daily aperitivo at the local bar Boglione featured spritz, prosecco, and Barolo served with warm focaccia. Local Barolo revealed a round, rich profile with berries, cherries, and chocolate notes and far lower local prices than in the U.S. Autumn in Piedmont brings golden hills, nebbiolo harvests, and white truffle digs. Travel planning for fall should prioritize wine tasting in Barolo country, truffle experiences, and stays at regional hotels and resorts like Casa di Langa.

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