Alba Culture

The truffle

The International White Truffle Fair is the civic event of the year and is in its 96th edition, running 10 October to 6 December 2026 from Piazza Medford 3. The heart of it is the World White Truffle Market, where the trade is conducted under the supervision of a Quality Commission and where judges selected by the National Truffle Study Centre will help a buyer choose and remain available afterwards. The sellers are trifulau — the hunters — and traders. Enquiries: +39 0173 361051.

It is worth understanding what is being sold. The white truffle cannot be cultivated, it is found by dogs on ground the hunters do not disclose, and the yield depends on the summer's rain. A regulated market with its own quality panel exists because the alternative is a trade in which the buyer cannot tell what they have.

Literature

Beppe Fenoglio (1922–1963) is Alba's writer and one of the great Italian prose stylists of the century. He was a partisan in these hills and took part in the brief liberation of the town in 1944, and his books are set in the same vineyards that visitors now photograph. Reading him before a visit changes what the landscape looks like.

Wine

Alba gives its name to the appellations around it and sits between the two great ones. Barolo, made south-west of town, is 100% Nebbiolo by law, aged at least 36 months with at least 18 in wood, DOC in 1966 and DOCG in 1980; it got its reputation as the wine of kings, the king of wines from its favour among the nobility of Turin and the House of Savoy. Barbaresco comes from the hills on the other side. Dolcetto d'Alba and Barbera d'Alba carry the town's name directly.

The hazelnut

Ferrero is headquartered in Alba and Nutella was created here. This is not a footnote: the Langhe grow hazelnuts as well as grapes, and the confectionery industry is as much a part of the local economy as the wine. The town contains both a global sweet manufacturer and one of the densest concentrations of serious restaurants in Italy, and is relaxed about it.

The table

Tajarin — the very thin egg pasta — vitello tonnato, bagna càuda in the cold months, Castelmagno and the other mountain cheeses, hazelnut cake. The luxury rests on this.

Verified against Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d'Alba, October 2026.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d'Alba — The Alba International White Truffle Fair runs 10 October to 6 December 2026 in its 96th edition, organised from Piazza Medford 3 in Alba., At the Alba White Truffle World Market truffles are sold under the supervision of a Quality Commission, with judges selected by the National Truffle Study Centre available before and after a purchase, direct from the trifulau who hunt them and from traders. (October 2026).
Checked against Wikipedia — Beppe Fenoglio (1922-1963) was a partisan fighter who took part in the brief liberation of Alba in 1944 and afterwards wrote about it., Barolo must be 100% Nebbiolo and aged at least 36 months after the harvest before release, of which at least 18 months in wood; five years makes it a Riserva., Barolo became a DOC in 1966 and was raised to DOCG in 1980., Barolo's tag as the wine of kings and the king of wines arose from its favour among the nobility of Turin and the ruling House of Savoy., The Langhe are known for their wines, cheeses and truffles, particularly the white truffles of Alba, with Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto d'Alba and Barbera d'Alba among the appellations., The confectionery group Ferrero is based in Alba. (October 2026).