TRUFFLES, ONCE AGAIN SYMBOL OF THE TERRITORY AND SOLIDARITY
Once again the truffle has been all over the world the ambassador of the candidate hills as world heritage site. The culture of a territory rich in attractions, scents and flavors has been promoted through one of its most characteristic and unique products.
The 10th edition of the World White Truffle of Alba Auction took place on Sunday November 9th 2008 in Grinzane Cavour Castle -Alba - connected by satellite with Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tokyo and with the Gourmet Arena of the International Wine Festival & Culinaria in Merano (Italy). This auction has promoted the most valuable underground mushroom.
Among the 16 lots put up for auction, 5 for each location and one competed for at the same time by the 3 sites, the highest sum was reached in Tokyo, where Nicky Hilton, Paris Hilton’s sister and president of a company producing bags and accessories, has distracted the audience a white truffle of 850 grams for € 24.000. Among the buyers of this auction there was also a well-known producer coming from Franciacorta district. The total income reached during this auction was of 118.000 Euros.
The proceeds of the 10th edition will reach the seat of the United Ways in Tokyo, (an international humanitarian association, which has 1300 organizations in the world, helping in restoring dignity and health to the families in difficulty, promoting education and introducing in the world of work), the Institute for Research and Treatment of Cancer in Candiolo and, for the first time, will be devolved to the New Hospital Alba-Brà Foundation, created to raise money for the hospital in Verduno.
The journalist-expert in wine and food of Radio 24, Davide Paolini supported Ezio Greggio and the new showgirls Federica Nargi and Costanza Caracciolo in presenting the event.
The Prize “Ambassador of White Alba Truffle in the world” has been awarded to Heinz Beck, Executive Chef at “La Pergola”, Gourmet-Restaurant of “Cavalieri Hilton Hotel” in Rome. Born in Friedrichshafen (Germany), Heinz Beck is numbered among the best European chefs. Culinary genius of the most refined restaurant in Rome, he had two Michelin Stars in 2001 and three Stars in 2006.
Some well-known personalities of the world of entertainment, sport and culture took part in this World Auction: the author- anchor-woman Livia Azzariti, the model and actress Martina Colombari, Miss Italia 2000 Tania Zamparo, the singer-songwriter Francesco Renga, the Canoe ladies’ champion of Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 Josefa Idem, the new anchorwoman of “La prova del cuoco” ElisaIsoardi, the writer from Rwanda Scholastique Mukasonga, guest of honor for literature was invited by Grinzane Cavour Prize.
The chef of the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Hong Kong, hosting the famous restaurant, now being renovated, Umberto Bombana, Bruno Libralon president of ICIF (Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners, located in Costigliole d’Asti) and Shizuka Arakawa, the ice-skater who won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics Games in Turin in 2006 were connected from the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tokyo.
In Merano the 5 lots of white Alba truffle were put up for auction by the journalist and expert in wine and food Luigi Cremona in the Gourmet Arena of which he was creator and anchorman, for the Merano International Wine Festival & Culinaria.
The President of the Cavour Piedmontese Regional Enoteca Tomaso Zanoletti was pleased, (he has promoted the event in co-operation with REGIONE PIEMONTE and the City of Alba). His words in this short statement: “This year again the purpose of the World Auction has been reached, and that is to promote our area through its most representative hypogeum fungus. The truffles haven’t been sold as well as last year, due probably to the general economical and financial crisis. The income, which is 118 thousand Euros, will help finance national and international associations”. The president of Piedmont Region Mrs. Mercedes Bresso also took part in the 10th edition of the World Truffle Auction.
FROM GRINZANE CAVOUR CASTLE
143,000 EUROS FOR A TRUFFLE !!!
A record-breaking IX White Truffle of Alba Auction has been held at Grinzane Cavour Castle, in the Langhe... Continue
World White Truffle of Alba Auction 2006
PROCEEDS FROM GRINZANE CASTLE
TOTAL OVER 250,000 EUROS THE 2006 AUCTION BEATS ALL RECORDS
The VIII edition of the World White Truffle of Alba Auction broke all records, with overall proceeds of 254,500 Euros spread over the three locations linked by satellite: Grinzane, Paris and Hong Kong.
