XXIII Alba White Truffle World Auction^®

ON 13th NOVEMBER, AT THE GRINZANE CAVOUR CASTLE, THE ANNUAL SOLIDARITY EVENT PROMOTED BY ENOTECA REGIONALE PIEMONTESE CAVOUR IS BACK

“The act of being in solidarity with others, sharing their ideas, intentions and responsibilities. In a broader sense, on an ethical and social level, a relationship of brotherhood and mutual support that connects the individual members of a community in the feeling of their belonging […] in the awareness of common interests and common goals”.

By borrowing the definition of solidarity given by the Treccani dictionary, this is the meaning behind the Alba White Truffle World Auction® , which on Sunday 13th November, at the Grinzane Cavour Castle will see the Alba White Truffle as key protagonist, together with the great wines of the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato, the greatest driving force for the promotion of this territory in the world. And for the past 23 editions, the Auction has been synonymous with solidarity: every corner of the planet has been reached by the charity message, which – by portraying the uniqueness of this land, with its food and wine excellence – has made it possible to support several charity initiatives. More than 5 million 700 thousand euros, raised since 1999 and donated to charity organisations and projects in Italy and around the world, are the result of the generosity of the many philanthropists who have actively participated in the project over the years, including great chefs and famous personalities from politics, culture, show business and the international jet set.

Therefore, once again this year, the most prized lots of Tuber magnatum Pico will be up for auction – paired with the large formats of wines from producers belonging to the Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani – during the XXIII edition of the Auction, organised by the Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour, thanks to the invaluable support of Regione Piemonte, Enit – Italian National Tourist Board, Ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero, Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba, Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo and Ordine dei Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini di Alba.

To make this year’s event special will be the participation of high profile guests from the world of cinema.
First of all Alberto Barbera, director of the Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica organised by the Venice Biennale (after the Oscars, the oldest film festival in the world), opened this year by Noah Baumbach’s Rumore Bianco (White Noise).
Then the talented actor and director Andrea Bosca, who – after participating in the Netflix film Toscana, shot in English in the Chianti region, and having played the role of an established archistar in the TV series Màkari – will star in Romanzo Radicale, the RAI docu-fiction on the politician and activist Marco Pannella, directed by Mimmo Calopresti, to be broadcast on 11th November on RAI Tre.
Furthermore, there is the miller Fulvio Marino, who has become the “baker of Italian TV”, featuring every day alongside Antonella Clerici on the screens of Rai Uno with the show “È sempre mezzogiorno” (It’s always noon), and who is author of several publications on bread, pizza and leavened products.

Alongside many other guests, there will also be prominent personalities tied to the world of sport and solidarity, such as Gianluca Vialli and Massimo Mauro, who were recently in the capital of the Langhe to launch Alba dei Campioni, the international football tournament organised by the Fondazione Vialli e Mauro per la Ricerca e lo Sport Onlus with the aim of raising funds for research into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and promoting the values of sport.

In keeping with a successful tradition, the event will be hosted by TV presenter Caterina Balivo, assisted by journalist and gastronomic curator Paolo Vizzari. Alongside the auctioneers, also  this year there will be some entertaining contributions from the histrionic Enzo Iacchetti, comedian, cabaret artist and TV host.

Starting at 1 pm. 00, the walls of the prestigious manor house – a specific UNESCO World Heritage site, as part of the broader recognition of the “Langhe-Roero e Monferrato Wine-growing Landscapes” – are thus preparing to host the bidding for extraordinary lots of Alba White Truffle, paired with the large formats of Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG and the wines of the producers of the Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani.

The auction lots will also be further enriched by some giant Panettoni “made in Piedmont”, weighing 10 kg and 20 kg, signed by Albertengo, a historic company based in Torre San Giorgio, in the province of Cuneo, which produces one and a half million festive pastries every year. Livia and Massimo Albertengo will give the guests joining live from the international venues connected with Grinzane Cavour a nice present: a trio of mini panettone cakes made with apricots, Moscato and traditional glazed panettone.

WORLDWIDE CONNECTIONS

The Alba White Truffle World Auction proves to be increasingly international, this year enriching the parterre of live broadcasts with three new, prestigious venues, which will be added to two cities that have a long-standing relationship with the Alba White Truffle and solidarity. The amount raised during the Auction at the Grinzane Cavour Castle will be donated to support outstanding charitable initiatives, including the Fondazione Ospedale Alba-Bra Onlus, whose mission is to develop care and hospitality at the “Michele e Pietro Ferrero” hospital in Verduno, the Fondazione Vialli e Mauro per la Ricerca e lo Sport Onlus, dedicated to supporting the prevention and treatment of cancer, to fund research of excellence on ALS and promote activities aimed at increasing sports awareness, along with the Every Child Is My Child Onlus project, born from the spontaneous association of artists who – were called and involved by actress Anna Foglietta and, driven by their indignation at the massacres of children in Syria, decided that it was no longer enough to simply condemn and provide theoretical support, and that a direct commitment was needed to guarantee a future for children affected by war.

HONG KONG
Also confirmed is the historic connection with the metropolis of Hong Kong, one of the most important international financial centres in the world, thanks to the valuable collaboration with Chef Umberto Bombana – Three Michelin Stars, boasting a total of nine Stars, making him the most starred Italian chef in the world together with his colleague Enrico Bartolini – and Maria Pranzo of Areté food and wine. The result of the generosity of the participants on site will be donated to the Mother’s Choice Institute, a charity that helps children without families with the aim of giving hope and new life perspectives thanks to the funds raised.

SINGAPORE
For the fourth consecutive year, the Art restaurant – run by the starred Chef Daniele Sperindio – in Singapore, set inside the prestigious National Gallery, will once again take centre stage at the event, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador in Singapore, Mario Andrea Vattani. The proceeds of what will be raised in the city-state island, located in the south of Malaysia – a very interesting market indeed, along with South Korea, marked by a growing passion for the Italian wine sector – will then be donated to Dreams Asia, an education foundation that aims to give children equal opportunities to dream by providing after-school care and holistic development support.

VIENNA
The first new feature is the connection with the city of Vienna. Organised by the Austrian delegation of the Ordine dei Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini di Alba (Order of the Knights of the Truffle and Wines of Alba), in collaboration with Enit Vienna, the charity event will be preceded, on Thursday 10th November, by a press conference held at the historic Metternich Palace, thanks to the precious helpful support of the Italian Embassy in the Republic of Austria. To give a further international touch to the event, which will take place at the Le Salzgries Paris restaurant, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador in Vienna, Stefano Beltrame, there will be a lunch prepared by chefs Alessandro Mecca (one Michelin star) and Denis Koenig. On the charity front, the chosen project is LehreUp, an initiative – promoted by the Sinnbildungsstiftung, a charity association active in support of education – aimed at helping teenagers from a socio-economically disadvantaged background, who may be at risk of dropping out of the education system, by offering them the possibility of professional vocational training and guidance in entering the apprenticeship system.

SEOUL
The second, and most exciting, new feature will be the inclusion for the first time ever of Seoul, the capital of the Republic of South Korea: here, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador in Seoul, Federico Failla, the setting for the live broadcast, inside the Conrad Hotel, will be the Italian restaurant Atrio, run by Chef “Marco” Seungchan Lee. A Korean citizen, but Italian at heart, Chef Marco spent several years in Italy working in some of the best and renowned restaurants and fell in love with Italian cuisine, culture and lifestyle. The proceeds of the event will be donated to World Vision, the world’s first NGO dealing with long-distance child sponsorship, with over 65 years of experience, and whose aim is to help the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and live life in full.

DOHA
Finally, the third new feature of this edition will be, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador in Doha, Paolo Toschi, the live broadcast with the restaurant Alba by Enrico Crippa, a restaurant soon to be opened in Doha, Qatar, inside the iconic Katara Towers, where the three-starred chef Enrico Crippa – as from 15th November – will bring from Alba his vision of original, elegant and colourful cuisine, strongly respectful of local traditions, to represent all the flavours of Italy.

LIVE STREAMING

The 23rd edition of the Alba White Truffle World Auction® can be followed through live streaming on the Grinzane Cavour Castle Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CastelloGrinzaneCavour) and on the social media pages of the main local and national newspapers.

STATEMENTS

ROBERTO BODRITO
Roberto Bodrito, President Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour states: “The Alba White Truffle World Auction confirms itself as an exceptionally long-lived and interesting event, crucial for the promotion of the local area. Through the prestigious international connections, the excellence that distinguishes the uniqueness of Alba, the Langhe and the Roero is showcased and important solidarity actions are encouraged. Today we celebrate a new, great charity event that crosses borders, in times when – elsewhere – borders are being violated. In this edition, more than ever, together with the mayors of the City of Alba, Carlo Bo, and the Municipality of Grinzane Cavour, Gianfranco Garau, we want to convey a message of peace and brotherhood, and the vehicles for doing so are once again our excellent food and wine products, led by our wonderful Alba White Truffle, Barolo and Barbaresco”.

ALBERTO CIRIO
“The Truffle Auction – underlines Alberto Cirio, President of Regione Piemonte – represents one of the most eagerly awaited autumn events in Piedmont. It has always been an opportunity to consolidate international ties with those who love our land and our Unesco hills. This is proven by the numbers registered in the summer, with a growth of almost 30% over last year, with a strong foreign presence that even exceeds pre-pandemic levels. It is a sign of the great interest in excellence ‘born in Piedmont’, starting with the Alba White Truffle, which is one of its most prestigious symbols”.

MATTEO ASCHERI
“Barolo, Barbaresco and Truffle are the perfect trio that represents our territory in the world: three excellences that have deep roots in the Langhe and act as a driving force for our whole tourist and enotouristic system” – adds Matteo Ascheri, President of Consorzio di Tutela Barolo, Barbaresco, Alba, Langhe e Dogliani –. “This is the reason why we continue to support this initiative and it is why our producers offer their prestigious bottles to be paired with the Alba White Truffle lots. The enhancement and promotion of our area also passes through these initiatives with an international scope: the Truffle Auction to be held in mid-November and the ‘Barolo en primeur’ auction on 28th October, where the values of solidarity merge with territorial promotion, thanks also to the contribution made by the municipal lots donated by our producers”.

MARIANO RABINO
“After two years of pandemic, this 2022 is delivering extremely positive figures for presences and arrivals throughout the area, with increasing numbers also compared to 2019, which had been the year of records,” – adds Mariano Rabino, President of Ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero –. We are happy to acknowledge the return of long-haul, qualified tourism, with conscious and attentive travellers. In addition to already consolidated markets, which see us as the favourite destination for those travelling in search of excellent food and wine, our destination is also becoming increasingly popular for cycle tourism, thus creating new significant scenarios”.

ANTONIO DEGIACOMI
“We have so far experienced another year with unfavourable weather conditions for truffles, which increases the concern about climate change and urges action for the proper maintenance of truffle grounds, water regulation, and the planting of new trees – summarises Antonio Degiacomi, President of Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo –. However, during the course of the season, it was possible to find some large truffle specimens of good quality in areas where there were thunderstorms and in valley floors that retained some moisture. Therefore,it is a charity auction with rare and precious gifts for solidarity”.

LILIANA ALLENA
“The claim of the 92nd edition of the Fair, ‘Time is up’, is intended to convey all the urgency of taking action to protect the Alba White Truffle, a perfect indicator of the health of the planet, – sums up Liliana Allena, President of Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba –. Environmental sustainability, as well as social and economic, is a challenge that requires immediate responses. With this global focus in mind, the Auction stands out, with its solidarity vocation, as one of the highlights of the prestigious event dedicated to our white diamond; an event that will be open until 4th December”.