Solidarity takes centre stage at Grinzane Castle: €395,500 raised during the XXV Alba White Truffle World Auction®
THE FINAL LOT OF THE EVENT, PROMOTED BY ENOTECA REGIONALE PIEMONTESE CAVOUR, WAS SOLD FOR €140,000 AND WILL FLY TO HONG KONG.
Once again this year, emerging from the autumn mists, the Castle of Grinzane Cavour – a specific World Heritage site protected by UNESCO – celebrated its usual solidarity event during the XXV edition of the Alba White Truffle World Auction®, organized by the Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour to celebrate the most precious diamond of the earth, paired with large formats of Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG and wines from producers belonging to the Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani, ambassadors in the world of the iconic hills of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato.
The charity event held on Sunday 10th November – made possible thanks to the valuable support of the Regione Piemonte, of Enit – Agenzia Nazionale Italiana del Turismo, of Ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero, of Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba, of Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo and Ordine dei Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini di Alba – has thus celebrated the ideal Silver Wedding anniversary, uniting Tuber magnatum Pico and Charity for twenty-five years, thanks also to the many philanthropists joining live from Hong Kong, Singapore, Vienna, Frankfurt and, for the first time, from Bangkok. This year’s fundraising reached the remarkable figure of 395,500€, destined for charity projects in Italy and around the world. Another live venue, the metropolis of Seoul, was included in an event to promote Piedmont in support of the candidature of Italian Cuisine for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, organised by the Ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero in collaboration with the Italian Embassy, Enit and ICE.
To add further value, alongside the 10 kg and 20 kg Maxi Panettoni “Made in Piedmont” by Albertengo, a long-established historic company from Torre San Giorgio, near Cuneo, which produces one and a half million festive pastries every year, the event will also feature Puccini arias sung by the powerful voice of Michele Mauro, a chorister of Milan’s “Teatro alla Scala”, accompanied by harpist Carolina Coimbra, thanks to the collaboration of the Alba Music Festival.
CHARITY FIGURES
The highlight of the event was the final lot of two 905–gram twin truffles, found in the shadow of the Santo Stefano Roero tower and presented by Mario Aprile, President of the Union of the Associazioni Trifulau Piemontesi, accompanied by his dog Lady. The lot was sold in Hong Kong for the sum of €140,000, second only to the record-breaking 2022 truffle, which sold for €184,000. In the hall at Grinzane Cavour, the gavel fell on three more specimen of Alba White Truffle, weighing 201, 235 and 505 grams, which went to a Cherasco businessman, one to a Varese businessman and the third to a Chinese chef, Zhou Ziling, owner of the Michelin-starred Silver Pot restaurant in Chengdu. It is also worth mentioning that the last lot of the “Barolo en Primeur” auction, the Nebbiolo barrique number fifteen, was sold in Hong Kong for €40,000, bringing the total raised to over a million euros (1,027,000 euros).
INTERNATIONAL CHARITY
Since 1999, the total amount raised has exceeded 7 million euros (€7,222,160 to be precise). The funds raised in Italy this year will go to the Every Child Is My Child Onlus Association,to the Associazione Emiliano Mondonico, to the North Kinangop Hospital in Kenya, which was also joining live with Grinzane Cavour, and to many other charitable projects.
In Hong Kong, the funds will go to the Mother’s Choice Institute (dedicated to helping children in need); in Singapore, to the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Singapore’s only community veterinary clinic; in Vienna, to Acker Österreich (a charity dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of natural food, sustainability and agriculture); and in Frankfurt, to the Youth Cup for Paralympic Youth Sport. In Bangkok, proceeds from the auction will go to the Border Patrol Police School Foundation under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
THE GUESTS
The auction will be hosted by the historic presenter Caterina Balivo, who is by now at home in the Castle of Grinzane Cavour, flanked by the gastronomic curator Paolo Vizzari. Prominent guests include: Roberto Bodrito, President of the Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour, Elena Chiorino, Vice-President of Regione Piemonte, Marina Chiarelli and Marco Gallo, Councillors of the Region, Alberto Gatto, Mayor of Alba, and Gianfranco Garau, Mayor of Grinzane Cavour, the actors Anna Foglietta and Andrea Bosca, testimonials of the association Every Child Is My Child Onlus, along with Luca Bizzarri and Stefania Rocca, who yesterday received the honour of Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini di Alba, Vittorio Brumotti and the Alba baker Fulvio Marino. Finally, representing the world of sport, Claudio Sala and Clara Mondonico, daughter of the unforgettable Emiliano.
WORLDWIDE LIVE STREAMING
Hong Kong – in the presence of Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong, Mariano Rabino, President of the Ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero and Paolo Alberto Volpe, Managing Partner of Vision Group – hosted the event at the Mandarin Restaurant with the participation of entrepreneur Matteo Morello, founder of Ristorante Castellana, and an exceptional brigade: Romeo Morelli of Ristorante Castellana, Angelo Aglianò of Tosca by Angelo Ritz Carlton and the talented chefs Robin Zavou and Matthew Reuther of The Mandarin Oriental.
In Singapore, the auction took place at the Art Restaurant, with star chef Daniele Sperindio and JC Viens, Master of the Consiglio Reggitore dell’Ordine dei Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini di Alba. In Vienna, the event was hosted by the Italian Embassy, with Alba Councillor Davide Tibaldi coordinating the speeches of Deputy Ambassador Gabriele De Stefano, Regional Councillor Paolo Bongioanni and Sergio Nodone, Master of the Vienna Delegation of the Ordine dei Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini di Alba.
Frankfurt saw the return of the Brighella restaurant with chef Leo Caporale, who was joined by Luca Sensibile, president of the Giostra delle Cento Torri di Alba.
This year’s new entry, Bangkok, was joining live from the Four Seasons Hotel with an event led by chef Andrea Accordi, supported by chefs Christian Martena of CLARA and Davide Garavaglia of Côte by Mauro Colagreco, in the presence of Paolo Dionisi, Italian Ambassador in Bangkok, Stefano Mosca, director of the International Alba White Truffle Fair, and concluded in style with Alberto Cirio, President of Regione Piemonte, and Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture.
Outside the Auction, the trade mission to South Korea with Bruno Bertero, director of Ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero, was also joining live with Andrea Celentano, Italian deputy ambassador.
STATEMENTS
Roberto Bodrito, President of the Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour: “It is a pleasure to see how, year after year, this event confirms its fame, combining the promotion of our hills with solidarity and counting on a very prestigious parterre that contributes to the final result. Together with the Mayor of Alba, Alberto Gatto, and the Mayor of Grinzane Cavour, Gianfranco Garau, we are happy to support new charitable projects, widening the panorama of our links, while keeping our roots firmly in tradition”.
The representatives of Regione Piemonte, along with the President Alberto Cirio, the Vice-president Elena Chiorino and the councillors Paolo Bongioanni, Marina Chiarelli and Marco Gallo: “Piedmont’s recent participation in the Tokyo and Singapore stages of the world tour of the Amerigo Vespucci, the historic sailing ship of the Italian Navy, has helped to increase the world’s awareness of our beautiful lands of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with our excellent wines and, of course, the white truffle of Alba. Thanks also to the invaluable support of the Government, with the presence of Minister Lollobrigida at the auction, we are working to strengthen this partnership even further, particularly in the Far East, to encourage tourists to come and discover our wonderful territory”.
Sergio Germano, President of the Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani: “The link between truffles and wine is strong and indissoluble, symbolising a food and wine tradition that represents Piedmont all over the world. And the world recognises us as one of the leaders, thanks to our traditional cuisine, Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG, which make our territory grow to unique levels, thanks to the work of all the players in the supply chain, united to promote these excellences with a genuine commitment to international solidarity”.
Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty “This event is a symbol of Piedmont’s and Italy’s ability to combine excellence and solidarity. The Alba White Truffle, together with the great wines of the hills, is an ambassador of Italian traditions in the world, and initiatives like this remind us of the importance of promoting our unique products while supporting charitable causes that make a difference. The success of this Truffle World Auction demonstrates the power of our agri-food chain to build bridges of solidarity between different cultures and countries, helping to promote the image of Italian products around the world: I thank President Cirio for the diplomatic work he has done to make this event unique and international.”.
