XXVI World Auction of the Alba White Truffle^®

SUNDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2025, AT GRINZANE CAVOUR CASTLE, SOLIDARITY AND THE ALBA WHITE TRUFFLE TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN THE EVENT PROMOTED BY THE ENOTECA REGIONALE PIEMONTESE CAVOUR

 

Among the works of art that enrich this territory, just a few days after the proclamation of Alba as the Italian Capital of Contemporary Art 2027, the Alba White Truffle – a masterpiece of nature – certainly deserves a special mention: in the heart of the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato wine landscapes, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014, the Alba White Truffle World Auction – an event that combines culinary excellence, culture and solidarity in a single international narrative – returns to the Grinzane Cavour Castle, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage site and a symbolic place of a territory that continues to receive recognition for the quality of its cultural and identity-related path.

On Sunday, November 9, 2025, the “diamond of the earth” will go under the hammer, connecting with prestigious venues around the world, strengthening the image of an area capable of engaging with art and innovation without losing its connection to its roots. A secular, global, and charitable ritual that makes the Alba White Truffle shine alongside the great wines and the beauty of the hills that produce it.

Distinguished guests and enthusiasts will gather to celebrate the most illustrious treasures of Piedmontese gastronomy, accompanied by international solidarity, continuing a successful tradition that links the prestige of the Alba White Truffle to social commitment. This year marks the XXVI edition, adding a new venue to the global connections, with the debut of Rio de Janeiro.

Adding further prestige to the event is an authentic parterre de rois, led during the different stages of the Auction by television host Caterina Balivo, accompanied by culinary curator Paolo Vizzari, with the eclectic Enzo Iachetti, an icon of Italian TV, completing the close-knit trio of auctioneers. As every year, philanthropists, top chefs, and renowned personalities from entertainment, sports, politics, culture, and the international jet set will contribute to raising funds for charitable projects worldwide. Since 1999, the total amount raised has exceeded €7.2 million (€7,222,160 to be exact), destined for charitable initiatives in Italy and abroad.

Also this year, the finest lots of Tuber magnatum Pico will go under the hammer – paired with large formats of Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, and wines from producers affiliated with the Consortium for the Defense of Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe and Dogliani – during the event organized by the Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour, thanks to the invaluable support of the Piedmont Region, ENIT – Italian National Tourist Board, Langhe Monferrato Roero Tourism Board, the International Alba White Truffle Fair, the National Centre for the Study of Truffles, and the Order of Knights of the Truffle and Wines of Alba.

The auction lots will also be enhanced by oversized “made in Piedmont” Panettoni of 10 kg and 20 kg, crafted by Albertengo, a historic company from Torre San Giorgio in the Cuneo area, which produces one and a half million festive leavened products every year. Livia and Massimo Albertengo will honor guests from the international venues connected with Grinzane Cavour with a trio of mini-panettones: apricot, Moscato and classic glazed.

 

THE HOSTS

A historic presenter of the event, the television host Caterina Balivo will take up the gavel, known for her fresh and engaging style, and currently hosting the third season of the daily show La volta buona on Rai 1. Accompanying her is the warmly welcomed return of comedian, cabaret artist, and actor Enzo Iacchetti, historic host of Striscia la Notizia, with journalist and gastronomic curator Paolo Vizzari completing the trio, setting the pace for the many prestigious invited guests.

 

THE GUESTS

A remarkable new entry to this edition is actress Vittoria Puccini, best remembered for her role as the sweet and passionate Elisa di Rivombrosa, later distinguished in numerous auteur films due to her measured acting and innate elegance. Accompanied by Asti-born actor and director Andrea Bosca, will return once again Anna Foglietta, a theatrical, television, and film actress who was also the godmother of the 77th Venice International Film Festival.

Vittoria Puccini, Anna Foglietta and Andrea Bosca are ambassadors of the association Every Child Is My Child Onlus, active for years in guaranteeing a future for children affected by war.

From the big to the small screen, this year the television host and former model Daniela Ferolla, Miss Italia 2001, will be present as well. She is president of the Fondazione Le stelle di Marisa ETS, whose mission is to provide assistance and support to orphans as a result of femicides.

From the world of fiction, with the quintessential soap opera, comes American actor Daniel McVicar, best known for his role as Clarke Garrison in Beautiful.

A regular at the event, master baker Fulvio Marino from Alba, well-known to the public for his participation in the television program È Sempre Mezzogiorno, hosted by Antonella Clerici on Rai 1, where he runs a column dedicated to baking, bread, pizza, and focaccia recipes.

Also coming directly from television is Vittorio Brumotti, Italian TV host and cyclist, bike trial champion, and renowned correspondent for the satirical program Striscia la Notizia.

Alongside many other guests, there will also be prominent figures from the world of sport, such as former goalkeeper “Tarzan” Stefano Tacconi, the “Poet of Goals” Claudio Sala, “Lord Brummel” Renato Zaccarelli, and the daughter of the unforgettable “Mondo”, Clara Mondonico.

 

LIVE CONNECTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY 

Confirmed live connections with the prestigious locations of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Vienna, and Frankfurt, the World Auction of the Alba White Truffle will expand its international vocation this year with an overseas debut, looking westward: the new entry of this edition, for an unusual “Truffle Breakfast,” will be Brazil, with Rio de Janeiro.

Highly anticipated is also the connection with Kenya, broadcasting live from North Kinangop, where urologist Bruno Frea, retired director of the urology department at Ospedale delle Molinette in Turin, will tell the story of his mission at the hospital created by Don Sandro Borsa and his challenge to raise funds for new operating rooms, with the World Auction actively participating in the donation of equipment.

Looking at the charitable aspect in Italy, the amount raised at the auction at Castello di Grinzane Cavour will be donated to support initiatives of the highest charitable value.

Collaboration is confirmed with the association Every Child is My Child Onlus, which pursues social solidarity by promoting activities, initiatives, and events aimed at financing projects supporting children living in extreme hardship due to wars, disasters, poverty, marginalization, and illness. Special attention will be given to the Fondazione Le Stelle di Marisa ETS, the Associazione Emiliano Mondonico, North Kinangop Hospital, local associations, and direct support for families in serious difficulty.

 

HONG KONG

The highly anticipated consolidated connection with the metropolis of Hong Kong, one of the world’s most important financial centers, is confirmed thanks to the invaluable collaboration with Chef Umberto Bombana – with nine stars worldwide across his network of restaurants in the East – and Maria Pranzo of Aretê Food and Wine, under the auspices of the Italian Consul General in Hong Kong, Carmelo Ficarra. The proceeds from the generosity of participants at the three-Michelin-starred restaurant “8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA” will be donated to the Mother’s Choice Institute, a charity that helps children without families, aiming to provide hope and new life opportunities through the funds raised.

 

BANGKOK

After its prestigious debut last year, the connection with Bangkok returns, at the restaurant Riva del Fiume, located within the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River. The culinary experience will be led by Michelin-starred Executive Chef Andrea Accordi, supported by a stellar team of Italian culinary masters: Paolo Vitaletti, Christian Martena, Davide Garavaglia, Andrea Susto, and Gabriele Boffa; completing the team, Executive Pastry Chef Andrea Bonaffini. Together, they will create a sumptuous menu highlighting the exquisite flavors of the prized Alba White Truffle, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Bangkok, Paolo Dionisi, who will be named Honorary Knight of the Order of Knights of the Truffle and Wines of Alba. All proceeds will support the Border Patrol Police School Foundation (BSF) under the High Patronage of H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, funding the education of children from hill tribes in remote areas of Thailand.

 

SINGAPORE

The proceeds raised at Chef Mirko Febbrile’s restaurant “Somma” in Singapore – a vibrant market, together with South Korea, marked by a growing passion for the Italian wine sector – in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Singapore, Dante Brandi, will be donated to the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the only community veterinary clinic in Singapore, with an adoption program, awareness and educational activities, reunification of lost animals with their owners, sterilizations for community animals, and a shelter hosting over 200 unwanted, abused, or abandoned animals each month.

 

VIENNA

For the fourth consecutive year, Vienna will be among the protagonists of the charity event, organized by the Austrian delegation of Order of Knights of the Truffle and Wines of Alba, in collaboration with Enit Vienna. The venue will be the prestigious Italian Embassy in Vienna, hosted in the historic Metternich Palace, thanks to the generous availability of Ambassador Giovanni Pugliese. The Alba White Truffle will be the star of the charity event, with proceeds going to the Acker Österreich charity, an Austrian non-profit organization active for years in promoting understanding and appreciation of natural food, sustainability, and agriculture. Founded in 2014, it manages several educational programs for children and teenagers in schools and kindergartens. The lunch will be prepared by Chef Luciano Tona, Creativity Ambassador (with Alba as UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy since 2017) and Director Bocuse d’Or Italy Academy.

 

FRANKFURT

For the third consecutive edition, the connection with Frankfurt returns, a dynamic, cosmopolitan city highly receptive to the allure of the Alba White Truffle. The chosen venue, Brighella restaurant, is a blend of Italian tradition, hospitality, and creativity, celebrating the Alba White Truffle for over 30 years with a week dedicated to charity and promoting Piedmont. Chef Leo Caporale will delight guests with unexpected pairings and culinary surprises. Food and excellence will serve as a driver for charity, focusing on Paralympic sports, particularly the German swimming team. The spotlight will be on the Youth Cup of German youth, a competition among young athletes from the regional federations of the German Paralympic Sports Association.

 

RIO DE JANEIRO

An absolute debut for this edition, with Tuber magnatum Pico also taking center stage in Brazil, with the connection to Rio de Janeiro at Alba Botafogo: a contemporary Italian restaurant combined with a bar featuring music and top-quality drinks, set within a beautiful centenary villa. Thanks to collaborations with the delegations of the Order of Knights of the Truffle and Wines of Alba in Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, and São Paulo, and in the presence of the Governor of Rio de Janeiro State Cláudio Castro and the Secretary of State of the Civil House of Rio de Janeiro, Nicola Miccione, diners will enjoy a special “Truffle Breakfast,” savoring generous slices over eggs and tajarin prepared by Chef Michele Petenzi, paired with glasses of Alta Langa and Barolo DOCG. The proceeds will go to Solar Meninos de Luz, a social education association providing high-quality education to children and young people in the Rio de Janeiro community. There are two hills forming a complex of favelas in the southern area of Rio de Janeiro, between the neighborhoods of Ipanema, Lagoa, and Copacabana. About 25,000 residents face issues such as poverty, racial discrimination, lack of opportunities, violence, and drug trafficking. Solar Meninos de Luz works to ensure that the youth and children of these communities can overcome inequalities and be recognized as part of society, respecting their diversity and valuing their potential.

 

LIVE STREAMING

The 26th edition of the Alba White Truffle World Auction can be followed live via streaming on the Facebook page of the Castello di Grinzane Cavour (www.facebook.com/CastelloGrinzaneCavour) and on the social media pages of the main local and national news outlets.

 

STATEMENTS

 

ROBERTO BODRITO – ALBERTO GATTO – GIANFRANCO GARAU

“The Alba White Truffle World Auction is increasingly proving to be an international event, a reference point for charity-related initiatives, with the added value of simultaneously promoting the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato territories worldwide – stated Roberto Bodrito, President of the Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour, together with the mayors of the City of Alba, Alberto Gatto, and of the Municipality of Grinzane Cavour, Gianfranco Garau – The Castello di Grinzane Cavour, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is ever more the symbol of a territory appreciated by tourists from all over the world, from Hong Kong to Rio de Janeiro, passing through Singapore, Bangkok, Vienna, and Frankfurt”.

 

ALBERTO CIRIO – MARCO GALLO – PAOLO BONGIOANNI – MARINA CHIARELLI

Declared the President of the Piedmont Region, Alberto Cirio, together with the Councillors for Truffle Marco Gallo, Agriculture, Food and Tourism Paolo Bongioanni, and Culture Marina Chiarelli: “For 25 editions now, the Alba White Truffle World Auction has been the event that introduces Piedmont and its most precious jewel to the world, connecting with the capitals of gastronomy and fine dining. It is also an important occasion for charity, having raised over 7 million euros over the years for causes with special attention to children, women, and vulnerable people. On November 9, the Castello di Grinzane Cavour, the historic venue of the Auction, will be connected with Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Frankfurt, Vienna, and for the first time, Rio de Janeiro, where a special Truffle Breakfast will be organized. The Alba White Truffle returns from the success of the Osaka Expo, where it featured in a dinner offered to authorities and stakeholders of the Land of the Rising Sun alongside other Piedmontese excellences such as Vercelli rice, Fassona beef, and Barolo wine. This is the deeper meaning of the Auction: to make a product that is an ambassador of a culture of taste known and appreciated worldwide, a precious gift inextricably linked to a small and privileged geographical area, to a balance of nature and human culture, based on tradition, knowledge, environmental awareness, and history, carefully handed down through generations. A balance celebrated in a single word: ‘Respect,’ deliberately chosen as the guiding theme of the 2025 International Alba White Truffle Fair. This is the deepest spirit of Piedmont, which, thanks to the World Auction, reaches and speaks to ever new friends and admirers, ready to be welcomed with open arms.”

 

SERGIO GERMANO

“The Alba White Truffle continues to tell the story of the magic of a unique territory, where nature, tradition, and human labor intertwine to create extraordinary products. Barolo and Barbaresco have always represented, together with the Truffle, the essence of this excellence, ambassadors of an identity envied by the entire world – emphasized Sergio Germano, President of the Consortium for the Defense of Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe and Dogliani – The connection with Rio de Janeiro, for the first time in the history of the Alba White Truffle World Auction, demonstrates how our land can speak to increasingly distant audiences, uniting different cultures through quality and solidarity, as has also been done through the Barolo and Barbaresco en Primeur Auction. It is the fruit of a growing community, capable of looking beyond its own borders without losing the roots that make it great.”

 

MARIANO RABINO

“The White Truffle of Alba is a powerful ambassador of the charm of Langhe, Monferrato, and Roero worldwide – adds Mariano Rabino, President of the Langhe Monferrato Roero Tourism Board – The World White Truffle Auction of Alba represents the moment of greatest attention from the global jet set on our destination, also thanks to the ever-growing number of international locations connected to Grinzane Cavour. The Auction, combining food and wine with charity, also carries the founding values of our culture, such as dedication to work, perseverance, care for the environment, and, last but not least, care for others. Our land, on multiple occasions and in various forms, has shown itself to be generous and ready to support those in need, confirming that our hills are loved by tourists from all over the world, also thanks to the added value that local culture and community are able to offer”.

 

ANTONIO DEGIACOMI

“The auction consolidates and expands international projection, bringing a great return of recognition and prestige to Alba and the Piedmont region. I hope that the territory will increasingly live up to this responsibility by protecting and expanding the truffle grounds and studying how to counteract the effects of climate change”, comments Antonio Degiacomi, President of National Centre for the Study of Truffles.

 

AXEL IBERTI

“With ‘Profondo Rispetto’ (‘Deep Respect’), the motto of the 95th edition of the International Alba White Truffle Fair, we wanted to emphasize an approach to the Truffle that is not only about celebrating its taste but also about enhancing its traditions and folklore, caring for nature and respecting human labor – states Axel Iberti, President of the International Alba White Truffle Fair – The White Truffle of Alba should serve as a pretext to convey, starting with the youngest, the value of the landscape, biodiversity, and care for nature, with an increasingly international perspective. This is precisely what we aim to do, also thanks to the agreement signed with the United Nations, which recognizes our commitment to environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The Auction, with its charitable vocation, invites us to join forces to build a fairer and more sustainable future, in which every action and choice can contribute to collective well-being”.

 

 

 

 

UFFICIO STAMPA: Pietro Ramunno, IMPRESSO STUDIO | tel. 339/5943085 | mail: pietro@impressostudio.it