w ROERO: WILD WALKS AND WILD HONEY An area of unruly forest, deep gorges and peculiar, sandy-coloured cliffs, Roero feels like Langhe’s wilder sibling. It’s the outdoor hub of the area, set up for walkers, riders (by bike or horse) and trail runners. Monta, a mountain-top village,
operates as the base of the Ecomuseum of the Rocche of Roero, where most excursions and activities can be arranged.
Nearly 200 miles of hiking trails cut
SAMPLE PRODUCT
Citalia has a nine-day cycling tour of the
area for £2,135, which takes in the vineyard countryside of Barolo, Bra and
Alba.The tour is self-guided and includes stays in historic villa hotels
including a Relais & Châteaux property. All
buffet breakfasts and gastronomic evening meals included.
citalia.com
Inntravel does a seven-night walking tour of
Piedmont’s hills and vineyards for £995 excluding flights. The self-guided tour includes breakfast each day, dinner on
four nights, plus three picnics, and stays in Cortemilia, Cravanzana, Castiglione, and Monteforte D’Alba.
inntravel.co.uk 54
travelweekly.co.uk 5 April 2018
LEFT: Malabaila Castle, Castelletto Hills
ABOVE: Piazza Duomo, Alba
through its rugged landscape, each with a theme designed to uncover a different aspect of the area’s history and heritage. There are trails centred on everything from wine (what else?) to medieval folklore. Many trails, which are clearly marked in red, start from Monta. For clients who don’t trust their own
navigational skills, the clever IziTravel app, developed by the Ecomuseum, allows hikers to access GPS versions of the routes, all of which come complete with audio instruction. One such route, the Roero Honey
Road, tells the story of another great Piedmont flavour, and on our final day in the region we visit Caudamiele, a local honey factory. Head beekeeper, Claudio Cauda, greets us outside the factory. His
family-run business is one of the biggest operations in the region. With 80 hives, spread out from the Cottian Alps to the Ligurian coast, Caudamiele produces a staggering 100 tonnes of honey every year. Claudio explains that a honey’s
flavour depends on the type of plant
An area of unruly forest, deep gorges and peculiar, sandy-coloured cliffs, Roero feels like Langhe’s wilder sibling
the pollen is derived from. Castagno, a bitter, smoky honey, for example, is made from bees that have visited a chestnut plant. As he talks, a lone bee buzzes a halo around his head. After a short tour, we follow him
through the factory to his office, where three pots of honey in varying golden hues are waiting, and we relish the chance to sample the goods. A tasting tour of the factory costs €20 per person. Roero also has its own, albeit
younger, wine heritage. The soil is rich in limestone and quartz and lends itself to fruity whites and sparkling wines. Roero Arneis is one of the signature tipples and clients can try it at the Malabaila di Canale winery, a large, converted farmhouse in the Castelletto Hills.
PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK; LUCIANO BARSETTI
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