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Langhe Vineyards

The vine-striped UNESCO hills of Barolo and Barbaresco, Piedmont's wine heartland.

  • Barolo
  • Nature
Where
Barolo
Best for
Barolo and Barbaresco crus
Allow
6 hours
Tickets
Free

The Langhe are hills rolled in Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto vines, every ridge topped by a village or castle and every slope named on a wine label. The landscape around Barolo and Barbaresco, together with Roero and Monferrato, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014, recognized as a living wine culture.

The writers Cesare Pavese and Beppe Fenoglio found their stories here, and Alba is the white truffle capital. Autumn is the season the region was built for: harvest, low fog in the valleys and truffle fairs. Come for long lunches, cellar tastings and slow drives from one hilltop village to the next, with Barolo village and La Morra as natural anchors.

Five things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. Barolo Castle and the wine museumFalletti castle, now a museum

    A village castle housing a wine museum that explains the land behind the label.Barolo village

  2. The Chapel of the Brunate (Cappella del Barolo)Sol LeWitt and David Tremlett, 1999

    A colorful contemporary chapel set among vineyards, a good photo stop.Among the vines near La Morra

  3. La Morra’s belvedere

    A hilltop look over a sea of vineyards toward the Alps.La Morra

  4. Serralunga d’Alba CastleMedieval castle

    A tall, well-preserved medieval keep over Barolo country.Serralunga d’Alba

  5. Grinzane Cavour CastleMedieval castle

    The castle of Count Cavour, now part of the UNESCO landscape.Grinzane Cavour

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
Free
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
6 hours
Best time
September to November for harvest colors, fog and truffles
Getting there
Base yourself in Alba or Barolo village, in the province of Cuneo; the hills are southwest and south of Alba. A car is by far the easiest way to link the villages, and cycling and walking routes cross the vineyards.

The landscape is free to explore; cellar visits and tastings are priced by each winery, and many need a reservation.

Book cellar tastings a few days ahead in autumn, and watch the sun go down over the Barolo crus from the belvedere at La Morra. Appoint a designated driver.

Get directionsGoogle MapsApple Maps

Good to know

How long should you spend in the Langhe?

A full day is the minimum, about six hours for a few villages and a long lunch. Two or three days lets you add cellar visits and Alba.

Do you need a car in the Langhe?

Yes, for linking the hilltop villages. You can also cycle or walk between some, but distances and hills add up.

When is the best time to visit the Langhe?

September to November, for harvest colors, fog and truffles. Many cellars need an appointment, so book tastings in advance.

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