Wine, Hazelnuts, and Truffles with Andrew
Join travel expert Andrew Lyon on an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime journey to Italy's enchanting Piedmont region. Limited to just 15 travelers, this small group experience will bring us to the Italy outside of typical tourbooks and TripAdvisor ratings.
“I’ve been to Italy dozens of times, but I keep coming back to Piedmont. Every glass of wine is spectacular and varied. If you’ve never had a fresh white truffle, you’ll be blown away by how a it can transform even a simple buttered pasta into an extraordinary dish (and I don’t even like truffle oil or truffle fries!). But what keeps bringing me back is my friends there who are committed to maintaining generations of cultural wisdom. They’re evolving their knowledge of the land into better food, sustainable ecology, and thriving communities. This trip is your chance to experience the transformative power of genuine, locally-sourced ingredients.”
Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, Piedmont boasts a unique microclimate that nurtures some of the world's finest wines and truffles. Andrew's personal connections with local winemakers and truffle experts open doors to experiences that typical tourists simply can't access. While there, we’ll also visit the world-famous Alba White Truffle Festival where truffle hunters from around the world sniff, weigh, and sell their best finds.
“Instead of formal winetastings, our winemakers sit down with us over a meal to tell us about why each wine tastes different, asks how we’re experiencing the wine, and most importantly, tell us about their families and friends who inspired each vintage. And my friend Stefano has been running the truffle festival for many years. Having him personally show us the best food and pairings makes the huge festival feel really personal.
Don't miss this opportunity to explore Piedmont's hidden treasures, forge connections with passionate local artisans, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Join Andrew Lyon for this signature 2025 trip and discover why Piedmont has captured his heart – and why it's sure to capture yours too.
Piedmont, Italy with Andrew Lyon
OCTOBER 18-24, 2025
$6,500 PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
$7,950 PER PERSON SINGLE OCCUPANCY
Limited Space for 15 Guests
Includes: All lodging at luxury Sunstar Piemonte manor-house, daily activities and travel experiences with Andrew, Italian cooking class, wine tastings, hazelnut tasting, truffle hunt and private meal, entrance and guided tour of Alba Truffle Festival, ground transportation throughout, private airport transfers, breakfast each day, most lunches and dinners, Italian guide on-site throughout, entrance fees to sites.
Does not include: Alcohol and soda (outside of included wine tastings), optional travel insurance (AWL Travel can refer to partners, prices vary between $50-$350 per person depending on age and coverage), some meals, international airfare, passport fees if new passport needed (no additional visa is needed for Italy), tips
Payments $1,000.00 per passenger refundable deposit at the time of registration holds your space on the trip. All remaining money is due July 1, 2025.
Piedmont Itinerary
*NOTE - Itinerary subject to change until July 1, 2025
OCTOBER 18 » ARRIVE IN PIEDMONT
Upon your afternoon or evening arrival into Turin (TRN) or Genoa (GOA) airport, be met with a private car transfer and check-in to the Sunstar Piedmont villa. For those who arrive early enough in the day, we’ll have a welcome dinner at the villa and time to rest from the long flight. Overnight Sunstar Piedmont.
OCTOBER 19 » TRUFFLE HUNT IN ALBA
October is white truffle season in Piedmont, so today we’ll depart for a truffle hunt and tasting with Alba Royal Truffles owner Andrea Porchadeao. We’ll be accompanied by a local “Trifalou” who will walk with us through the woods to find some of the best truffles in the world. After the hunt, we’ll head to Alba for a three-course white truffle tasting menu including wine and coffee. In the mid-afternoon, we’ll have free time to explore the picturesque city of Alba. We’ll provide recommendations on where to find the best grappa, coffee, cocktails, and more. During this free-time, we’ll have an optional return to the hotel in the late afternoon for those who want to freshen up before dinner (about a 30 minute drive), then return to Alba for dinner at Ventuno No. 1 with Chef Alfonso. Overnight Sunstar Piedmont.
OCTOBER 20 » BAROLO WINE TASTING
This morning we’ll begin the day with a visit to the acclaimed Vietti winery and taste the classic Barolos, Barbarescos, and Barberas that the Piedmont region is known for. After the tasting, we’ll have lunch nearby at l’Argaj restaurant. We’ll then visit a smaller, family-run winery focused on Cannubi grapes, Cascina Sot with winemaker Maurizio Sansk. After all that wine, we’ll head back to the Villa to rest and freshen up for a few hours in the afternoon and early evening. For dinner, we’ll visit family-owned Locanda in Cannubi. Overnight Sunstar Piedmont.
OCTOBER 21 » HAZELNUTS & ALTA LANGA
We’ll depart in the late morning for Avezza Winery. Paolo Avezza is well-known in the region for both Alta Langa DOCG and Nizza DOCG. We’ll have a chance to taste their innovative and unusual Lyus White and Barbera Vermouth as well developed by our friend Lisette Lyhus. A short walk through the vineyards will take us to lunch at the Rezidensa San Vito. After lunch, we’ll visit a local hazelnut lab and production facility. The Nocciola Piemonte is known as one of the most flavorful hazelnuts on earth and we’ll try it in many forms at the lab including in chocolates, candies, and many more. In the evening, we’ll visit a low-key trattoria style restaurant for some local flavor. Overnight Sunstar Piedmont.
OCTOBER 22 » ROERO AND BARBARESCO
We’ll spend the morning with free time to explore towns in the charming Barbaresco region. We’ll then have lunch and a Roero wine tasting at Malvira Winery. Malvira has one of the most historic plots of Arneis grapes in the world and produces some of Piedmont’s best lesser-known white wines. We’ll then return to Sunstar Piedmont for a relaxing afternoon. We’ll have optional excursions on e-bikes through the nearby hills, a yoga class, or guests can take advantage of the on-property spa and pool. This evening, we’ll have a cooking class with a local Michelin chef, teaching us how to make Piedmont’s famous Plin pasta before eating at his Michelin starred restaurant for dinner. Overnight Villa Pattono.
OCTOBER 23 » ALBA WHITE TRUFFLE FESTIVAL
The famous Alba White Truffle Festival is happening during our trip and today we’ll return to Alba for a VIP festival experience. We’ll be greeted by truffle expert and festival director Stefano Cometti, who will introduce us to truffle hunters and enthusiasts from around the world. In the afternoon, guests can stay and explore the Truffle Festival and Alba for the afternoon or return to the hotel to rest and freshen up. We’ll meet up for a farewell dinner, hosted inside the historic Alba Theater with local food and wine by top rated chefs.
OCTOBER 24 » DEPART FOR USA
Private airport transfers will take you to the Turin or Genoa airport for your return home.