The above map of Piedmont Italy shows it situated in the Northwest corner of Italy, bordered by the Italian region of Lombardy to the east, France to the west, and Switzerland (north).
At the center of Piedmont, lies Turin, the region’s bustling, compact, and scenic capital city. Best known globally in the modern day for being the site of the 2006 Winter Olympics and for its production of chocolate (the city is also where Nutella was created!), Turin was also Italy’s first official capital city after the reunification of Italy, from 1861 to 1865 and is the home of Vermouth in Europe. The beverage was first produced here by Antonio Benedetto Carpano in 1785.
While the region of Piedmont has long been a rural, agriculturally focused region, the region as a whole is one of the wealthiest regions in Italy and this is due in no small part to the industries that have thrived in Turin over the past century including the automobile, banking, and chocolate-confections industries. Since the 1980s, the wine industry in the region of Piedmont also started to become one of the most lucrative industries in the region, prompting development (especially related to tourism and food/dining) in the more rural, agricultural areas of the region such as the Langhe (the home of wines such as Dolcetto, Barbera, Barolo, and Barbaresco), Roero, and Monferrato areas. Since that time, the Piedmont wine industry has continued to grow with the number of wineries rapidly increasing to over 20,000 over the past half-century.
Reasons to Visit Piedmont Italy
Surrounded by snowcapped mountains and verdant green pastures dotted with cattle, Piedmont (which means ‘at the foot of the mountain’) is a beautiful part of Italy to explore.
While most famous for the unique white truffles thousands flock to Alba each year to sample, Piedmont has a rich culinary heritage and plenty of local farms. The region is known for its local cheeses, hazelnuts, and other local produce. It is also one of the most highly awarded regions in Italy by the Michelin Guide.
From Barbera, Barolo, and Barbaresco to Arneis, Gavi, Erbaluce, and Dolcetto, Piedmont is one of the best wine regions in Italy and the world. It is an absolute must for wine lovers that visit Italy.