Canelli
Canelli is a municipality (comune) in the Province of Asti, in the Asti area, bordering the Langhe. The town has strong ties to winemaking, in particular sparkling wine, and is the historic home of major wine cellars including Gancia. Every year, in the first half of November, Canelli hosts the National Truffle Fair and the San Martin Fair, two events bringing together the area's food and wine excellence, tradition and culture [1].
The National Truffle Fair and the San Martin Fair
The event is traditionally held on a Sunday, preceded by an opening evening on the Saturday at the Pala Tartufo, set up in corso Libertà in the square in front of the railway station. During the fair, more than a hundred stalls selling a wide range of goods fill the town's streets [1].
At the heart of the event is the White Truffle Competition, with prizes for the Best Specimen and the Best Composition and a Popular Jury Prize. Visitors can also take part in a game to guess the truffle's weight, with a prize for the closest guess [1].
A distinctive moment of the day is the Parade of the truffle hunters, known locally as Trifulau, with their dogs, organised by the Associazione Trifulau Canellesi. The procession, opened by the drummers of the Associazione Tamburini di Canelli, goes through the town centre to the Pala Tartufo, where the ribbon is cut [1].
Side events
The programme also includes a sensory analysis of the white truffle, led by a judge from the Centro Nazionale Studi Tartufo, with smell tests and hands-on tasting sessions open to the public at the Gancia cellars in corso Libertà. The same venue also hosts book presentations on the history and culture of truffles in Piedmont [1].
The fair also involves local bodies such as the Pro Loco Città di Canelli, the Enoteca Regionale di Canelli e dell'Astesana and the Consortium for the Protection of Asti wine, which offers tastings of local wines [1].
Timeline
- — On Sunday 8 November, Canelli holds the National Truffle Fair and the San Martin Fair, with more than 100 stalls, the White Truffle Competition and the traditional parade of truffle hunters with their dogs. → ATnews