The gavel has returned to its former glory in the halls of Grinzane Cavour Castle, where a new edition of the Alba White Truffle World Auction took place on Sunday, November 9th. An afternoon filled with anticipation and excitement, once again uniting the Langhe with the rest of the world in the spirit of excellence and solidarity.
Between international connections, guests, and a packed audience, the auction followed a crescendo that culminated in the final batch: a truffle “trichomposite” weighing one kilo and nine grams, found in the Roero area and presented by trifolao Mario Agostino Aprile of the Trifulao albesi association, accompanied by tabui Lady. Starting with a starting bid of 20,000 euros, the precious tuber magnatum was contested until the final relaunch, finishing its bid at 110,000 euros, which was won in Hong Kong.
To mark the fast pace of the event, Caterina Balivo was in the room, joined by Paolo Vizzari and Enzo Iacchetti. The opening was entrusted to the first batch “from home”: a 249 gram truffle combined with Barolo and Barbaresco magnum and a ten kilo Albertengo panettone, purchased for 5 thousand euros by the Cuneo entrepreneur and author Alessia Bertolotto. A decisive start, which immediately ignited the audience.
Tensions rose with the second batch, a 331-gram specimen, accompanied by Alta Langa, Barolo, and panettone, beaten to 7,000 euros by Cherasco entrepreneur Mariano Costamagna. Applause also for the third step: 402 grams of truffle, with wines and a traditional dessert, sold for 16,000 euros thanks to the offer of a Chinese teacher, won over by the auction’s charitable mission.
New for the 2025 edition is the debut in Rio de Janeiro, connected for the first time with a “truffle breakfast” from Alba Botafogo, in support of the Solar Meninos de Luz project. A new piece that expands the solidarity geography of the auction, without distancing it from its symbolic heart, Grinzane Castle.
Historical connections have also been confirmed: from Singapore, at the Somma restaurant, to support SPCA; in Bangkok, at the Four Seasons on Chao Phraya, for the Border Patrol Police School Foundation; from Vienna, with the Italian Embassy working for Acker Österreich; and from Frankfurt, at the Brighella restaurant, for the Paralympic youth swimming team. Finally, from the Kenyan heights, the connection with North Kinangop revealed Dr. Bruno Frea’s commitment to a new blood transfusion center at the hospital founded by Don Sandro Borsa.
The Alba World White Truffle Auction thus confirms itself as a bridge between territories and continents: in its first 25 editions, it raised over €7.2 million. The overall data for the 2025 collection will be announced at the end of the connections, but the signal from Grinzane Cavour is already clear: participation, enthusiasm, and lively relaunching, right from the opening.