Given that my truffle question was answered so well, I figured I’d throw out some wine shop ideas. I’ve scoured the archives and did see universal acclaim for Pitti Gola e Cantina in Florence. As background, this is not a wine trip for us and we’ll have kids 10yo and 8yo in tow. I’m basically looking for any “can’t miss” recs–like places worth going out of your way, but I will only have a car in Alba and will basically be in downtown/tourest areas in Milan/Florence/Rhome.
For Italian wine I’m mostly into Barolo/Barbaresco and chianti; brunello less so. Other regions very little but certainly interested to try “geeky” wines. Should have space to take 12-24 bottles home.
I have a WineCheck, any chance I can get a styro shipping box there or should I bring it?
We did Rome recently: Rome wine shop recs?
If you aren’t buying at the winery, wine prices are often not as good as the best US price for Barolo/Barbaresco.
Are you doing any visits? Produttori has a tasting room in Barbaresco - you could just pop in if you don’t want an appointment.
If you are looking to bring back wine, things that aren’t easily found in US are best bet.
Bring the styrofoam pack, they are rare there.
Peck in Milan has all the gems, at high prices. Great high end deli if you want a picnic lunch.
Trimani in Rome has great selection and storage. But not central.
Roschioli is a great restaurant and sells wine too. Probably your best bet in Rome . Book now (they are on line)- they book up months in advance. Not expensive.
Bring back aged Parmesan.
Thanks, appreciate it. Not a wine trip with the family so will have to do the best I can on my own with limited time.
thanks, guess I missed this one
Check out the Gallo wine store in La Morra. Been a few years, but I found some older Produttori Riservas at decent prices.
If you need kid things in Florence, I highly recommend the Galileo museum. Amazing science from the Renaissance.
There are a few wine shops in Alba, and it’s easy to walk around, so no reason not to look in each of them.
No insight to offer for Rome or Florence
Peck in Milan… Definitely something to experience and very much not just for wine. IMO they have a remarkable collection of prestigious wines, yet in offering that, I found it the most uninspiring collection I have ever seen. Utterly predictable. Perhaps a fitting collection for a place like Milan where image is so valued. Worth also exploring the other food shops around it, though I have to say I found Bologna’s equivalent historic food specialist streets (between le due torre and Piazza Nettuno) massively more interesting. I went to Milano expecting similar, which set too high an expectation.
I used to really like Callmewine for internet deliveries until Brexit ended their shipping to the UK. They’re based in Milan, but I suspect don’t have a physical shop. Their **address is Via Natale Battaglia 8, 20127 MilanoTelefono: +39 02 81480430 Ci trovi da Lunedì al Sabato dalle 9.30 alle 13.00 e dalle 14.30 alle 18.00 and it might be possible to organise a local drop-off or pickup
** but it looks like this is just a legal ‘registered’ address. These operations are usually cheaper to run from an out of town industrial estate.
i stopped in peck earlier this summer and while the fine selection has remained, the prices are largely marked to w-s level, so rather steep. one of my favorite shops right near the duomo that had a very good allocation of valentini seems to have closed a few years back. cantine isola is still worth a visit even if it is more of a bar.
I found Peck more interesting for everything but the wine. I ended up bringing back several kilos of risotto rice…
*For Barbaresco, might want to try Castello di Neive
Kids will enjoy the tour of the castle and you will enjoy the wine tasting at the end, especially the Santo Stefano Barbaresco
*Then you could hop right next door to Barbaresco and take the kids to the top of the observation tower:
The tower is 36 meters high, with 9 meter sides, two openings and its only entrance is an unusual compartment located 13 meters high. It was built around the year one thousand to defend the town from the Saracens.
The construction, situated in the outer part of the town with a watchtower function, was erected on a sandstone base and made entirely of brick; it’s a direct witness of Barbaresco’s medieval past.
It was part of a more complex fortification system, of which no trace remains, and a castle. At the summit we can still see the remains of the battlements placed to form a crown.
The edifice was probably part of a system of watchtowers built along the Tanaro river and, due to its strategic position, it was disputed for some time between the towns of Alba and Asti.
Thanks so much everyone. Always impressed with how much knowledge is on this board.
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Awesome rec and right around the corner from where we are staying!
With kids in tow, then it’s worth perusing the Alba truffle festival events, and seeing if anything appeals to them. I will give a big recommendation if you be there when the procession with flag tossing. It’s a wonderful visual spectacle and common to a few historical festivals. This looks like something more significant but also including the flag waving / tossing Historical re-enactment and Podestà Investiture - International Alba White Truffle Fair
e.g. this is on regularly during the festival, and knowing the diligence of the tourist office, I’d expect the clues to be in English as well as Italian The Clue Hunt through the streets of the city - International Alba White Truffle Fair
Not sure if you’re there for the donkey palio, a parody of the Asti palio Donkey Palio - International Alba White Truffle Fair
I’ll also do my usual recommendation for walking through the generally open access vineyards, and with kids in tow I’d be thinking of taking a picnic along to make a more family event of it. Barbaresco’s vineyards are in easiest range of Alba.