Chapter 24
The Heart of Le LangheThe next morning they met early at Genoa Piazza Principe and boarded the train for Alba. It was a local train and would make more stops than the rapido that connected larger cities, but the company was genial and they had lots of stories to keep them company.
Stefano regaled the group with fabulous stories of the wine and truffles from Piedmont, specifically le Langhe, the Langhe hills known for these treasures. He talked spiritedly about the muscular Barolo and elegant Barbaresco wines, adding much detail that showed his appreciation for the lesser-known red wines made from the same grape, nebbiolo.
“It's named after the fog,” he said, la nebbia, “because without the cooling effect of the morning fog this magical grape might not reach the pinnacle of wi
