Solidarity auction of the truffle: Vienna among the world capitals connected with Grinzane
The traditional world auction of the Alba White Truffle was presented from the Metternich palace in Vienna, seat of the Italian embassy in Austria, which tomorrow (Sunday 13 November) will connect the castle of Grinzane Cavour with the world. The novelty of the philanthropic event, now in its 23rd edition, will be precisely, together with four other Asian venues, the presence of the Austrian capital, with the Italian ambassador Stefano Beltrame and the international lunch prepared by chefs Alessandro Mecca and Denis Koenig.
«The choice of Vienna comes from the active participation of the local delegation of the Order of the Knights of the Truffle and of the Alba wines in the enhancement of the Langa products – explained the councilor from Alba Emanuele Bolla, yesterday evening at Palazzo Metternich with the governor Alberto Cirio and the director of the National Center for Truffle Studies Mauro Carbone – the relations linked to the international promotion of our territory with the Austrian tourism board and the Italian embassy are excellent».
A bond with Austria which is a symptom of the strong presence of foreign tourism in the Langa. «Auction has always been an opportunity to consolidate international ties with those who are in love with our Unesco hills – declared President Cirio-. The numbers for the summer testify to this, with a growth of almost 30% on last year».
«The World Auction is confirmed as a long-lived and interesting event and the prestigious international connections encourage important solidarity actions. Never before in this edition, together with the mayors of Alba, Carlo Bo, and of Grinzane Cavour, Gianfranco Garau, do we want to send a message of peace and brotherhood», underlined Roberto Bodrito, president of the Piedmontese regional wine cellar Cavour, which organizes the auction thanks to the support of the Region, Enit, the Langhe Monferrato Roero tourism body, the International Alba White Truffle Fair, the National Center for Truffle Studies and the Order of Knights of the Truffle and Alba Wines.
To support the project, which since 1999 has raised over 5 million 700 thousand euros donated to solidarity projects in Italy and around the world, will be numerous personalities in Grinzanefrom Alberto Barberadirector of the Venice Film Festival, to the actor and director Andrea Boscoto the most famous miller on Italian television, Fulvio Marino. Among other guests, Gianluca Vialli And Massimo Mauroalready supporters with their Foundation of the charity initiative in the area “Alba dei Campioni”, with the fundraising for ALS research, which will be among the projects benefitted on Sunday together with those of the Alba-Bra Onlus hospital foundation and the non-profit organization Every child is my child, for the young victims of wars.
The event will begin at 1pm, also available in streaming on the La Stampa Facebook page, and renewing a successful tradition, will be presented by the television presenter Caterina Balivo together with the journalist and gastronomic curator Paolo Vizzari. The histrionic Enzo Iacchetti will join themmade himself the protagonist last year of an involuntary gag by dropping a truffle just sold at auction for more than 5 thousand euros to the ground.
The Asta will also speak with the Eastthis year with four different Asian locations, two already run-in and two new. The historic relationship with Hong Kong is confirmed, thanks to the collaboration with the three-starred chef Umberto Bombana and with Maria Lunch of Areté food and wine; in addition to the truffle, the last barrique of the Barolo en Primeur Auction at the end of October will be auctioned in the Chinese financial center, and the proceeds will go to the Mother’s Choice institute for orphans. Then for the fourth consecutive year Singapore participates, from the Art restaurant of the starred chef Daniele Sperindio in the National Gallery, together with the ambassador Mario Andrea Vattani, allocating the proceeds to Dreams Asia, a foundation operating in the field of education. Seoul and Doha will be involved for the first year. In South Korea, with the ambassador Federico Failla, the auction will enter the Italian restaurant Atrio, led by chef «Marco» Seungchan Lee, a Korean cook trained for a long time in renowned Italian restaurants. The proceeds will be donated to World Vision, the first in the world in distance adoption. Finally, in Doha, the auction will be mirrored in Enrico Crippa’s Alba restaurant, soon to open inside the iconic Katara Towers. Ambassador Paolo Toschi will be connected from the premises where chef Enrico Crippa will bring the flavors of Italy and the Langhe to Qatar from 15 November.