Tuber magnatum Pico, more commonly known as white truffle, the gourmet treasure from Alba, is a rare treat for connoisseurs all over the world. And an expensive one: the international auction to be held on November 8 will see bids from a minimum base of €300-€400 per one hundred grams – as expensive as exquisite works of art.

White truffle aficionados will be able to walk the roads of Alba, in Piedmont's Cuneo province, to drink in and delight in its fragrance, purchase it, admire it and celebrate one of the premier products of this terroir, recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The occasion?