There’s a thing in Italy called a ‘Camminata Enogastronomica’, which is quite the mouthful… literally. It’s walking, but not as you know it.
The general idea is that you go on an organised walk, usually of 6km or so. You are given a wine glass to hang nonchalantly around your neck (you’ll be needing that…) and you set off. One kilometre in you stop and someone gives you a plate of food and, of course, a glass of wine. You hang out there for a bit and then carry on walking. After another kilometre you stop once more and are given a primo, maybe pasta or risotto and, naturally, more wine. And so it continues until you reach the end, at which point you will be surrounded by dozens of new friends and there is usually a bit of music and something of a party.
The best type of walk
I feel extremely confident in saying there is no better way to spend a sunny afternoon… exercise, fresh air, friendship, food and wine.
The best known of these walks (I can only speak for the Langhe here…) is Mangialonga, which takes place in La Morra every August (in 2019 it’s Sunday 25th). Biggest isn’t always best though. There are loads of smaller walks throughout the year which, ias far as I’m concerned, are every but as enjoyable.
There’s Porte Disne in Canale d’Alba, where they even give you your own picnic hamper to take around with you; Nocciolonga (see what they did there?) in Castellero; SentieriinGusto in Treiso; Sori di Diano d’Alba; and one that we just returned from in the greatest of all the Langhe villages, Novello… a place where things are continually taken to the next level, and where they not only have a walk, but it takes place at night, on the longest day of the year!
The walk started and finished in the main Piazza and took in a few of the local borgate and even a nice view of the legendary Villa Ribota.