29 April 2022
Another gorgeous day of riding today…as we headed over the hills into the wine-growing region around Alba. Narrow carless roads in the main…with lots of ups and lots of downs.
Italian road signs remain a mystery however…and we were misdirected on a few occasions…as 32 Km to go…became 53km (!!)…& planned ascents of 600m became a worthy 1,100m!
Coffee break at Murrazzano…a village festooned with sheep! We never saw a real one…and could find nothing about any sheep festival…but it was an interesting idea for NZ to think about!
The landscape was gorgeous the whole day….and we pulled into Neive, knackered but fulfilled. A lovely wee village…if a bit precious (& expensive!).
Tonight we were staying above a wine bar. Great accommodation…our bikes sharing the cellar with an impressive collection of Barolos and Nebbiolos. 900 Euros a bottle…does seem a bit excessive!! (I managed to set off the alarm in the morning…..!)
The young Sicilian manager gave us a very enthusiastic tasting of six local wines…with absurdly big ‘tastes’….so we were fairly oiled before we set off to find beers.
Conscious of the exclusivity of the village..we checked the price before ordering….only for that price to double when the bill was presented (by someone else). A wee argument ensued…..! Oh dear! (We won)
