In the heart of autumn, between harvest and ancient legends, the magic of October in the vineyard intertwines with popular festivities and the unmistakable aromas of the Alba White Truffle.
October is a month of transition and celebration: in the rows of vines, the harvest comes to an end, while in the squares, ancient traditions are celebrated, connecting wine with the cultural roots of Piedmont. If September has the noble face of Barolo and its nineteenth-century patrons, October takes us back in time to the myths of the wine deities, while also immersing us in the unique atmosphere of the International Alba White Truffle Fair.
October vineyard work: the harvest that closes a cycle
October is one of the most eagerly awaited months for winemakers: the harvest reaches its peak with the picking of red grape varieties, which this year have shown themselves to be perfectly ripe, healthy, and full of potential. The conditions of the 2025 season have brought balance and quality, yielding grapes with optimal phenolic ripeness, a solid tannic structure, and extraordinary aromatic concentration.
The wines of this vintage promise to be intense and long-lived, combining elegance and power. In the glass, we will find aromas ranging from red currant to pomegranate, with touches of dog rose, herbal notes, and balsamic nuances. A profile that promises precise and refined wines, ready to face aging with great personality in the years to come.
Dionysus and Bacchus: deities of wine, between myth and ritual
But October is not just about work in the fields. It’s also a time for stories interwoven with the vine and wine. At the center stands Bacchus, or Dionysus for the Greeks, the god of wine, fertility, and ecstasy. Son of Zeus and the mortal Semele, Dionysus is the only Olympian god with a mortal mother, a symbol of duality: on one hand, pleasure and madness; on the other, rebirth and the vitality of nature.
It is said that he was the first to create wine by squeezing a cluster of ripe grapes in his hands, spreading his cult from Egypt to Asia Minor and across Europe. In his honor, the Bacchanalia were born: orgiastic festivals and mysterious rites celebrating freedom, ecstasy, and the transcendence of limits.
Bacchus is often depicted with a head crowned with vines and grape clusters, a wine chalice in his hand, the thyrsus adorned with ivy, and symbolic animals such as tigers, dolphins, and goats by his side. He embodies the profound, millennia-old bond that unites wine with the cyclical nature of life.
The Alba White Truffle Fair and the Bacchanal of the Boroughs
While toasting a special harvest in the vineyards, in Alba the International Alba White Truffle Fair comes to life, now in its 95th edition (October 11 – December 8). Among markets, tastings, and international events, the most anticipated moment is the Bacchanal of the Boroughs: a grand medieval reenactment that transforms Alba into a village from another era, with costumed performers, ancient games, and food stands.
The Bacchanal recalls the rites of Bacchus and Dionysus but blends them with the medieval history of the city: in the streets of the center, a unique atmosphere can be felt, filled with the aromas of truffle and wine, with music, conviviality, and historical memory. It’s an experience that connects myth, tradition, and rural culture in one grand celebration of flavor and life.
October at Agricola Marrone: between myth and reality
October is, therefore, a month that unites the sacred and the land, work and celebration. On one hand, in the vineyard, it marks the completion of the harvest, preparing future wines of extraordinary quality; on the other, in the town squares, it celebrates Dionysus and Bacchus through the Bacchanal of the Boroughs and the traditions of the Alba Truffle Fair. After all, as myths have told us for millennia, every harvest is a rite of rebirth: a gift that the earth offers to humankind, transformed through the art and dedication of the winemaker into liquid poetry called wine.