Annual Assembly 2026

Truffle and Wine Knights of Alba look to the future: record results and new Delegations worldwide
Renewal of the governing bodies and confirmation of Senator Tomaso Zanoletti as Grand Master.

New Delegations planned in Norway and China in 2026.

The Annual Assembly of the Ordine dei Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini di Alba was held at the Castello di Grinzane Cavour on Saturday, February 21, representing an important opportunity to review the activities carried out and outline future development prospects.

The meeting confirmed the Order’s growth path, characterized by an increasingly strong international outlook and the ability to combine territorial enhancement with the global dissemination of enogastronomic culture.

“We reviewed last year’s activities, which proved to be extraordinarily successful in terms of the quality of the Chapters and the level of the events organized,” said the Grand Master, Senator Tomaso Zanoletti. “It was a particularly positive year, rich in distinguished guests and high-profile appointments, both in the foreign Delegations and in Italy, where we recorded steadily growing participation, especially among foreign Knights. The financial statement is also extremely positive, closing with a management surplus never recorded in the history of the Order. This result demonstrates solidity, vision and international credibility.”

Among the most significant achievements of 2025 were the high-level cultural initiatives, such as the conference dedicated to Luciano Degiacomi, a reference figure for Piedmontese gastronomic tradition and for reflection on the identity role of wine and truffle culture in the Langhe region.

Particular prestige was also achieved through the first Barolo Masterclass hosted by Harvard University, an initiative that helped bring Langhe wine culture into one of the world’s most authoritative academic contexts. The event will be repeated with its second edition, confirming the Order’s commitment to promoting continuous dialogue between territorial tradition and the global scientific and cultural community.

During the Assembly, the strategic role of international Delegations was also emphasized, as they now represent a key instrument for spreading the Order’s mission and promoting Piedmontese enogastronomic excellence worldwide.

The Assembly subsequently proceeded with the renewal of the governing bodies for the 2026–2029 term, unanimously confirming the Governing Council and Senator Tomaso Zanoletti’s leadership as Grand Master of the Order, in the name of institutional and strategic continuity.

“The reconfirmation represents a great honor and an even greater responsibility for me,” said Grand Master Tomaso Zanoletti. “We will continue working with determination to strengthen the international presence of the Order and promote worldwide the cultural, historical and enogastronomic value of Langhe, Monferrato and Roero, with an increasingly open spirit of collaboration.”