Alba White Truffle Auction: 100,000 euros for 850 grams from Hong Kong
The promotion of one of the finest examples of Italian food and wine goes hand in hand with charity: the proceeds will go towards charitable initiatives in Italia and abroad
An 850-gram white truffle was sold for 100,000 euros to a buyer from Hong Kong during the 27th World Alba White Truffle Auction, held on 8 November at Grinzane Cavour Castle, in the province of Cuneo.
The event, which combines the promotion of one of the finest examples of Italian food and wine with charitable causes, donates the proceeds from sales to charitable initiatives in Italia and abroad. Since the first edition in 1999, a total of around 7.2 million euros has been raised, allocated, amongst other things, to supporting a hospital in Africa, the social reintegration of young people struggling with drug addiction, and the education of children in the favelas.
All the truffles at the auction were sold in lots accompanied by fine magnum bottles of wines such as Barolo and Moscato d’Asti, and 10-kg panettone cakes. Another lot, containing a 300-gram truffle, was initially sold for 12,000 euros, but after the winning bidder withdrew from the purchase, it was resold for 14,000 euros to a local businessman. In addition, a 210-gram lot was sold for 8,000 euros to a local businessman, and a 250-gram lot for 10,000 euros to a Chinese chef from Shanghai. The total funds raised this year reached 545,800 euros, the second-highest total in the auction’s history.
This year’s edition marked a further step forward in terms of internationalisation, with four new linked venues – Brasília, London, Macau and Vilnius – joining the usual venues of Hong Kong, Bangkok and Vienna.
“Never before has this auction taken on such an international character: four new venues, nine cities linked together. A truly global auction, the likes of which we have never seen before,” said Roberto Bodrito, president of the Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour.
