AT GRINZANE CAVOUR WORLD AUCTION, TRUFFLES SOLD FOR 305.000 EUROS. PROCEEDS GO TO CHARITY. A TRUFFLE WAS GIVEN TO THE POPE. ALL THE DETAILS... FOCUS: SAN MINIATO IN TUSCANY, PRICES FROM 1.000 TO 1.500 EUROS A KILO FOR WHITE TRUFFLES

The world auction of truffles held at Grinzane Cavour totaled 305.000 euros. The auction was held in conjunction with the Hong Kong auction attended by the President of the Senate Renato Schifani; the governor of Piedmont Roberto Cota; the Deputy Minister of Economy Giuseppe Vegas and the Undersecretary of Defense Guido Corsetto.

Thirteen truffles were auctioned at the two auction sites, and each one got a 100.000 euros bid for a truffle. The entire sum will be donated to charity, divided into five scholarships to many deserving students from the regions of Piedmont, Calabria, Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna and Veneto, to the Avis foundation in Alba for the new hospital Alba-Bra and to the project “Mother’s Choice” in Hong Kong, an institute that supports orphans and mothers in difficulty.

Antonio Bertolotto a businessman operating in the green energy sector in the town of Borgo San Dalmazzo in the Piedmont region got the biggest prize: a 450 gram truffle for a value of 8.000 euros and the final surprise, an 855 gram twin truffle for 100.000 euros. The most expensive truffle was sold in Hong Kong - 936 grams for 105.000 euros to Jeannie Cholee, a Chinese food and wine critic. “We are not here because we have money to burn. The crisis has been felt even here, but we are sensitive to charitable projects,” said Bertolotto, as he collected his prizes. He pointed out that the money spent for the purchase of the two truffles was taken from both the 2011 marketing expenditures and some advertising costs. Bertolotto also announced that the 450 gram truffle will be given to the Governor of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, as a sign of solidarity for “the difficulties that the region is experiencing due to the recent flood”. The twin truffle, continued Bertolotto, will be given partially to Pope Benedict XVI “for his commitment to environmental protection” and partially to Michele Ferrero, an Italian who has promoted Italy abroad.

The hosts of honor were the TV personalities Mara Venier and Massimo Giletti, the journalist Frank Senette, the comedian Enzo Jachetti, the show girl Juliana Moreira, the chef Gianfranco Vissani and the singer (and wine producer in Piedmont), Omar Pedrini.

“Truffles,” said Tomaso Zanoletti, chairman of the Piedmont Regional Winery Cavour, which organizes the auction in conjunction with the Piedmont Region every year, “bring together gourmets and gourmands from around the world who meet in this corner of Piedmont to give life to an important and prestigious event that combines style, sophistication and charity”.



Focus - San Miniato in Tuscany: “keeping prices down on white truffles”

Production has increased and consequently prices for white truffles are reduced in San Miniato (Pisa), which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary of its famous exhibition market. In some cases the cost for the precious tuber is actually half. Prices range from 100 to 150 euros per hectogram.

There has been a sufficient amount of rain,” says the Gazzarrini Company in San Miniato, “and the result is a larger number than 2009, when 100 grams sold for a minimum of 170 euros”. At the market stalls today (which will continue over the next weekends), you will also find traditional truffle products such as chocolates, pâté with bacon and pasta. Among the new products in 2010: butter, honey and salt with truffles and 23 carat gold, sold in 90 gram tins at 9 euros each, offered by Filippo Gemignani of San Miniato: “truffles are the gold of the earth, and when mixed with real gold will not only make a dish precious but will also make it really shine. We are presenting this innovation for the first time, but we already have agreements to distribute these products in the best gourmet stores. The “big truffles” are still hidden from the scene. In the past a 700-gram truffle was found and exhibited. This year the truffles exhibited are a maximum of 300 grams, as the crowds flow into the center of San Miniato.

Takehiko Nukui a Japanese chef from a restaurant in Tokyo, is among the visitors. “Until a few years ago,” says the chef who has also worked in Florence, “I used to go to Piedmont to buy truffles. Then I discovered San Miniato, where there is very good quality at optimum cost. I can find white truffles also in Tokyo, but at the cost of 600 euros per hectogram. Here, instead, I can buy even 400 grams of truffles without spending a fortune”.