Food Factory/Producer Tours In Piedmont & Lombardy

[matthewsf]

I will be making my 2nd visit to Italy next month and looking to see if there are any food related factories, manufacturers or producers worth visiting in the regions we’ll be in. Our first visit covered Emila Romagna so we were able to visit a Balsamic Vinegar producer and a Parmesan cheese factory, both of which were great. For this trip we will be in the north: MILAN (Lombardy) and TURIN (Piedmont) as a base with the ability to take day trips out of the city. Are there any places that might be worth visiting? Cheese producers? Olive Oil? Truffles? We might do a day trip to Alba/Asti but beyond that, have nothing planned. Would love to hear if anyone has had food related experiences in these regions and can recommend any sites/places to go. Thanks.

[barberinibee]

Rice in Vercelli

http://www.tenutacastello.com/

I would also make an effort to track down cheese producers in Piemonte and Lombardia.

It is my understanding that Gorgozola is no longer made in Gorgonzola but nearby -- but I forget which town! But you can look it up on Google, I would think, and it is still quite close to Milano.

[barberinibee]

Here is the website for gorgonzola consortium

http://www.gorgonzola.com/

[Diva]

torino is the land of chocolate-- wine and truffles. there are not as many food tours up there.
up by lake garda are olive oil producers of the north-- but it is out of season for oil crushing.

[erica]

See if this helps:

http://italianmade.com/region-italy-food/italianmade-lombardy-4.html

http://italianmade.com/region-italy-food/italianmade-piedmont-2.html

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/598841