Borbera and Spinti Valleys Gastronomic Tour
The traveling food and wine festival through the inns of Val Borbera, in the Alessandria area
About Borbera and Spinti Valleys Gastronomic Tour
A festival running for nearly half a century
The Borbera and Spinti Valleys Gastronomic Tour is one of Piedmont's longest-running food and wine events. Established in 1978 by local restaurateurs, it accompanies food lovers every year along the roads of these secluded valleys, nestled in the extreme southeastern corner of the Province of Alessandria, where Piedmont meets Liguria, Emilia, and Lombardy, on the so-called border of the Four Provinces. The event is organized by the Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs of Val Borbera and Spinti, currently presided over by Michele Negruzzo.
How the Tour works
This is not a festival concentrated in a few days, but a traveling format spread over time. Throughout the season, divided into a spring and an autumn phase, participating restaurants and inns offer special themed weekend menus built around local flavors. It traditionally kicks off on April 25th at Ristorante Da Bruno, in the hamlet of San Nazzaro in Albera Ligure, before moving on to the tables of the other valley municipalities. The idea is simple and successful: to transform an entire season into a journey of taste, showcasing village kitchens and small mountain hamlets.
The flavors of the valleys
The absolute stars are the typical products of this rugged and generous land: Montebore, a rare cheese shaped like a wedding cake, Timorasso white wine, Salame Nobile del Giarolo, grass-fed beef, Fagiolana beans, and 'quarantina' potatoes, as well as honey, saffron, truffles, porcini mushrooms, and chestnuts. Each inn interprets this pantry in its own way, creating menus that range from traditional peasant recipes to game dishes.
A territory to discover
The event involves the eleven municipalities of the Borbera and Spinti Valleys — Albera Ligure, Borghetto di Borbera, Cabella Ligure, Cantalupo Ligure, Carrega Ligure, Dernice, Grondona, Mongiardino Ligure, Roccaforte Ligure, Rocchetta Ligure, and Vignole Borbera — many of which are small mountain villages immersed in woods and valleys. The Gastronomic Tour is therefore also an opportunity to discover a lesser-known Piedmont, made of nature, silence, and authentic hospitality.
Borbera and Spinti Valleys Gastronomic Tour — edition 2026
La 46ª edizione del Tour Gastronomico delle Valli Borbera e Spinti, presentata il 26 aprile 2026 presso il ristorante Casa Vicino di Pallavicino, segna un traguardo importante per la rassegna: 53 appuntamenti complessivi, divisi tra 17 tappe primaverili e 36 autunnali, con 18 realtà ristoratoriali coinvolte. Durante la presentazione, Renzo Stevano — figura storica e socio fondatore dal 1978 — è stato nominato presidente onorario dell'Associazione, oggi guidata da Michele Negruzzo.
Il via ufficiale è stato dato il 25 aprile 2026 al Ristorante Da Bruno di San Nazzaro, frazione di Albera Ligure. Gli appuntamenti proseguono nei fine settimana della primavera per poi riprendere in autunno, fino a novembre.
Programme Borbera and Spinti Valleys Gastronomic Tour 2026
Avvio della stagione — 25 aprile 2026
La prima tappa si è svolta sabato 25 aprile 2026 al Ristorante Da Bruno, in località San Nazzaro (Albera Ligure).
Le strutture aderenti (18)
- Agriturismo Ca' di Matt
- Albergo Ristorante Capanne di Cosola
- Albergo Ristorante Da Bruno
- Albergo Ristorante Morando
- Albergo Ristorante Ponte
- Bar Italia
- Casa Vicino
- Foresteria La Merlina
- La Locanda del Maggiociondolo
- Locanda del Daino
- Pizzeria Pietrino
- Ristorante Belvedere
- Ristorante La Pernice Rossa
- Ristorante Parco Mongiardino
- Ristorante Pizzeria Fondovalle
- Ristorante Pizzeria Il Patio
- Ristorante Pizzeria Locanda Pertuso
- Risto-Pub Raviol Pub
Il calendario dettagliato delle 53 tappe, con le date di ciascun ristorante e i relativi menù, è pubblicato sul sito ufficiale dell'Associazione (valborberaespinti.com). Ogni locanda propone un menù dedicato ai prodotti tipici delle valli.
Highlights Borbera and Spinti Valleys Gastronomic Tour 2026
Prices Borbera and Spinti Valleys Gastronomic Tour 2026
Practical information — Borbera and Spinti Valleys Gastronomic Tour
How to get there
The Borbera and Spinti Valleys can be reached by car from the Vignole Borbera motorway exit (A7 Milan-Genoa); from there, head up the valley towards Albera Ligure, Cantalupo Ligure, and the other villages. The geographical reference point is the area south of Novi Ligure, in the Province of Alessandria.
Reservations
As this is an event that takes place in individual restaurants, booking at your chosen inn is highly recommended. The complete calendar of stops, with dates, restaurants, and menus, is published on the official website of the Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs of Val Borbera and Spinti.
When
The event is spread over two seasons: spring (from late April) and autumn (until November), with appointments distributed across the weekends.
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Where does it take place — Borbera and Spinti Valleys Gastronomic Tour
Ristoranti e locande delle Valli Borbera e Spinti
Località San Nazzaro, 15060 Albera Ligure