An afternoon view of the Langhe landscape in early October

The vegetation is still green and the treasured vineyards are yet to be harvested, but the sky already shows signs of approaching Autumn. This shot was taken from the the south-west slopes of the hill topped by the town of Montelupo, while the little town which can be seen straddling the opposite hill should be Serralunga d'Alba. The Langhe area, about 80 km wide, is located in the Italian Piedmont region south of the town of Alba and some 100 km south-east of the region's capital city Torino. Apart from amazing quantities of truffles, it produces some of the world's best wines such as Barolo, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto, Grignolino, Arneis, and many others (those who speak Italian can learn more about them visiting the site Terra dei Vini). Yet, despite the intensive and economically important agricultural activity, the area constitutes a well equilibrated and biologically rich ecological habitat.

Montelupo, Piedmont (Piemonte), Italy, October 2005