The best thing about the village of Serralunga, besides the wine, the views and the vineyards, is the restaurant Centro Storico. Right below the village's majestic tower, the husband-and-wife team Alessio and Stefana Cighetti have created a small oasis of a two-storey restaurant, where Stefana reigns in the kitchen while Alessio looks after the guests — with a rich wine list boasting one of the finest selections of Champagne in all of Piedmont. The jovial owner sells around 1,500 bottles of the noble bubbles each year.
"It's the local winemakers who drink the most Champagne,"
Alessio explains, as he deftly slices the house's well-aged ham — which, of course, pairs perfectly with Champagne. The food is true to its roots and beautifully prepared, the panna cotta is possibly the best in the world, and the atmosphere is unforgettable. A must for lunch or dinner on any visit to Piedmont. But remember to book a table — there aren't many of them.