The fifties: the truffles contest!
Everything started with a contest…
The Truffle Fair as we know it today started in the 1950’s. Truffle hunters (in Piemontese dialect ‘trifulau’) would meet every Thursday at a local inn. The owner, being an admirer and connoisseur of these tubers, organized the first exhibition and contest.
He chose a jury from the truffle huntersand made them examine the specimens that were preserved in traditional blue-checkered handkerchiefs. Then, they rewarded the most beautiful individual truffles and the most abundant group. The fortunate winner received an invitation for lunch.
Even back then, this ceremony was held on the third Sunday of October (historic date). In 1955, the town council transformed this celebration among friendsinto the “Contest for Truffles of Moncalvo and of the Monferrato.”
From then on, the contest took place in the ancient, stunning castle arcade. The castle arcade gives the Moncalvo Truffle Fair itstraditional continuity.
Later on the designation “contest” was changed to “Fair.” In the 1960’s and 70’s, the Moncalvo Truffle Fair took on the format that continues today.