My name is Katariina Pitkänen and I am the property manager here at Scarpa Villas in the Barolo area. My duties include attending to all the details of your visit as well as making sure everything at the villas runs smoothly.

Contact me for any of your holiday needs, from organizing transfers, transportation around the region, recommending and booking activities, catering, dining, etc, arranging Scarpa wine tastings and visits, and more. If you forgot anything or have a last minute need, let me know so I can get it taken care of for you.

I am always happy to share with you insight about the villas and the Piedmont region. I live just down the road, so even when I’m not on site, I’m accessible. One of my favorite parts of my job is helping our guests experience the best of the Piedmont region – whether that parts or dinner at ‘home’, through cultural explorations throughout the region, or a combination!

Piedmont is full of history, art, food, and wine. These villas in the Barolo area are your ticket to the wonderful world of gastronomy. My three ‘don’t miss’ experiences in the Piedmont region include:

1. Do a wine tasting at a wine cellar!

I have a lot of places I am happy to recommend.

2. Eat local!

Try all the traditional dishes you can and don’t miss the legendary Alba White Truffle in the autumn. To help your gastronomic exploration, we can arrange a traditional Piemontese meal with wine pairing. It can be with a personal chef so you can dine in the privacy of your villa or at one of the area’s world-class ristorantes. Cooking classes are also a great way to learn about the Piemontese food culture – also available on-site or in a local chef’s kitchen

3. Take in the history!

Don’t miss the old Roman Imperial remains all over the region. In nearby Alba, we can arrange an archeological underground Alba tour that highlights two thousand years of history.

Everyone in the area has their favorite restaurants, so I encourage you to keep a few meals open and ask locals for their favorite dining experiences. For me, I always recommend Tota Virginia in the Barolo wine-making area of Serralunga d’Alba. The restaurant is special to me because during my internship there I fell in love with Italian cuisine and met the love of my life.

And, don’t miss the charming Medieval villages. My favorite is of course Serralunga. In addition to its charm and beauty, the wines and crus are some of the most revered in all of Barolo.

When I’m not attending to things at the villas, I am active in sports, so if you want some help arranging things like a round of golf, tennis, hiking, eBikes / cycling, or other activities, let me know! I also love to travel with my boyfriend, and of course, I love food — especially Italian food and wine.

I look forward to meeting you right here in the Barolo area!

Katariina