Photo: Truffle Cart. Our own white truffle, weighing over 1 kg, sold at a Sotheby’s auction. Background edited for presentation.
A few thin shavings of white truffle can transform a plate of buttered pasta. Its aroma is the reason people seek it out. The limited harvest, the work of finding it and the care needed to bring it to the table help explain why it costs so much.
Occasionally, an exceptional find becomes international news. At the 2025 World Alba White Truffle Auction, a winning lot featuring 1,009 grams of white truffles reached €110,000. That result brings together two parts of the truffle story: the pleasure of eating a rare ingredient and the excitement of acquiring a remarkable specimen.
A Truffle Cart showpiece at Sotheby’s
The truffle pictured above is part of our own story: an exceptional white truffle weighing over 1 kg, sold by Truffle Cart at a Sotheby’s auction. We recall it as one of the largest white truffles ever sold in the United States. Its extraordinary size captures why these rare finds can become auction centerpieces.
Why the harvest is so precious
The prized white truffle, Tuber magnatum, grows underground in association with tree roots. It is found naturally in Italy and the Balkans, among other European locations. Hunters work with trained dogs to locate it by scent, then carefully lift it from the soil.
Weather helps determine how much reaches the market. Dry conditions can reduce the harvest, while restaurants and buyers continue looking for the best pieces. More demand than available supply puts pressure on prices. The hunt also takes knowledge and time: an order can be placed for tomorrow, but tomorrow’s discoveries cannot be guaranteed.
Once harvested, a white truffle needs prompt, careful handling. Its appeal depends on the aroma and condition it retains when it reaches the plate. That makes freshness part of its value.
Inside the auction
The auction at Grinzane Cavour Castle brings exceptional truffles to an international audience while raising money for charity. In November 2025, its final lot featured a rare group of three white truffles weighing 1,009 grams in total, found in Roero. A bidder in Hong Kong won the lot for €110,000.
The package also included large-format Barbaresco and Barolo wines and a 20-kilogram panettone. The bid therefore covered the whole lot, with charitable giving and competition adding to its appeal. The organizer reported €502,000 raised across the truffle auction.
An unusually large specimen has a presence that several small truffles cannot reproduce. It can become the centerpiece of a dinner, a gift or an event. That visual impact helps explain why exceptional pieces attract attention far beyond their weight.
Choosing a white truffle
For a restaurant or home cook, the useful question is what the truffle will bring to the meal. Several qualities matter together:
- Aroma and freshness. The truffle should have the character and condition you want when you plan to serve it.
- Size and shape. A large, well-shaped whole truffle suits tableside presentation. Smaller or irregular pieces can offer excellent aroma when appearance matters less.
- The current harvest. Availability changes through the season, and the selection offered this week may differ from the next.
At Truffle Cart, our white-truffle selection includes different grades and pack sizes. A 100-gram pack describes the total weight ordered; it does not necessarily mean one 100-gram truffle. If you want a particular whole piece for presentation, ask us to confirm its size, origin and availability.
Bring the aroma to the table
Keep the dish simple enough for the truffle to lead. Buttered pasta, eggs, risotto and mild cheeses are familiar partners. Shave white truffle thinly over the finished dish just before serving, and plan to enjoy it soon after delivery.
Choose the meal and serving date first. Then choose the truffle that fits. A smaller, aromatic piece can make a dinner memorable without the cost of an auction showpiece.
The next chapter at Alba
The 27th World Alba White Truffle Auction is scheduled for November 8, 2026, at Grinzane Cavour Castle. It will once again celebrate exceptional truffles and support charitable causes. For everyone inspired to enjoy white truffles this season, the same pleasure awaits on a much smaller scale: fresh shavings over a warm plate, shared at the table.
Explore Truffle Cart’s fresh white truffles, or ask our Trade Desk about a piece for your next dinner or restaurant service.