The Tuscan white truffle (Tuber magnatum Pico) is one of the rarest gastronomic experiences in Europe. It appears for roughly 8 weeks per year, between mid-October and mid-December. Its price in Florence in November 2025 averaged 4 800-7 200 € per kilogram for top quality. For our UHNW principals, the experience is not buying a truffle — it is hunting it, eating it the same evening, and understanding why the season matters.
The window — eight weeks, three regions, one dog
White truffle season opens officially in Tuscany around October 10-15 (variable each year depending on rainfall — too dry, season delayed; too wet, truffles waterlogged and worthless). It closes December 20-25. Inside that 8-week window, the best truffles are found between November 1 and December 1.
The three Tuscan regions worth hunting: San Miniato (between Florence and Pisa, the most famous, hosts the annual Mostra del Tartufo Bianco late November), Crete Senesi (south of Siena, smaller truffles but more aromatic), and Mugello (north of Florence, less commercial — preferred for serious UHNW hunts because there are no other tourists).
The dog matters more than the hunter. Lagotto Romagnolo is the canonical breed — bred specifically for truffle-hunting since the 16th century. A trained Lagotto worth 12 000-18 000 € can detect truffles 30-50 cm underground. Each hunter we work with has 2-4 dogs in rotation; a single dog cannot work more than 90 minutes without losing nose accuracy.
How FFGR Italia coordinates a private truffle hunt
The morning of the hunt: Mercedes V-Class FFGR Italia picks you up at your Florence hotel (Hotel Savoy, Four Seasons Firenze, Hotel Lungarno) at 7:30 AM. November in Tuscany means 8°C dawn, dewy fields — bring sturdy boots. We provide spare wellington boots in the V-Class if needed.
Transfer to the woodland: 45-90 minutes depending on region. We use Mugello for serious principals (no tourists, no truffle festival crowd), San Miniato for clients who want the famous name. The truffle hunter — typically Giuseppe Bonciolini (4th generation San Miniato hunter, English fluent) or Carlo Cocchi (Mugello specialist, German + Italian) — meets us at a discreet clearing. No signage, no parking lot.
The hunt itself: 90-150 minutes walking with the dog (usually Bea or Tosca, 5-7 year old Lagotto in their prime). The dog signals by digging frantically — the hunter then takes over with a small handheld trowel called a vanghetto, extracting the truffle without breaking it. For a good outing, 4-12 truffles ranging from 20g to 250g. For an exceptional outing, a single 400g+ truffle. Photo and video included if the principal wishes (the hunter's preference is to remain non-photographed, but the dog is happy to pose).
At the end of the hunt: the hunter weighs your finds on a calibrated portable scale, certifies them with his Carta del Tartufaio (truffle hunter's license, mandatory in Tuscany). You purchase what you found at market rate (4 800-7 200 €/kg in 2025 for white truffle, 800-1 500 €/kg for black). A typical 90-minute hunt yields 200-400g — total 1 000-3 000 € including the hunter's service fee.
Where to eat what you found — three restaurants
The point of the morning hunt is the evening dinner. Three restaurants in Tuscany are equipped (and willing) to prepare your truffle, in the order we recommend them.
**Enoteca Pinchiorri (Florence, 3 Michelin stars)**. The most prestigious. Annie Féolde (the Burgundian who founded it in 1972) takes private requests for clients who bring their own truffle — extra service fee 1 200 €, plus 35% surcharge on the wine pairing (their cellar is one of the deepest in Europe, 80 000 bottles). The truffle is shaved tableside on tagliolini al burro. Reservation 90 days minimum. Dress code: jacket required for men, no exception.
**Trattoria Sostanza (Florence, no Michelin star)**. The opposite philosophy. The legendary "Il Troia" — a 100-year-old trattoria — accepts your truffle without ceremony. The chef shaves it on their famous chicken breast cooked in butter. €120 cover + €40 service fee for the truffle preparation. The atmosphere is the antithesis of Pinchiorri — picnic tables, no menu, locals at the next table. Many UHNW principals prefer this. Reservation 30 days minimum.
**Castello di Vicarello (Maremma, 1 Michelin star, residential)**. Two hours south of Florence in the Maremma hills. The Baccheschi-Berti family residence-turned-hotel. The chef cooks in the principals' private dining room (8-12 covers max) — your truffle on a hand-rolled pici, or shaved on fritto misto with red mullet. The wine list is the family's own production plus three vintages of Sassicaia. If you stay the night (7 suites only), the morning hunt + dinner becomes a 24-hour experience. €280 cover + €60 service fee, wine separate. Reservation 60 days.
The complete itinerary — 3 days October-November
Day 1, arrival: Jet private Florence Peretola (or Pisa for larger aircraft). V-Class FFGR Italia airport pickup at apron. Hotel check-in Four Seasons Firenze or Hotel Savoy. Dinner at Cibrèo Caffè (no truffle yet — let yourself land). Early to bed.
Day 2, the hunt: 7:30 AM V-Class pickup. 90-minute drive to Mugello. 8:30-11:00 AM truffle hunt with Carlo Cocchi and Tosca the Lagotto. 11:30 AM return to Florence with your truffles in a small wooden box, packed in rice (the canonical preservation method, 5-7 day shelf life). Brief lunch break at Hotel Lungarno terrace, then 90-minute private guided tour of Uffizi (booked separately via FFGR Italia — see our /services/art-tours page). 8:30 PM dinner at Enoteca Pinchiorri OR Trattoria Sostanza (depending on principal's mood — we ask the morning of). Your truffle is served. The wine arrives. The 8 weeks of season are worth it for this moment.
Day 3, departure or extension: Two options. Departure — V-Class back to FBO, jet home. Extension — drive south to Castello di Vicarello (2h) for a second night, second truffle dinner, and a wine tour at Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia) in Bolgheri en route (we coordinate the dégustation via our /services/wine-tours desk).
What it costs — full transparency
A serious 3-day Tuscany truffle hunt mandate, all-in:
— Ground transport FFGR Italia V-Class 3 days dedicated: 4 500-6 800 €. — Truffle hunter + dog (Giuseppe Bonciolini or Carlo Cocchi): 1 800-2 800 €/day including the hunt and the dog. — Truffle purchase at market rate: 1 500-4 500 € for typical 300-600g yield. — Hotel Four Seasons Firenze suite 2 nights: 4 800-7 200 €. — Enoteca Pinchiorri dinner truffle service + wine pairing: 1 800-3 500 € for 2. — Trattoria Sostanza alternative: 320-450 € for 2. — Uffizi private guided tour 90 minutes: 2 800 €.
**Total all-in for 2 principals over 3 days, mid-range: 18 000-28 000 €**. For the same experience extended to 5 days with Castello di Vicarello and Sassicaia tasting: 32 000-48 000 €. For a couple plus parents (4 pax, 5 days): 55 000-75 000 €.
Wine separate. We do not mark up the truffle purchase nor the hunter's fee — those are paid directly. Our coordination fee is included in the ground transport rate.
Booking timeline — start in July for October
The 8-week white truffle window is too short to improvise. Carlo Cocchi (the Mugello hunter we work with most) takes 12 private mandates per season — by mid-August they are usually filled. Giuseppe Bonciolini (San Miniato) takes 18 mandates and is more flexible, but November Saturdays are gone by September 1.
Our recommendation: contact FFGR Italia between July 1 and August 15 for October-November dates. We assign your hunter, your dog, your restaurants, your jet slot at Florence FBO, and your hotel. Confirmation in 5 business days, deposit 30%, balance due 30 days pre-arrival.
For 2026, the window is October 15 - December 20. Peak dates (the second and third weeks of November) are typically booked by September 15. If you are reading this article after September, contact us anyway — we hold a 10% buffer for premium clients.
Бронирование
