33-year old Carlo Marenda from Alba makes contact with the truffle world at a young age, when every late autumn, Aldo, a dear friend of his father, takes him on his first truffle hunts in the woods near his home.

This starts a passion which re-ignites when Carlo is 23, following his teenage years, a scooter, his first girlfriends and work. A colleague offers him the opportunity to use the truffle dog which had belonged to his late father.

Following a few complicated seasons, dedicated to familiarizing himself with the dog, getting to know the places and finding the right rhythms, in 2010 the meeting with the elderly truffle hunter Giuseppe Giamesio proves of fundamental importance.

Giuseppe, alias Notu, is a descendent of a family who has been well-known in the truffle world since the early 20^th century. “Notu” was one of the most particular truffle hunters of the Langhe who, initially, and a little distrustfully, tries to understand the young Carlo who, unlike those of his own age, takes delight in walking around the woods.

Having overcome this initial phase of distrust and study, the two become great friends and Carlo is often invited to Giuseppe’s home: the two engage in absorbing discussions and stories, questions and detailed explanations on the techniques, small tricks connected with the dogs and their training.

The elderly man transmits the ecologist culture of the truffle hunter to Carlo explaining that the woods must be cared for, the truffle-generating plants protected and that truffle hunting does not equate to easy money. Giuseppe was a familiar sight at truffle events and gatherings with a sign hanging around his neck, displaying texts on protecting and safeguarding the woods.

In early 2014 Giuseppe falls seriously ill with an incurable disease which leaves no chance of survival and forces one to a slow and agonizing death: he was used to spending his days in the vegetable garden or woods, but he was now bedridden and withdrawing into himself.

A few days before he dies, he calls Carlo to talk. In what could be seen as a last will and testament of the truffle hunter he leaves him his three dogs Mara, Emy and Buk, but not just the animals. Notu asks the young man to keep on pursuing his ideas and thoughts on the world of truffles and to commit himself to finding people with whom to share them and put them into practice.

This is how Save the Truffle was conceived: to develop and bring the idea to fruition of an eighty-year old man who, with the far-sightedness connected to his great passion, asks a young man and trusted friend to make his dream come true… thank you Giuseppe!