In Conversation with Alf Tumble
In Conversation with Alf Tumble
Piemonte, in both glass and wardrobe.
Follow a day with Alf Tumble, where wines from Piemonte meet fabrics woven in the same region.
Wine and tailoring may seem like two separate worlds, but they share much. The quality of the raw material, respect for origin and the experience of the craftsman are all essential. It is about understanding nuance, recognising differences and knowing when the details define the whole.
Alf is a wine writer, sommelier and lecturer. He has published several books on wine and, since 2013, has written for Dagens Nyheter every other week. We join him on an ordinary day that begins at home, at the kitchen table, where he tastes and assesses the first wines of the day. From there, the day continues to his private wine cellar and ends with a glass at one of his favourite wine bars.
One region Alf keeps returning to is Piemonte in northern Italy, and not least Nebbiolo, the grape behind some of the region’s most distinctive wines. Here, origin, soil, climate and craftsmanship all play a decisive role in the final result.
Piemonte also holds a special significance for Oscar Jacobson. The region is home to several mills we have worked with for many years, including Loro Piana, Cerruti and Lanificio di Pray. It is a place with a textile tradition where knowledge of wool, weaving and finishing has been passed down and developed over generations.
At the Kitchen Table
The day begins with a glass of Malvirà Langhe Nebbiolo from 2021. A wine that is already beginning to show notes of maturity and offers a great expression of Nebbiolo for its price. Perfect with a houndstooth blazer in a wool and cashmere fabric from Lanificio di Pray, whose fabric production is based in Biella, Piemonte.
In the Wine Cellar
Vite Colte Roero Arneis Villata 2025 is a fresh and mineral expression of the local Arneis grape, which is becoming increasingly popular in Piemonte. Best served cellar-cool, alongside a double-breasted blazer in brushed virgin wool and cashmere from the fabric producer Lanificio Colombo.
At Grus Grus
Giovanni Canonica’s Barolo Paiagallo is one of the region’s most sought-after single-vineyard wines. Canonica works by hand and makes wine according to traditional methods. A fantastic expression of classic Barolo that ages beautifully. Pair it with a double-breasted suit with slightly sloping shoulders and wider trousers, crafted in Super 110’s wool from Lanificio Cerruti in the Biella district of Piemonte.
