Alessandro Locatelli’s mother is an artist, an entrepreneur, a member of the national women’s association “Donne Del Vino” and has been promoting the culture of Langhe and Roero all over the world for thirty years.

She was born in Santena, near Turin, into an ancient Piedmontese family. Her mother, Valeria Costamagna, was a famous opera singer, pianist and painter. Claudia inherited her talent from her mother.
She started painting when she was very young – her first personal exhibition was held in Torino in 1960, featured by art critic Adalberto Rossi.
Her main subjects are from nature: “Painting tells about nature – a tree, a row of vines, a field […] Painting expresses love for my own roots, staying with them and finding my own identity.”

She has received a plethora of prestigious awards, such as the Concorso Nazionale Città di Parma, the international Piccolo Formato di Asti and the Selezione della Biennale di Parigi.

Eclectic, versatile Claudia Ferraresi expresses her talent in several aspects of culture. She created a cultural association in 1975 – the Ca dj’Amis or the Friends’ House – that has been fostering a more complete interpretation of Piedmont with its local art and history, linguistic and ethnic minorities, food and wine, typical products as a resource for tourism.
Since the mid 1980s Claudia Ferraresi has organised “Le Tavole della Cultura”, A Table of Culture, a number of events on the themes of gastronomy and wine – conferences, books and essays (like the series “Cibo di carta”, Paper Food, or “Libri da gustare”, Books for Enjoyment, which is a yearly selection of twenty books on food and wine).

Claudia created also I Ristoranti della Tavolozza in 1990 – a group of upmarket restaurants who have engaged in food education and organised events aimed at the public, schools and food enthusiasts.

In 2005 she opened “Libri da gustare”, a theme library with a large collection of books and magazines on local gastronomy, wines and folklore.
“Libri da gustare” is also the name of a Festival of Theme Books devoted to food, wine, and local traditions featuring a book market and a tasting area with typical local products of superior quality.