Silvia Martini - Italy

Nestled in the Langhe foothills, just down the road from Barolo producer Aldo Clerico, Silvia Martini farms one of the most iconic crops of Piedmont, aside from wine that is: Hazelnuts.

While she may have started out her company just farming and tending hazelnut groves, she soon discovered a passion for working with the hazelnuts themselves, turning them into delicious treats. She runs not only a farm, but a storefront, pastry shop, and full laboratory to turn her hazelnuts into creams (like artisan versions of Nutella), candies, pastas and sauces, and so much more.

A true entrepreneur, she also hosts hazelnut tasting workshops and offers pastry classes with Italian masters, all from her kitchen in Monchiero, Italy. She works exclusively with the Nocciola Trilobata, or a special kind of hazelnut that is protected under government law as an IGP.

Silvia believes in preserving her natural groves, and farms organically and following regenerative agricultural techniques.