The prime tree planting time of November – March is now upon us. Traditionally, November to March are the best months to plant, as the trees are dormant and planting in the winter allows the truffley-roots plenty of time to settle in before mycorrhiza and root-growth starts again in spring.

The third annual Napa Truffle Festival is rapidly approaching and will again showcase the revered black winter Périgord truffle: Tuber melanosporum, while bringing together a unique gathering of leading truffle cultivation experts and scientists, special guests from the food and wine world, and internationally-renowned Michelin Star chefs to discuss, examine, probe, prepare, demonstrate and, finally, pair truffles with wines to feast upon for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Despite producing truffles on some very young trees this year, there are still many plantations out there that are well managed but are virgin territory for the truffle dogs. Some of these sites are in their 5th year and could well be producing truffles right now, but we need some trained dogs to help us find them.

Rapper Jay-Z recently spent an incredible €15,000 on three kilos of white truffles while on holiday in Italy. Will demand soar further thanks to such a ringing endorsement from the King of Bling himself? The rapper has a reputation for making, and breaking, other luxury brands. As far as we are concerned, anything that brings truffle awareness to the masses can only be a good thing.