Region: Piemonte
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Roero DOCG, Langhe DOC
Established: Varietal 95% Arneis with up to 5% of other local white grapes; approximately 800 hectares and 560,000 cases of Arneis and Nebbiolo, primarily.
Primary Grape Varieties: Varietal Arneis - 95% Minimum in White, Riserva, and Spumante. Spumante can be at any sweetness level from brut nature to dolce. Aging is 4 months for Bianco, 16 months for Riserva
Pairs with: Pasta with light herbs or pesto, Prosciutto and melon, lightly grilled seafood, Caesar salad, antipasto, goat cheese
Characteristics: Arneis is a pale, lemon=colored wine on the lower end of acidity for a white wine. Typically low to moderate acidity, the wines remain fresh and lively with notes of White flowers, chamomile, peach, pear, apricot, citrus, almond. The wine can oxidize easily and is not intended for aging.
Price: $+
Serve: Chilled
Arneis is a white wine that is cultivated and produced in Piemonte and the better versions are borne of the Roero region, just to the north of the town of Alba and on the northern side of the Tenaro River. The wines are produced with 95% Arneis in both still and spumante versions. Interestingly enough, the only Arneis Sparkling wine I have had was in the United States but I drank the wine every single day I was in Piemonte. Arneis is one of the most food friendly, refreshing and approachable wines in Piemonte.
Roero Arneis wines are very popular locally and are a common wine with antipasti. The variety was nearly extinct about 50 years ago but has worked its way back to Icon status in Piemonte. Ceretto is the key winery that focused on reviving Arneis and gets credit for releasing the Blangé wines of the 1980's. Ceretto wines, especially the Blangé, resulted in expanded plantings and a strong return.
The wine grows in an erect fashion and is often referred to as Nebbiolo Bianco as it can appear very similar in the vineyard. The grape is difficult to grow and can have poor yields. It is susceptible to disease and drought and is not particularly good at holding onto acidity. Careful canopy management and harvest date selection is key to these wines.
The wine is dry and not outwardly fruity. Arneis ia also mildly acidic, low in alcohol and slight to medium body. The flavors are somewhat floral of dried flowers and a backbone of citrus. The balance of these wines and the round nature of their structure went so well with the local food. If a waiters brings a glass with a plate of Vitello Tonnato, it is a match made in heaven. .
The wine is great with appetizers and fish meals or just having a conversation at the table. The real reason I fell in love with the wine was the way it fits into the culture and reminds me of how great the food and wine quality of Italy really is. The wine can be found in the US and a bottle is normally less than $20.
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Roero DOCG, Langhe DOC
Established: Varietal 95% Arneis with up to 5% of other local white grapes; approximately 800 hectares and 560,000 cases of Arneis and Nebbiolo, primarily.
Primary Grape Varieties: Varietal Arneis - 95% Minimum in White, Riserva, and Spumante. Spumante can be at any sweetness level from brut nature to dolce. Aging is 4 months for Bianco, 16 months for Riserva
Pairs with: Pasta with light herbs or pesto, Prosciutto and melon, lightly grilled seafood, Caesar salad, antipasto, goat cheese
Characteristics: Arneis is a pale, lemon=colored wine on the lower end of acidity for a white wine. Typically low to moderate acidity, the wines remain fresh and lively with notes of White flowers, chamomile, peach, pear, apricot, citrus, almond. The wine can oxidize easily and is not intended for aging.
Price: $+
Serve: Chilled
Arneis is a white wine that is cultivated and produced in Piemonte and the better versions are borne of the Roero region, just to the north of the town of Alba and on the northern side of the Tenaro River. The wines are produced with 95% Arneis in both still and spumante versions. Interestingly enough, the only Arneis Sparkling wine I have had was in the United States but I drank the wine every single day I was in Piemonte. Arneis is one of the most food friendly, refreshing and approachable wines in Piemonte.
Roero Arneis wines are very popular locally and are a common wine with antipasti. The variety was nearly extinct about 50 years ago but has worked its way back to Icon status in Piemonte. Ceretto is the key winery that focused on reviving Arneis and gets credit for releasing the Blangé wines of the 1980's. Ceretto wines, especially the Blangé, resulted in expanded plantings and a strong return.
The wine grows in an erect fashion and is often referred to as Nebbiolo Bianco as it can appear very similar in the vineyard. The grape is difficult to grow and can have poor yields. It is susceptible to disease and drought and is not particularly good at holding onto acidity. Careful canopy management and harvest date selection is key to these wines.
The wine is dry and not outwardly fruity. Arneis ia also mildly acidic, low in alcohol and slight to medium body. The flavors are somewhat floral of dried flowers and a backbone of citrus. The balance of these wines and the round nature of their structure went so well with the local food. If a waiters brings a glass with a plate of Vitello Tonnato, it is a match made in heaven. .
The wine is great with appetizers and fish meals or just having a conversation at the table. The real reason I fell in love with the wine was the way it fits into the culture and reminds me of how great the food and wine quality of Italy really is. The wine can be found in the US and a bottle is normally less than $20.
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