Roero Arneis, 2018. Marco Porello

The vineyards of the Porello farmhouse in Piedmonte go back to the beginning of last century. Original owner Cesare Porello began transforming the property into a serious wine operation in the 1930's and following World War II. His sons Riccardo and Ettore dedicated themselves to working in the vineyards and forged the Porello legacy. Cesare's grandson Marco has run the operation since 1994, after studying and training in vineyards in Bordeaux and Tuscany. Today, Porello is known internationally for being a historic producer of excellent Arneis. This quality is the result of expert vineyard work and maximum attention to details using traditional methods.

In the local dialect, the name Arneis means 'rascal' or 'rogue', as the grape was rather erratic and difficult to cultivate since it ripens faster than Nebbiolo. Today, Arneis is considered one of the great white wines of Piemonte, rivaling Chardonnay. Arneis' renaissance is due, in part, to the efforts of one winemaker, Alfredo Currado of the Vietti family, who brought it back from scarcity. Today, it is most commonly found in the hills of the Roero, northwest of Alba, where it is part of the white DOCG wines of Roero and DOC wines in Langhe.

Roero Arneis is a straw-colored white wine, with a delicate, fresh, and herbaceous fragrance, presenting a floral and fruity nose with hints of almond. The taste is harmonious with a slight bitterness in the aftertaste. It is crisp and floral with a dry and full bodied palate, notes of pears and apricots, leading to a juicy white fruit and fresh citrus fruit profile. Serve with grilled shrimp skewers, or chilled appetizers, such as crudites with aioli, a light soup, or fresh vegetable salad.

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