White grape
Arneis
A light, dry white from Piedmont, usually unoaked and made to drink young.
At a glance
- Pear
- White blossom
- Bitter almond
- Sweetness
- dry
- Body
- light to medium
Recognize it
Light to medium-bodied and soft in texture, with a faint bitter almond note on the finish.
Detail
Arneis is grown mainly in Roero, on the sandy hills north of Alba in Piedmont. It is productive and can lose acidity as it ripens, so picking date matters. Once commonly blended rather than named on the label, it was revived as a varietal white and is now closely associated with Roero Arneis.
Similar grapes
Garganega
Similar medium body and an almond-like finish.
Difference Arneis is usually more perfumed and pear-driven; Garganega leans more toward yellow apple and white flowers.