Roero Arneis 2020

Filippo Gallino Roero Arneis 2020 is a classic expression of Piedmont’s indigenous Arneis grape, produced in the hills around Canale in the Roero. The vineyards are planted on the region’s characteristic light-coloured sandy and clay-rich soils, of marine origin, which contribute both aromatic finesse and the distinctive mineral character of Roero Arneis. Gallino has a particularly long history with the variety: the estate began bottling Roero Arneis as early as 1972, helping to revive what was then a relatively forgotten Piedmontese grape.

The 2020 offers an elegant, fresh bouquet of citrus, white peach and tropical fruit, with delicate notes of chamomile and acacia blossom. On the palate it is dry, crisp and beautifully balanced, combining juicy orchard and citrus fruit with lively acidity, a distinctly saline and mineral character, and an unusually persistent finish. The sandy Roero terroir gives the wine a certain lightness and aromatic lift, while the mineral structure prevents it from becoming merely fruity or straightforward.

The wine is made traditionally in white: the grapes are softly pressed after separation from the skins, followed by temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless-steel tanks and maturation in steel, preserving the purity and freshness of the Arneis. At around six years of age, the 2020 should now show a particularly attractive combination of citrus freshness, ripe peach, floral notes and developing mineral complexity. A versatile and highly gastronomic Piedmontese white, it works beautifully with seafood, fish, white meats, light pasta dishes, antipasti and vitello tonnato, while its saline finish makes it especially appealing alongside food.