Sassy News
Arneis, an Italian White Wine Variety
As the wine-aware public grows within Australia so does their interest in alternate varieties, Arneis is one of these varieties. Australia is the biggest grower of Arneis outside Italy accounting for 13% of world production. The main locations of plantings are in the cool climate wine area such as Orange, Adelaide Hills, King Valley, Southern Highlands, etc
Arneis( pronounced arr- naze )sometimes known as Nebbiolo Bianco it is a very old white grape variety found NW Italy in Piedmont. Records going back to the 1470 first mentioned. In the 1800s Arneis was used to blend and soften the tannins of the locally grown red variety, Nebbiolo. It was also planted in the nebbiolo vineyard every second row to attract birds away from nebbiolo, the more valued red grape. As the nebbiolo winemaking skills improved so the need for Arneis planting declined. Plantings were reduced to 2 vineyards only post WW2 where, luckily it was saved from certain fate by 2 concerned Italian grape growers resulting in an active replanting programme resulting in Arneis white table wine production.
The name Arneis means "little rascal", or "difficult one" referring to its history in the vineyard. Improved clones have alleviated these problems as well as improved the flavor. For the traveller to Italy Arneis would be found as the table wine in any local cafes, pizzerias and restaurants in Piedmont, NW Italy. It is drunk fresh and young with meals and rarely aged.
Arneis can have aromas of almonds and peaches and flavours of ripe pears, white grapefruit, citrus with a hint of herbs and anise.
Depending upon how it was made it can be fresh and fruitful or austere and lean. It can be matched with white meats, fish, veal, vegetarian dishes and cheeses or just on its own.
Sassy Wines has made Arneis since 2012. We have embraced Arneis and made it into 3 different styles, sparkling wine, still table wine, a unique dessert wine. It has been and continues to be a fascinating journey of discovery for Sassy and a pleasure to offer an alternative wine to the drinking public.
