Refreshing Arneis From an Italian Legend

Today’s Story: Bruno Giacosa

Bruno Giacosa was one of the most respected and legendary winemakers not only in Piedmont, Italy where he crafted some of the most highly regarded and traditionally made Barolo and Barbaresco, but throughout Italy and the world. At age 13, Bruno helped his father and grandfather in the cellar of their Langhe winery and joined the family business full-time two years later. Though Bruno never studied to become an enologist, his appreciation of traditionally made Barolo and Barbaresco spawned from this time with his family and instilled in him some of the most important practices he followed for his entire career until his death at the age of 88 in early 2018. Bruno was quite adept at selecting parcels and fruit for his wines, and always emphasized intentionally small grape yields, limiting treatments in the vineyards, traditional vinification methods, and allowing the wines to honestly display the terroir and typicity through minimal intervention. Historically, Bruno crafted his wines with fruit sourced/purchased from some of the greatest crus of Barolo and Barbaresco and it wasn’t until the early 1980s he purchased his own vineyards as estate-bottling rose in prominence. In 1982, Bruno purchased the Falletto di Serralunga d’Alba vineyard which became the source of arguably his greatest Barolos ever made, followed in near significance by his purchase of the Asili and Rabajá plots in Barbaresco in 1996. Today, the Bruno Giacosa estate is in the capable hands of his daughter Bruna alongside his longtime enologist Dante Scaglione and they continue Bruno’s winemaking philosophies while respecting traditional techniques.

Today’s Wine: 2017 Roero Arneis

100% Arneis; 14% ABV

The 2017 Arneis is transparent deep straw in color with golden hues. On the incredibly aromatic and somewhat earthy nose, the wine emits aromas of white peach, golden apple, stone fruit, lemon zest, grass, white florals (especially lily), saline minerality, and cream. Once in the mouth, the wine displays notes of pear, peach, dried pineapple, lemon, stone fruit, white and yellow florals, honey, beeswax, almond, white peppery spice, slate, and mineral. This is medium-bodied and bone-dry with vibrant medium acidity and a crisp mouthwatering finish. Definitely a bottle of wine for the beach.

Price: $26. Outstanding value and one of the more exciting white wines I’ve had lately. I highly recommend enjoying this on a hot summer’s day. Pair this with roasted chicken, light seafood, or creamy cheeses.