Arneis
The arneis grape is a white variety from the region of Italian Piedmont. In Piedmontese, arneis means ‘little rascal’ due to its difficulty in cultivation.
It is a fresh variety with prominent floral aromas. It is used to produce straw-colored white wines with mineral, citrus, yellow fruit aromas, and elegant vegetal notes. These are fresh wines with very pleasant aromaticity. Some of the highest-quality arneis vineyards allow for production with lees aging or in wood, resulting in wines of greater complexity. Notably, some producers make a late-harvest wine with arneis, known as passito.
It is used to produce wines under the D.O.C.G Roero and to make whites under the D.O.C. Langhe. Outside Piedmont, the grape can be found in Liguria and the Italian island of Sardinia. Internationally, arneis is grown in various parts of the U.S. and has been cultivated at times in Australian and New Zealand regions.
Weaknesses
The arneis grape can be quite difficult to cultivate. Additionally, it is prone to mildew. The vineyard usually produces few shoots and has a low yield.
