Roero

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The Roero territory extends along the left bank of the Tanaro river and is characterized by the formation of the rocky escarpments (rocche) linked to the geological phenomenon known as the 'capture of the Tanaro,' a change in the river's course caused by movement of the earth's crust.
• The soils derive from the dismantling and mixing of alternating layers of sands, clays, and limestone deposited on the crystalline floor of an ancient inland sea later known as the Golfo Padano.
• The vineyards are situated on hillside terrain; for red wines, the exposure is oriented to the south, excluding north-facing slopes, while for white wines a northerly exposure is also permitted.
• Sparkling wines made from Arneis are delicate, fruity, and fresh, with good acidity favoured by the diurnal temperature variation and by the positioning of vineyards oriented toward cooler exposures.

• The Arneis variety has been cultivated on the hills of the Roero since the fifteenth century, and the origin of its name is generally attributed to the local tradition of likening the character of this white wine to the dialect term for a person of difficult temperament.
• The steep and rugged slopes of the Roero have required growers to develop, over time, the skills and expertise needed for the optimal management of vineyard operations through to harvest.

• Red wines made from Nebbiolo display a bright, vivid ruby colour that with time acquires garnet hues, with aromas of cherry, marasca cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and blackcurrant.
• White wines made from Arneis can evoke white flowers or fresh fruits such as apple, peach, or hazelnut, while the sparkling wines are delicate, fruity, fresh, and show good acidity.
• With maturation and aging, including in wood, the red wines become elegant, with velvety tannins, spice notes, and a colour tending toward garnet, while the whites retain fresh, fruity characteristics.
• The sparkling wines present on the nose notes of yeast, bread crust, and vanilla, and are produced in styles ranging from brut nature to sweet.

• Where sands predominate, the wines tend to be fresh, elegant, and delicately perfumed, while the influence of clay affects colour and limestone contributes to aromatic finesse.
• Arneis grapes benefit from the drought-prone sandstone soils of the Roero — soft, permeable terrains in which sandy layers are interspersed with marls — thanks to which the wines develop subtle, elegant aromas.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Italy

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-IT-A1261
• Official trade body site — Consorzio Tutela Roero