Tag Archives: arneis

Summer Wine 

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Summer came and went in Norway already, but here’s to hoping it makes a comeback soon so we can start drinking some summer wine! Disclaimer: you’re allowed to drink a so called “summer wine” anytime. Don’t let the rain and cold discourage you. I’m sure you can find an occasion to open an Arneis regardless of the weather.  

Speaking of Arneis, if you haven’t already tried the ones from Ghiomo, you definitely should! He likes Arneis so much, he makes two different ones! The Fussot is a more “everyday” white wine, while the Inprimis is more of a “food wine”. Don’t get me wrong, they both pair well with foods like fish, shellfish, salads and white meat. But if you’re looking for a wine to just sip on the terrace on a hot summer day, or on the couch while watching the newest Netflix flick, the Fussot is the wine to go for. 

While we’re on the white wines from Piemonte, I want to recommend the Le Strette Nascetta. Most of you have probably never heard of Nascetta, but that’s because there haven’t been that many around the past years. Thankfully both Elvio Cogno and Le Strette have continued to make this wine! It was long thought that this wine didn’t have any aging potential at all, but in 1993 Elvio Cogno opened a 1986 Nascetta with Valter Fissore and a journalist named Armando Gambera, and the 7 year old wine had help up nicely! I mean, it hadn’t aged for 50 years like a Bordeaux, but who knows, maybe it has potential to age way longer than 7 years!  

Another grape that quite recently made a sort of comeback is Timorasso. But although it has become popular recently, there are some who have been making Timorasso for a while already. If you’re ever in Tortona, give Elisa a call. She makes really good Timorasso, like the Derthona. And she’s very fun to visit!  

Now, I have to ask: did you know that Elena and Luca have started up a new winery and released 3 new wines?! No? Well, now you do! And yes, they are available in Norway! While I haven’t been to visit the new winery, I have tried the wines. Unsurprisingly, they are very good! The Barbera is super fresh and quite aromatic, and the Langhe Nebbiolo is fruity, balanced with a long finish. And the Dolcetto tastes just like a Dolcetto should taste and has hereby been added to the list of my favorite Dolcetto’s! 

Speaking of Dolcetto, Nadia Curto Dolcetto d’Alba and Cascina Fontana Dolcetto D’Alba are also high on my list of favorites. And while Dolcetto is my go-to Pizza Wine, it’s also perfect to enjoy on a warm summer day. Maybe while wearing Entoteca del Ponte’s “Make Dolcetto Great Again” t-shirt!  

If you’ve read this far, you’re clearly dedicated. So, the last three wines are suggested especially for you. Because you deserve only the best. That’s why I think you should try the La Vedetta Barbaresco. I also think you deserve some Champagne, so if you want to treat yourself, go for the Domaine Les Monts Fournois Valleé or Ouditette x Filles Les Sablonnières. The latter needs to be ordered via e-mail, by phone or in-store, but I have faith that you can manage. It’s worth it. I promise.  

And with that, I wish you a wonderful summer with lots of summer wine! 

summer wine

Piemontese White Wines

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Piemontese White Wines

There are quite a few white grape varieties being cultivated in Piemonte, but because of the popularity of Nebbiolo, many of them almost became extinct! Several of the white grapes only survived because a handful of winemakers decided to keep cultivating them. Here are some of my favorite Piemontese white wines.

Arneis

Arneis originates from Piemonte, and is most commonly found in the hills of Roero, although you can find it in other regions including Liguria, Sardinia, California and New Zealand. It has naturally low acidity and can easily get overripe. It’s also prone to powdery mildew. Arneis literally means “little rascal”, and it gets its name because it’s very difficult to cultivate.

Back in the day, Arneis was used to soften the tannins and harshness of Nebbiolo grape in the wines of Barolo. And as winemakers begun focusing on 100% Nebbiolo wines, the Arneis almost became extinct. By the 1970’s, only two winemakers were making Arneis: Vietti and Bruno Giacosa. Thankfully, that has changed in the recent years, and today you can find many good bottles of Arneis.

Nascetta

“Nas-Cetta” or “Anascetta” is another white Piemontese variety. The story of Nascetta is similar to that of the Arneis. As the popularity of Nebbiolo grew, rows of Nascetta were ripped out in favor of Nebbiolo. Nascetta was only kept alive by a handful of winemakers, like Elvio Cogno and Le Strette.

The story goes something like this: In 1993, Elvio Cogno and Valter Fissorre opened a 1986 Nascetta with a journalist named Armando Gambera, and they discovered that the 7 year old Nascetta had help up very well in the bottle. This was a pivotable moment for the local grape variety of Novello, and in 1994 Elvio Cogno released his first “Anas-Cetta”. And the rest is history! In 2002, Nascetta officially became a DOC and in 2010 it got it’s own appellation “Nascetta del Comune di Novello”.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay originated in Burgundy, France, but today you’ll find it in many corners of the world, including Piemonte. The grape itself is quite neutral, but is often associated with a variety of flavors derived from influences of oak and terroir. Chardonnay was often blended in with other grapes, like Favorita, but in Piemonte today it’s most common to find 100% Chardonnay.

Favorita

Favorita means “the favorite one”, a Piemontese white grape variety grown primarily in Piemonte and is widely planted on the left bank of the Tanaro river. It has long been a popular table wine Related to Liguria grapes Pigato and Vermentino. Has been a popular table wine. Pear notes, ability to age shorter than Arneis. Tend to ripen late and maintain fair amount of acidity. Used to be blended with Nebbiolo to soften harsh tannins, just like the many other white grape vairieties. Straw yellow, dry white wine, slightly bitter aftertaste. Pair with fish, shellfish, sushi.

3 of my favorite Piemontese white wines

3 Piemontese White Wines

Vietti Roero Arneis 2020

Beautiful citrus aromas with hints of warmer yellow stone fruit. Very fruity in the mouth as well, with a hint of honey.

Le Strette Nas-cëtta 2019

Beautiful nose with hints of yellow stone fruit and apple. A distinct taste of honey in the mouth. Good acidity.

Diego Morra Langhe Chardonnay 2020

Yellow stone fruit and citrus aromas on the nose. Quite full bodied with good length.

Mussel Linguine

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Mussel Linguine is a dish perfect for summer. Pair it with a nice glass of white wine and you’re good to go! It’s also fairly easy to make, and requires few ingredients.

Mussel Linguine paired with Ghiomo Langhe Arneis

What you need for Mussel Linguine

  • Mussels (1 nett)
  • 3-4 garlic cloves (sliced)
  • Chives
  • Parsley
  • Chili (optional)
  • Olive oil
  • Dry white wine (about 2 dl)
  • Pepper
  • Linguine (or other

How to make it

  1. Steam 3/4 of the mussels. You can use just water or water with some white wine. When these are done, strain them and separate the mussels from their shells. Lay aside to use later.
  2. Chop the chives and parsley so it’s ready to use later. Chop the chili as well if you’re using it.
  3. In a pot, add the olive oil and sliced garlic. Let it simmer on low/medium heat for about 10 minutes. Make sure the garlic does not burn. You can also add the chili here if you want.
  4. In another pot, boil water for the linguine. When the water boils, add the linguine. Simultaneously, increase the heat on the pot with the olive oil and garlic. Remember to stir.
  5. When you have about 5 minutes left, add the 2 dl of white wine to the olive oil and increase the hear again. When the wine is boiling, add the remaining 1/4 of the mussels. Let simmer/boil for about 5 minutes.
  6. Reduce heat on the mussels, add the 3/4 of the peeled mussels.
  7. When the linguine is cooked, strain it and add the pasta to the mussels. Make sure to save some of the pasta water in a cup.
  8. Add the chives, parsley and some pepper and serve!

Pro tip for the Mussel Linguine

Make sure to get a little of the “sauce” from the bottom of the pot into every serving! It’s easily the best part and if you serve the dish with some bread, you basically have a second course right there!

Why steam 3/4 of the mussels before?

This is mostly for the aesthetics, as well as convenience. By removing the shell from 3/4 of the mussels, your plate doesn’t just look less “crowded” but you also spend less time peeling the mussels from the shells why you eat. You don’t need to do this. You can steam them all at the same time in step 5.

Wines for your Valentine

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Want to impress your date on Valentine’s day? Or maybe you want to treat your significant other to something special? Perhaps you’re just getting drunk with your friends. Who cares? There’s always an opportunity to drink wine!

Here are my top choices for Valentine’s day:

Pierre Peters Cuvée de Reserve Grand Cru

At 379kr, this is my go to Champagne! Perfect for an aperitivo, a welcome drink or just because. And if you live in Oslo, it’s readily available in the local wine stores.

Agrapart Terroirs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

I am a blanc de blanc girl. 100%. It’s an excellent alternative to the Pierre Peters that won’t break the bank. With subtle bubbles, crisp fruit and long finish it’s easy one of my favorite Champagne’s these days!

Vietti Roero Arneis

This might be one of my favorite white wines from Piemonte. If you haven’t tried Arneis before, you should give it a go!

Citrus and stone fruit on the nose. Perfect contrast of sweet and sour in the mouth. Very good acidity and long finish.

Jean Marc Boillot Macon-Village

Are you a Chardonnay person? Or a white wine person? Then you’ve got to try this one. And it’s finally back in stock in many stores. So if you live in Oslo, Asker or Bærum, count yourself lucky!

Cascina Fontana Barbera

A killer Barbera available at a few local stores in Norway. Mario makes Barbera “The Mario Fontana way” and I love it. Cascina Fontana normally follows the “traditional” winemaking method, but not for the Barbera. Instead of big barrels, the barbera spends time in concrete tanks.

Favorite Italian Whites part 2

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Ca Brione, Nino Negri: I drank the Ca Brione for the first time in a tiny wine bar located in the beautiful town of Bellagio on Lago di Como. It was an instant favorite. Refreshing on a warm summer day, but really suits any season.

cabrione

Langhe Chardonnay, Cavallotto: Again, Cavallotto is one of my favorite producers, and in addition to his Pinner, his Langhe Chardonnay is very good! I prefer chardonnay less sweet and oaky, so a langhe chardonnay from Piemonte is just perfect for me!

Roero Arneis, Vietti: Slighly biased since I worked with them and they are my good friends, but I think this is one of the best whites from the Barolo region. Very fresh, earthy and easy to drink.

arneis