A refreshing UK exclusive organic wine from Roero. Winner of the prestigious Three Glasses award

Each year only around two thousand wines in the whole of Italy win Gambero Rosso’s “Tree Glasses” award, and this is one of them. It’s an excellent example of Arneis: elegant and refreshing, with aromas of elderflower, jasmine and apricot. This white wine comes from the hills in Roero, a prominent winemaking area in Piedmont straight across the river from the legendary Barolo zone.

Arneis is one of Piedmont’s indigenous grapes, and it’s used to make delicately fragranced wines. The aromas of this wine are elegant rather than strong and flashy, ensuring it can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a wide variety of vegetarian, fish and Asian-inspired dishes.

Malvirà is a sustainable, 100% organic winery, owned by the Damonte family. Roberto Damonte says “the secret for making good wine is loving and respecting the land where you live, not overusing chemicals, and not pushing the vines to over-production”. During our visit, we were thoroughly impressed with Roberto’s cellar. Nested deep underground, it is heated and cooled by geothermal energy and is naturally carbon neutral.

Tasting notes: Pale yellow colour. Elegant aromas of elderflower, jasmine, peach, orange peel and yellow apple, underpinned by notes of dried wild flowers and apricot stone. On the palate, this wine is dry and medium-bodied, with medium alcohol. It’s very refreshing, with high acidity balanced by the white flower and stone fruit flavours.

Ageing potential: 5 years

Awards: Three Glasses (Tre Bicchieri) by Gambero Rosso, 2020 (2018 vintage)