Roero red and white wines

• The Roero Territory

• Soil and Climate Characteristics

 

Roero is located in northwest Italy and is renowned for its diverse fruit orchards and high-quality wines. Its prime geographic position and favorable weather create ideal conditions for growing grapes that are both aromatic and highly prized today.

 

The soil here contrasts sharply with that of neighboring areas. It feels almost barren and sandy—a constant reminder that these hills once lay beneath the sea! Vines planted on this terrain yield grapes with a distinctly bold character.

 

Roero’s climate reflects its proximity to the Alps and the Tanaro River. Wide temperature swings between day and night help grapes ripen slowly, while the mineral-rich soil imparts unique qualities to the wines.

 

• How Roero Differs from the Langhe and Monferrato

 

Roero wines represent a true connoisseur’s delight. Nestled between the renowned red and white wines of the Langhe and those of the great Monferrato region, they showcase their well-defined personality—one that I at SlowDays know and love deeply.

BALDISSERO D’ALBA

 

About 13 hectares of vineyards. The area extends from the Rocche hills to the central strip of the appellation. The plots close to the Rocche—with their sandy, low-lime, and relatively dry soils—are perfect for Roero Arneis.

CANALE D’ALBA

Canale stands as the Roero’s capital, both for its vibrant atmosphere and the vast extent of its vineyards. Approximately 240 hectares are dedicated to vineyards and DOCG wine production. Its sandy soil, enriched with mineral components, proves ideal for creating complex, full-bodied Roero wines that age beautifully.

CASTAGNITO

Situated in the southeastern Roero, closer to the Tanaro River. Most of its vineyards focus on Arneis, with only a few hectares planted to Nebbiolo.

CASTELLINALDO

This municipality boasts 260 hectares of cultivated vines, with over 100 hectares under DOCG designation. Producers dedicate most of their vineyards to Arneis, with only a small portion reserved for Nebbiolo. You can easily explore Castellinaldo on foot, where flat stretches alternate with woodlands and vineyards. A picturesque castle in the town center sets the perfect atmosphere! Wines from here are fresh and mineral-driven—ideal for summer. Recently, Castellinaldo earned DOCG status for Barbera d’Alba, giving this wine significant boosas well.

CORNELIANO

Corneliano d’Alba covers about thirty hectares of vineyards. Here too, growers devote most of their land to Arneis, with only a small area planted to Nebbiolo. The Arneis white from this commune stands out for its distinctive salinity and intriguing character.

GOVONE

This municipality spans over 200 hectares of vineyards. Red wines—especially Barbera—predominate here, with only a small portion of vineyards holding DOCG status.

GUARENE

This small, iconic Roero municipality covers around twenty hectares of DOCG vineyards. Almost all of its plantings are dedicated to Arneis, yielding highly structured wines that age gracefully. The area also boasts numerous trails and scenic walks.

MAGLIANO ALFIERI

This commune holds fewer than ten hectares of DOCG vineyards. Growers split plantings between Arneis and Nebbiolo, producing wines with solid structure and an appealing touch of sweetness.

MONTÀ

Montà lies northwest of the Roero area and features around 100 hectares of vineyards. Growers plant over 70% Arneis and the remainder Nebbiolo. Its varied soils produce a fresh, elegant, and highly aromatic Arneis, while the red Roero from here impresses with rich layers of color, flavor, and aroma.

MONTALDO ROERO

It sits in the spectacular Rocche area that borders it. Just over 50 hectares of vineyards, mainly planted with Arneis. These Roero Arneis are fresh and elegant. The red Roero from here shows solid structure and ages gracefully.

MONTEU ROERO

Monteu features an extensive vineyard area, including some of the highest-altitude vines in the Roero. Spanning approximately 150 hectares, some parcels rise to 400 meters above sea level. Much of the subsoil remains relatively dry and sandy in places, a trait reflected in the distinctive Roero Arneis produced here. The red Roero is low in tannins. Overall, this commune offers a fascinating variety of wines, each with its character!

MONTICELLO D’ALBA

Monticello d’Alba has limited DOCG production, with around twenty hectares. Its soils already evoke the Langhe region. The Roero Arneis produced here is notable for its body and flavor.

PIOBESI

Piobesi—often considered the most “Albese” of the Roero communes—features gently sloping hills and less sandy soils. With approximately fifty hectares under vine, it yields Roero Arneis with a solid body, a characteristic that Roero is known for, particularly its signature aromatic profile.

POCAPAGLIA

Pocapaglia’s vineyards lie primarily in its southern area on sandy, low-limestone soils. With around ten hectares under vine—primarily Roero Arneis—it produces elegant, fresh wines.

PRIOCCA

Priocca lies in the northeastern Roero area. Its soils yield wines with robust alcohol levels and a particularly intense aroma. The commune dedicates about 130 hectares to vineyards, with Barbera strongly represented. Winemakers focus primarily on Arneis, complemented by smaller quantities of Roero.

SANTA VITTORIA D’ALBA

This commune lies in the southern Roero, with its vineyards planted in the commune’s southern reaches. The vineyards span approximately twenty hectares, almost entirely devoted to Arneis.

SANTO STEFANO ROERO

This commune features a varied landscape rich in woodlands. Around fifty hectares of vineyards hold DOCG status, with twenty hectares planted to Nebbiolo. The Roero Arneis here is saline and elegant, while the red Roero shows solid structure and intense flavor.

SOMMARIVA PERNO

Sommariva Perno is the commune with the smallest vineyard area, covering approximately five hectares, which is almost entirely planted with Arneis.

VEZZA D’ALBA

Vezza d’Alba hosts extensive vineyards—around 200 hectares—mostly dedicated to Roero Arneis. Its calcareous, clay-rich soils yield wines with notable freshness, structure, and complexity. Numerous producers here offer a wide range of distinctive labels.

Roero Red Wines.

The red wines of the Roero area are mainly produced from the Nebbiolo grape of Piedmont. Grapes that are the mother of powerful and great wines. In the Roero, an excellent wine has declined, with a special note that distinguishes it from its more renowned brothers in the Langhe.

The Roero wine area in Piedmont is renowned for its red wines, which are made from Nebbiolo, the region’s most famous grape variety. Roero reds have a deep ruby red color and aromas of ripe fruit. Flavors are generally dry, with soft tannins and good acidity. Roero red wines pair perfectly with red meat dishes, aged cheeses, and mushroom dishes.

In addition to the most significant production of Roero, other red wines are also produced in the Roero area. Although Nebbiolo is the primary grape variety used for producing Roero red wines, different varieties, such as Barbera, Bonarda, and Freisa, are also found. Roero Rosso is a wine made from pure Nebbiolo grapes, and Roero Rosso Riserva is a wine aged for at least one year in oak barrels and at least three months in the bottle. An excellent rosé is also produced from Roero.

• ROERO

  produced in the Roero area, has managed to achieve fame and prestige on par with other great reds in the region. Making itself as valid and appreciated as Barolo and Barbaresco. Unlike these wines, which, according to production regulations, are made with pure Nebbiolo, Roero Rosso wine can be made with at least 95 percent Nebbiolo and the remainder with red grapes authorized in the area. Despite the specification that calls for the use of other varieties, Roero Rosso is, in most cases, produced with pure Nebbiolo. The Nebbiolo grape is the most widely cultivated in Piedmont and is also the origin of other famous wines in other regions. I would say that this is also a SLOW wine. A wine that accompanies dishes with a long cooking time, that likes to be understood and savored.

• BARBERA

Barbera is another popular red grape variety in Roero, although recognition is relatively recent. As of August 2021, Barbera d’Alba also has a sub-zone in Roero, the Castellinaldo appellation.

“The Castellinaldo sub-area extends to the orographic left of the Tanaro River over the territory of six municipalities where the soils are looser and the sandy component is greater than in the other municipalities where Barbera d’Alba is produced.”

Barbera wines are prized for their fruity character, lively acidity, and soft tannins.

Roero white wines: not just fruit

The Roero, unlike the Langhe, where practically every inch of land is planted with vines, sees the presence of forests and orchards. In its landscape, one can also find very distinctive geological formations, known as the Rocche.

The soil is very sandy, which is why Roero has several types of wine from the Langhe.

Roero is also renowned for producing high-quality white wines, primarily based on the native Arneis grape variety, specifically the Roero Arneis, a dry white wine classified as a DOCG. Then, less well-known and less widespread, Roero Bianco is another type of white wine produced in the area, which can be made from pure Arneis grapes or blended with other white varieties, such as Moscato, Favorita, and Chardonnay. Despite what people say about white wines for aging, we are increasingly finding wines made from full-bodied and important Arneis grapes that age well for a couple of years. They get even better character from it.

In general, Roero white wines are fresh and fruity, making them perfect for pairing with fish dishes, fresh cheeses, and light meals. The Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin (DOCG) guarantees the quality and origin of the wines produced, and appreciates them for their freshness and elegance.

• ROERO ARNEIS

Roero Arneis wine is one of the main wines of Roero and is produced in 19 municipalities. Did you know that in Piedmontese, the term “Arneis” refers to an extroverted, cheerful, and friendly person? Roero Arneis wine is a white, dry, and very fragrant wine, although it is not typically classified as an aromatic wine. It has a bouquet of scents, including sage, lime, flowers, grass, and white-fleshed fruit. For a white, it has a relatively high alcohol content (between 12.5% and 14% vol.), making it excellent with stuffed pasta, vegetable dishes, and fish. Piedmontese Roero Arneis white wine is also popular for aperitifs accompanied by a board of cold cuts and cheeses…

• FAVORITA

In the Roero, white wines are very special and appreciated. Just think that this wine was called Favorita precisely because it was the favorite white grape of King Victor Emmanuel II. The same grape in Liguria is known as Vermentino and Pigato, although it will exhibit peculiar characteristics in the glass, given its association with Roero wines.

Some wineries from my selection

 

Porello Vini:

A family business that sparked a passion for wine in the early 1900s. First, only as winemakers, and then, since 1930, also as wine producers. They currently produce about 120,000 bottles of wine from 15 hectares of vineyards. Four red wines – Barbera, Nebbiolo, and Roethreeo – and three white wines – Arneis and Favorita, plus one dessert rosé wine.

Farm with winery in Canale (Cn)

Pace vini:

1934 is the year of its beginning. Developed from generation to generation until the turning point that saw it take the lead in wine production in 1996. The vineyards are all treated with the utmost care and attention in respect of our land. The use of chemicals is kept to a minimum. Native grape varieties of Barbera, Nebbiolo, Arneis, Favorita, and Chardonnay. Production of red and white wines and a brut to taste!

Cantina in Canale (CN) – pacevini

Cantina Negro:

The Negro family owns one of the best-known farms in the Roero. A cadastral register, found in an old archive in the municipality of Monteu Roero, tells a story of more than 300 years of presence in the area.

The winery has approximately 70 hectares of vineyards, located in the Roero area, as well as in Barolo and Barbaresco. Their production spans many labels, and they also showcase several Riserva bottles that will amaze you.

Monteu Roero winery location (CN) angelonegro

Matteo Correggia,

A family farm is the result of an evolution that never stops. Always new goals in the field of organic, marketing, and awareness of the strength of the family and the territory.

Wines such as Roero, Roero Riserva, Barbera, and Brachetto will take you on a journey through the history of this family, which has intertwined its destiny with that of the Barolo Boys and Carlin Petrini, in memory of a visionary whose very name was Matteo Correggia.

Canale (CN) – matteocorreggia.com

Tenuta Carretta:

A historic winery, its existence dates back to at least 1467. A restaurant and a charming hotel also flank the winery—an elegant winery in a lovely location.

Vineyards are cared for using sustainable methods and manual harvesting techniques. In the bottle comes the balance and harmony of all the activities that preceded it.

Tenuta Carretta also has vineyards in the Barolo area, with excellent crus such as Cannubi. We also find among its productions an excellent Barbaresco. In the Roero area, the famous Roero Arneis Cayega stands out, known and appreciated on international tables.

Winery main office in Piobesi d’Alba (CN)  TenutaCarretta