Roero regio is boosting its wines with a unique action for free when buying wines from Roero

Finally, the strip closest to the River Tanaro is characterised by cold soils, with a presence of clay mixed with chalky banks, and by Marne di S. Agata Fossili, i.e. more compact soils, similar to those of the Langa.

LOCATION

The landscape of the Roero is characterised by a series of hills which, starting from the evocative rupture of the Rocche, in an uninterrupted up and downward movement, reach the river Tanaro, where magnificent castles and splendid vineyards stand out. At a fast pace, the wild beauty of the Rocche alternates with orderly vineyards, forests and orchards.

Only the vineyards on the hills - dotted with the evocative ciabòt (once shelters for moments of peace) - are part of the controlled and guaranteed designation of origin "Roero". They are usually arranged in a girapoggio or ritocchino pattern and are at altitudes of up to 400 m, i.e. those areas where the vine yields the best results.

As Luciano Bertello says in "Finestre sul Roero - la vigna": "hills and hills that resemble a single vineyard; vineyards interspersed with pleasant orchards; but also border vineyards, almost hanging over the Rocche or bordering the forest. A hillside viticulture with a centuries-old tradition that bears witness to the viticultural vocation of these beautiful and varied hills on the left bank of the Tanaro in the Alba area".

ROERO IN ANCIENT TIMES

In Piedmont, there are traces of trade, consumption and production of wine since the 7th century B.C., as evidenced by the discovery of Etruscan wine amphorae and grape seeds from cultivated vines.

Wine growing therefore developed in the Ruhr region before the arrival of the Romans, since the presence of the Ligurians, probably thanks to the influence of the Etruscans. However, as in all of continental Europe, it was the Roman world that established and implemented efficient and systematic viticulture. The crisis of the Roman Empire and the subsequent invasions led to the abandonment of viticulture in favour of crops that were more useful for subsistence. Only the monastic orders continued to cultivate the vine.

From the 11th century onwards, viticulture began to expand again, in particular through the development of the alteno, soils where different types of cultivation were present and where the vine was supported and "held high", as in ancient times, on living supports, i.e. maple or elm shoots. Evidence of this are the many laws passed in the following centuries to protect and regulate viticulture, the municipal registers showing the areas under vines and, in the case of land reserved exclusively for viticulture, the emergence of place names referring to the vine or vines. With the arrival of the Savoyards between the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th centuries, a phase of consolidation of wine production began, which continued uninterrupted until the 19th century.

The 'American' diseases, in particular phylloxera, which ravaged the whole continent from the second half of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, profoundly changed viticulture and cultivation methods, but had no particular impact on the wine-growing industry in Roero. On the contrary, they contributed to a certain extent to the "selection" of the most suitable areas, especially those most suitable for growing Nebbiolo.

CLIMATE

From a climatic point of view, the Roero is considered a semi-arid zone. In fact, the Roero hills are almost completely devoid of water, as the thin marl layers interspersed with the sandy layers provide only temporary water reserves.

Average rainfall ranges from 650 to 720 millimetres per year (i.e. the area with the lowest rainfall in the whole of southern Piedmont), with some years between 450 and 500, half the national average. Most rain falls from October to January, and is fundamental to the increase in subsoil reserves, which are necessary for the vegetative development of the vines in May and June). The winter snowfall is also an important water supply for the vineyards.

It should be noted that the presence of the Maritime Alps (Monviso in particular) leads to very wide temperature variations, with the risk of thunderstorms and hailstorms.

What were the weather conditions of the Roero Riserva 2016?

The winter was dry and snowless. From the end of April to the whole month of May there were significant rain showers, followed by a brilliant summer, with a large temperature difference, warm during the day and below 20°C at night, until the end of August. The harvest was long and very classic, from the end of August to the end of September for the Arneis, from 10 to 22 October for the Nebbiolo. The year was very dry (about 340 mm. of rain). By comparison, in Serralunga d'Alba about 600 mm. of rain fell, yielding Arneis with surprising acidity and at the same time a remarkable aromatic richness and pulp. The only minor problem was an increase in alcohol during the first 15 days of September, which were warmer than those of August. However, the fear of obtaining overly alcoholic Roero wines was refuted: the alcohol content was average, and the 2016 Roero wines are characterised by an excellent balance with important aromas and an excellent structure.

What weather conditions did the 2018 Roero Arneis Riserva experience?

The 2018 vintage opened with a long winter, with temperatures often below zero, and rich rainfall that restored water reserves that had been greatly reduced by the previous year's weather pattern.

In the spring, after an average April, May and June saw high rainfall and low temperatures, suggesting a "classic" vintage, and in any case not as early as the previous one; the predictions were then confirmed as the season progressed.

The flowering was regular and in optimal climatic conditions, which suggested that it would be a bountiful year, which proved to be the case.

As far as health problems are concerned, the biggest problems were due to the presence of downy mildew. Due to the warm and humid weather, grey rot caused some attacks in the first part of September, while there were also some intense but localised hailstorms.

The summer of July to mid-August offered above-average temperatures, which favoured the ripening of the grapes without, however, bringing forward the time of harvest, both for Arneis and Nebbiolo. September, as has been the case for several years, saw a favourable climatic development, which contributed especially to the quality of the Arneis. In October the temperature rose again, with dry weather until the end of the month, so that the Nebbiolo harvest, which began at the beginning of the month and lasted about three weeks, could take place successfully. The sugar content increased in the latter part of the season and the phenolic ripeness accelerated, so that the harvest could be carried out with excellent parameters. All this, combined with ideal acidity, makes it possible to obtain harmonious wines with an excellent aptitude for ageing.

Promotion of the Roero region and "tasting" voucher at cantina valid for 2021/2022/2023

It goes without saying that a visit to the cantina, a tour of the vineyards with the winegrower himself, a tasting with Daniella in the largest courtyard of the Antica Cascina dei Conti di Roero will set the senses to work at full throttle and the experience will be great. Together with the Consorzio and thus other partners, a formula was worked out whereby whoever purchases 12 bottles of Roero Arneis and/or Roero Riserva will receive a voucher of 40 € for a full tasting accompanied by regional cheese and salame for 2 people. 

Link Roero Arneis 2018 awarded in Gambero Rosso: Roero Arneis Riserva 2018

Link Roero Riserva 2016 also awarded in Gambero Rosso: Roero Riserva 2016

And last but not least: Favorita, and Spumante based on Arneis and Nebbiolo.

Would you like to have the complete wine story and tasting at Antica Cascina dei Conti di Roero this summer or autumn, or in the following years, order 12 bottles and receive your voucher