Wine of the Week: 2009 Giovanni Almondo Roero Arneis ‘Bricco della Ciliegie’

On a sweltering hot day, nothing could be more refreshing than a well-chilled glass of Arneis from Piedmont. This one from Giovanni Almondo in the Roero (the other side of the Tanaro river from Barbaresco) is crisp and minerally, with an enticing scent of white peaches. The name “Bricco della Ciliegie,” however, means “hill of cherries.” (The vineyard is planted in a former cherry orchard.) Never mind, it produces one of the finest Arneis in Piedmont.

For this cuvee, Almondo ferments a third of the Arneis grapes in barrels, the rest in stainless steel. A greenish gold, it is not shy, exploding out of the glass, ready for anything but more particularly the raw bar, grilled shrimp, shrimp Louie or Chinese chicken salad. It works particularly well with spicy food and Asian cuisines too.

Note that Almondo also produces a fresh, less-expensive Arneis called “Vigne Sparse,” which should be in shops around town too.

Region: Piedmont, Italy

Price: About $18

Style: Crisp and minerally

What it goes with: Raw bar, grilled shrimp, spicy food, Asian cuisines

Where to find it: Envoyer Fine Wines in Laguna Hills, (949) 701-9175, https://www.envoyerfinewines.comhttps://www.envoyerfinewines.com; Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463, https://www.hitimewine.nethttps://www.hitimewine.net; the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, https://www.winehouse.com; and Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454, https://www.winex.com.