Have you ever done something stupid and that is the one thing people always seem to remember you for?  Like you are great at other things, but everyone always seems to remember this other thing you would rather forget about?  I am a sports fan, so people like Bill Buckner letting the baseball through his legs, Steve Bartman interfering with a player catching a ball, or Mark Sanchez and the butt fumble are a few that come to mind.  These people all have done many other things they would rather be remembered for, but these moments seem to be what everyone remembers when they hear their names.

This is how I feel with Italian white wines.  Everyone thinks of Pinot Grigio.  It is by far the most well-known white grape that Italy sends to the United States.  Santa Margherita, Cavit, Ecco Domani are a few of the big names most people have probably heard of.  Pinot Grigio is a very basic and unexciting style of wine (IMO).  I tend to call it flavored water because especially once its chilled, it doesn't have many exciting characteristics.  Do I drink it?  Yes, because many times that's the only option, but do not tell that to Italy because the options are actually limitless there.  They have so much more to offer than Pinot Grigio!

One grape that gets hardly any love or attention in the United States is a grape called Arneis.  About 18 years ago, when I was first starting out in wine and learning, one of my trainers was telling us about Arneis and he told us what it meant and for some reason it has always stuck with me. The name Arneis actually translates to "little rascal".  Something about that translation has stuck with me, maybe because I feel it is the perfect description of these wines.  It is like a little mischievous child.  Sneaky and unexpecting.

Unfortunately, I don't get to drink much Arneis because most restaurants don't offer it and lots of retailers hardly carry them.  Last week, however, I got to taste today's wine and it reminded me of just how much I love Arneis!   

The Cordero di Montezemolo Arneis 2021 truly is a "little rascal".  This wine has such great fruit characteristics.  The bright tangy acidity bounces off the palate while the fruit is so juicy and refreshing.  Beautiful floral notes help balance the fruit and give it great body and complexity.  You have to keep your eye, or taste buds, on this one because with each sip this mischievous little wine will surprise you with something different.  This is a perfect wine to pair with soups and salads or a nice charcuterie.  Most Arneis is found in the Piedmont region of Italy.  More well known for their red grape Nebbiolo, this little brother white grape should not be overlooked!  The Wine Advocate gave this wine a 91-points rating.

"Cordero di Montezemolo does a terrific job with this white wine that offers so much freshness, ease and simple drinking joy. I especially recommend the 2021 Langhe Arneis now that the warm season is upon us. It releases fragrant citrus and bergamot with almond blossom and crushed stone. It has all its cards in place for a fish dinner by the sea." - WA

I could keep gushing over this wine because it is easy for me to talk about a wine that was so memorable, but I would rather have you stop reading and start ordering some so you can enjoy it as much as I have!  So, help Italy stop being known for their boring Pinot Grigio and start experimenting with their other white grapes like Arneis!

Cordero di Montezemolo Arneis 2021

-Patrick Mulrooney