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Nestled in the northeast corner of the province of Cuneo in Piedmont, Roero is a magnificent, hilly region famous for its unique wine and fruit production. Roero together with Langhe and Monferrato forms the famous “Distretto Langhe, Roero e Monferrato” wine district. These beautiful and hilly landscapes are included in UNESCO-protected “Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato”. Roero wine region is especially popular with its aromatic white wines, however red wine is also produced there.

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Where is Roero wine region?

Roero is a small DOCG wine appellation, located in the hills of Piedmont, northwest of Alba in Italy. The city of Turin is less than an hour drive away. The region covers 19 municipalities, with 147 producers and 86 growers.  The designation’s name is entrenched in local history; Its name comes from the Roero family of bankers and traders, who controlled this area for several centuries during the Middle Ages. They built the castles and towers that still stand on top of the hills. Nowadays, there are twenty Roero family lines.

Roero
Roero wine region

A History of Roero wine region

Viticulture in Roero wine region has a thousand-year-old history. Wine production developed here before the arrival of the Romans, as early as the presence of the Ligurians. Most likely, it started under the reign of the Etruscans, supported by the discovery of Etruscan wine amphorae and grape seeds from planted vines. 

Terroir of Roero wine appellation

From a geological point of view, the area of Roero is a young land. For 130 million years, the whole of lower Piedmont was part of the seabed of an inland sea, called the Golfo Padano. Its terrain was formed by the debris of various lithological origins brought by marine currents.

Roero was a shallow gulf until the Pliocene, and the emergence and formation of the Roero hills took place only 2-3 million years ago. These changes brought various types of soil to the territory: the deeper layers shifted uphill, while more recent ones remained at the bottom of the valley.

Roero wine region is considered a semi-arid area. The thin sand layers do not retain rainfall but filter it quickly. The soil of the Roero hills is very rich in sand, mixed with clay and limestone, and it is not at all uncommon to find fossil shells deposited in the ground.

Popular grapes from Roero wine region

The Roero DOCG appellation laws declare that the red wines of Roero must combine a minimum of 95 percent of Nebbiolo grape. They also need to age for at least 20 months, and a further 12 months if the winemaker is seeking to reach the "Riserva" status for the wine. The standard Roero Rosso wine has spice-tinged aromas of black forest fruits and sour cherries. Normally it's medium-bodied and presents relatively high tannins.

Nebbiolo
Grape vines in Reoro wine region

Nebbiolo is a native grape of Piedmont and the first written records about this grape date back to the end of the thirteenth century. In the 1700s, documents show that various types of Nebbiolos were found in the cellars of the Roero area. Nebbiolo has a very long vegetative stage and is grown almost exclusively in hillside vineyards because they have the best exposures, even though it is sensitive to windy locations.

The traditional white Roero must contain at least 95 percent Arneis grape. This wine is dry and crisp, with blossom-like aromas, apricot, and nuance of hazelnut. This kind of wine is one of Piedmont's most highly regarded white wines and its reputation continues to increase. For both red and white, any grape varieties permitted in Piedmont may be used to make up the remaining five percent.

Arneis is a pear-perfumed indigenous variety that thrives in Roero territory. This grape produces exuberantly fragrant white wines. Thanks to Arneis, Roero is one of Italy’s rising viticultural regions. The wines from this grape age fairly and take on a hazelnut character.

Food to pair with Roero wine

Gnocchi al Castelmagno

Gnocchi al Castelmagno is a traditional Italian dish and popular food from Cuneo. It's made with butter, potato gnocchi, milk, and Castelmagno cheese. Potatoes are cooked and mixed with the diced Castelmagno cheese, sauce, and cream.

Gnocchi al Castelmagno is often moistened with pepper on top before being served. You can replace half the quantity of regular flour with chestnut flour and cook a perfect autumnal dish – chestnut gnocchi with Castelmagno. This food is great to pair with Roero wine.

Gnocchi al Castelmagno
Gnocchi al Castelmagno - local speciality from Roero wine region

Castelmagno

Castelmagno has been produced in the Grana Valley since the early 1200s. This semi-hard blue cheese is found only in Piedmont's province of Cuneo. Castelmagno has a crumbly texture, made from cow's milk and sometimes a small addition of sheep's and goat's milk.

Its aging period goes from 2 to 5 months, during which the subtle flavors of Castelmagno are becoming more powerful, more energetic, and spicier. In the summertime, while the cows are on the fields in the Alps, this delicious cheese can be found as Castelmagno d'Alpeggio. You can taste it with pasta, rice, gnocchi and a glass of Roero wine.

Carne cruda all'Albese

Carne Cruda All'Albese is an Italian dish that is mostly prepared around Alba, a town in the Piedmont region. This dish is made with raw beef, pepper, lemon, salt, garlic, and juice. 

The dish is often served with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and it is often covered with roasted Piedmontese hazelnuts or the prized white Alba truffle. Since truffles are very expensive, they use wild mushrooms too. Carne Cruda All'albese is best paired with warm bread and fruity Roero wines.

Places to visit near Roero appellation

Castellinaldo

Castellinaldo is a place with a small population in Piedmont. The most famous cities and places near Castellinaldo include Castagnito, Vezza d'Alba, Priocca and Magliano Alfieri.

There are several UNESCO world heritage sites nearby. The closest heritage site in Italy is the Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato in the South. While you visit the place, you might want to see some of the following locations: Castagneto, Guarene, Vezza d'Alba, Priocca, and Magliano Alfieri.

Roddi

Roddi is located in the Province of Cuneo in Italy, about 50 kilometers southeast of Turin and about 45 kilometers northeast of Cuneo.

The town’s name comes from the Celtic “raud”, which means “river”. Roddi is an ancient town, founded before the Roman era. It was built on the road between Alba Pompeia and the then important Pollentia. While you visit the place, you should see the castle built in the 12th century, which dominates the whole town.

Explore the best wineries in Roero!

Frequently asked questions about Roero wine region

What is Roero wine?

Roero is a small wine appellation in the hills of Piedmont, northwest Italy. The classic white Roero must contain at least 95 percent Arneis. The wine is dry and crisp, with blossom-like aromas. As for the red wines, producers use the Nebbiolo grape variety.

Is Roero DOCG?

Roero is qualified for the DOCG (Denominazione d'Origine Controllata e Garantita) status, which means that the appellation produces the highest standard of wine in Italy.

What is Arneis wine?

Arneis is a white wine grape variety most associated with the Piedmont wine region. Every traditional white wine from Roero contains at least 95% of Arneis grapes. This grape produces exuberantly fragrant white wines.

What does Arneis taste like?

Arneis is a popular grape variety in the Roero wine appellation. It gives very aromatic wines with notes of fruit. The balance of the aroma hides the fact that the wines are medium to full-bodied with pear, apple, stone fruit, and nutty notes. With its rich flavor profile, Arneis is suitable for any wine lover who appreciates fruit-driven wines.

Where is Roero wine grown in Italy?

Roero wine is grown in the region of the same name, located in Piedmont, north-western part of Italy.

Map of Wineries in Roero

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Experiences in Roero

Just getting started on your wine journey, or jumping back in?
Taste through a selection of a great local wines.

Wineries in Roero