Though known for its full-bodied reds, Piemonte also has a lot to offer in terms of native whites. Lizzy O’Riordan headed to the region to learn more

Stationed in Turin’s OGR building, the Grandi Langhe wine event returned at the end of January for its 10th edition, showcasing a bevy of vinous gems from Piemonte producers.

Unsurprisingly, the fair showed a strong selection of reds such as Barolo and Barbaresco, for which the region is best known. Yet, in conversations with buyers and producers, the real buzz appeared to be around the region’s white wines, with native grapes most frequently at the forefront of conversations.

Mirroring the findings of the Bibendum and Matthew Clark 2026 prediction report – which highlighted the growing popularity of Piemontese whites in the UK last year – many producers reported that they feel consumption trends are shifting away from high-alcohol wines and towards a plethora of up-and-coming grapes.

Arneis

Arneis is one of the most popular (and lighter in alcohol) native grapes in the region and increasingly abroad. Primarily grown in the Roero area, Arneis is usually consumed young and has notes of pear, apricot, white flowers and almond. Sometimes nicknamed “little rascal” for its trickiness to work with, it experienced near extinction before a group of winemakers began to replant it in the 1970s.

Cristina Deltetto, one of the owners of Deltetto winery, explained that her father was one of those early re-adopters and began planting in 1977. Since then, she said, the grape has only grown in popularity and has become known for producing a style of wine that makes sense with the land. “The high percentage of sand is perfect for the minerality and the flavour, so I think it is the right place to make a white wine,” she said.

Working with a similar philosophy, Martina Fiorino, partner at Bruna Grimaldi, said the winery uses Arneis as its only white grape variety. On a mission to vinify with indigenous grapes, Fiorino said: “I think they better express the terroir and [with climate change] they can also withstand more extreme weather conditions. I believe varieties that come from the past exist for a reason still today.”

Stefano Almondo, part of the family at Giovanni Almondo winery, explained that almost 80% of its production is with the Arneis grape for the same reason: because it both works in harmony with and reflects the terroir. On changing perceptions, he added: “Piemonte became a red wine region in the last 50 years in terms of recognition, but 100 years ago it was equally red and white.” In his opinion, the pendulum is now starting to swing towards whites once again.

Timorasso

Noted for being a popular on-trade variety by Bibendum and Matthew Clark, Timorasso is similarly expanding its reach, largely thanks to its reputation for being a gastronomic grape with strong ageing potential. Like Arneis, it was almost lost and then replanted in the 1980s and 1990s. The initial notes are fruity and floral, but become much more honeyed with time.

Marco Volpi, vice president at Cantine Volpi, said awareness of the grape is slowly but surely spreading. He gave the example of Enotria, which has imported Volpi’s wines since the 1990s. But it is only in the last three years that the distributor: “Has wanted the Timorasso. They’ve started to believe in the project.”

Right now, Volpi continued, the grape is largely in restaurants and bars. However, he believes it will filter down into independent wine merchants with time. This is particularly true as whites have performed “better than reds in terms of overall consumption in the last 12 months”.

Paola Longo, sales director at Tenuta della Cascinassa, likewise has high hopes for the variety. For her, the wine’s ability to age is really what sets it apart, evidenced by the three variations which graced her stand at Grandi Langhe (one of which had been aged in oak). “Timorasso is famous for its longevity and for its structure. The initial part is lighter and then it finds power with age,” she said.

For retailers considering stocking it, Longo advised: “Buy six bottles every year and lay three of them down to age, then you’ll really appreciate Timorasso many years after you first buy it.”

Favorita and Nascetta

Elsewhere, growing but not quite at the same volumes, both Favorita and Nascetta are two native white grape varieties on the rise, planted mainly in the Roero and Alba regions respectively. Appearing on more and more UK listings, as per the Bibendum and Matthew Clark study, the duo is likely to become more recognised in the next few years, both producers and buyers commented at Grande Langhe.

Historically used for sweet wines, Nascetta is now more commonly vinified to make a dry style with notes of citrus, green apple and tropical flavours on the palate. This, according to Giovanni Abrigo, owner of Orlando Abrigo, results in a fresh wine that is easy to drink. On the process of making this style, he said: “We pick early because the maximum aroma of the white wine is a little before complete maturation. So, we’ll pick then and then vinify in stainless steel to preserve the acidity and the salt.”

Like Timorasso, the grape is noted for its ageing potential, though some, like Abrigo, prefer to serve it young or blend it with international varieties such as Chardonnay, which is also commonly grown in Piemonte.

Favorita has little ageing potential and is generally best consumed within one to two years of release. Noted for its intense pear flavours, it has historically been used for blending but is now coming into its own as a variety. Compared to Arneis, which is the primary native white in the area, Favorita plantings are still small, explained Andrea Careglio, owner of Cantina Careglio. “The production in the Roero is really little compared to Arneis,” he said, adding that it is still a grape with potential, with interest from importers.

The future

Overall, Grandi Langhe painted a positive vision of the future for native whites, both in Italy and beyond, with the most common export markets being the UK, the US and wider Europe.

Of course, it’s unlikely that Piemonte will lose its reputation for powerful reds, but producers are keen to emphasise that they have a wider range.

As Almondo from Giovanni Almondo said, the land, particularly the areas defined by sandy soils, is the ideal environment for these grapes to thrive: “Our indigenous whites have been part of our civilisation for hundreds of years; it’s suited to us.”

It’s a convincing argument to give these much-loved local grapes a try.