Piedmont has long been a wealthy centre of industry, benefitting from good trade and transport links with the rest of Europe, which helped it on its way to becoming the most commercially developed wine industry in the north of Italy. (For more on the region itself, turn to page 84 in this issue.) But the most wellknown names are associated with red wines (Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto). We do know Asti, of course, for its sparkling white dessert wine – Asti Spumante – made from the Moscato grape; and Gavi is an area also known for its dry white wines, but that’s where the familiarity with Piedmont white wines probably ends. Arneis, anyone? In fact, Arneis is an ancient local grape variety, and the vast majority of it is still grown in Piedmont (though it is also found in Sardinia). A tricky grape to grow, its name is derived from a dialect word that translates as ‘little rascal’. It’s slightly floral and fruity, yet bone-dry and delicious, and certainly deserving of a wider audience outside Italy, so we’re excited to show you a few examples here.