Having arguably one of the best red producers from Piemonte, Sottimano, I have, for many years, searched to find a white wine to complement the offering. Having enjoyed many a bottle of light refreshing Arneis during my many visits to the region, I was really looking for something with a little more to offer.
Enter Luca Faccenda.

A young fella, Luca is part of a generation of young winemakers who have left their native home, ‘done time’ elsewhere (including 2 stints in NZ ) and returned back to his family hoping to impart his philosophies on his 5ha of organic old vine Arneis and Nebbiolo.

The Roero is an area in the North-Eastern part of Piemonte often plays third fiddle to the more famous regions of Barbaresco and Barolo. Whilst the latter are famed for the red wines, it’s the white of Roero, of the Arneis variety that is the true white wine of the region and one of Italy’s most famous indigenous grapes. 

Planted at between 250-280 metres above sea level, these old vines (over 40 years of age in some cases), offer a real terroir driven approach that I haven’t seen elsewhere when it comes to Arneis. Combined with a philosophy of going against the grain of most Arnesi producers (natural fermentation, extended maceration, and old barrel ageing) he produces delicious, and thought provoking wines, that are now gracing many fine restaurants around the world. Production is tiny, but I’m blessed with a modest allocation, one that I’m sure won’t hang around for long.