Italian Passion - My Journey to Vinicola Arno
May 2024. The sun was already low over the vineyards of Piedmont when I, together with my friends Harald and Silke from the Chierina winery, entered the courtyard of Vinicola Arno. I had no idea that this visit would bring us so much...
The beginning of it all
It was Alice who greeted us on that warm spring day. As an expert in guest relations and wine tastings, she guided us through the vineyards and cellar with her relaxed and charming manner. Her immense wine knowledge and great enthusiasm for every single drop were immediately palpable. Her eyes lit up as she spoke about the vines, about the Arno family tradition, about each individual vintage.
The birth of an idea
As I took the first sip of the extraordinary Elvira 2022, it became clear to me: these wines, these stories, this authenticity - you can't buy that in Germany. Alice told us with her expert knowledge about the old vines, about the special location of the vineyards, about the philosophy of the Arno family. Every wine has a soul, a story. Sometimes it's not just a glass of wine: you have to take your time and experience a surprise, an experience and find the feeling of having a place where you can belong. Because with wine it's like that.
That evening, back with our friends Silke and Harald at the Chierina winery, the idea for mygoodwines.de was born. Why shouldn't German wine lovers have the opportunity to discover these special wines? Wines that not only taste good, but tell a story?
The first Instagram post and a new beginning
A month later I was back. This time not as a tourist, but as a future partner. Alice, Lisa and the team at Vinicola Arno welcomed me like an old friend, and we spent hours talking about wine, tasting and dreaming. With her professional expertise and infectious enthusiasm, she helped me to truly understand the Arno family's wines.
On that day, our very first Instagram post was also created - a picture that marked the beginning of mygoodwines.de.
The decision to cooperate was made quickly. Vinicola Arno immediately understood what we had in mind: to inspire German wine lovers with authentic, personally selected wines.
A tasting journey through family histories
Alice led us through an impressive tasting journey that not only showed the quality pyramid of Vinicola Arno, but also told the moving stories of a family:
Elvira - A tribute to a strong woman
Back then, we tasted the Elvira 2022 - an exceptional rosé or "ROSATO", which immediately impressed us with its unusually dark color and its finely sparkling taste. This intense, almost ruby red color was completely untypical for a rosé and made it a real eye-catcher.
The story behind the name: This wine is a tribute to Elvira, the aunt of the founder of Vinicola Arno. A tireless woman, capable of preparing exquisite dishes for the guests of her tavern, which she runs alone, and at the same time raising two children. Even today, you can almost smell the aromas coming from that kitchen.
An annual challenge: Elvira is the first Barbera to be harvested from the vine before the actual harvest to create a Rosato, which is a small challenge every year. For this reason, only a few bottles are produced: no more than 1,500 per year.
Today we offer Elvira 2024 - produced with the innovative Vinoxygen process. This new vintage shows the classic rosé color and retains the characteristic elegance and quality that makes this wine so special.
Elvira 2024 - Innovation meets tradition:
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Base: Barbera d'Asti grapes, harvested early
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Color: Classic rosé color
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Alcohol content: 12% low, to impart freshness and pleasant acidity
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Vinoxygen process: Less sulfites, longer shelf life
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Perfect with: As an aperitif or with light meat dishes and vegetarian cuisine
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Limited: Only a few bottles produced per year, 1,500 btg
For €11.00 instead of €12.00 - a rosé that combines the story of a strong woman with the craftsmanship of Vinicola Arno.
Bilotto - from a loving nickname to wine
While we tasted the Bilotto 2021 back then, we now offer the 2024 version - a light white wine that embodies a special innovation from the Arno family.
The story behind the name: It was an Italian relative of the founder of Vinicola Arno who came up with this name, a loving nickname they gave their brother-in-law Bill. Already in the musicality of its name, "Bilotto" expresses all the freshness and enthusiasm of this Monferrato D.O.C., which invites you to embrace the joy of conviviality and celebrate life.
The Vinoxygen process: Bilotto is the first vintage produced with Vinoxygen, a patented system for winemaking without racking and for obtaining a high-quality wine. With this innovative process, the wine does not come into contact with oxygen during tank fermentation. It only comes into contact with oxygen during bottling. This means that fewer sulfites are needed, the wines need to mature a little longer to reach their peak, but they also have a longer shelf life.
Bilotto 2024 - Innovation meets tradition:
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Grape varieties: Blend of Nascetta and Sauvignon Blanc
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Aging: At least four months in steel
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Vinoxygen Process: Patented system without racking
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Character: Exotic aromas and balance
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Perfect with: As an aperitif, for brunch or enjoyed in its straightforwardness
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Style: Direct and convivial
For €12.00, a perfect introduction to the innovative world of Vinicola Arno - a wine that invites you to celebrate life.
The chronicle of the Barbera family wines
Then we immersed ourselves in the world of Barbera d'Asti wines - an emotional journey through the Arno family history:
Desolina - A tribute to all mothers
The story behind the name: "I will never stop calling you by your name, a name so true and typical of your country: a name that has a very special sound, DE-SO-LI-NA. I left, I traveled, but then I always returned to you, Mama, my return to the family."
In every glass, the unique and precious personality of Desolina, the mother of the man who so lovingly founded Vinicola Arno in these hills, lives on. A wine that aims to be a tribute to all mothers, in which softness and acidity coexist in perfect harmony, highlighted by vibrant ruby red tones.
Desolina - Authentic Barbera d'Asti:
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Character: Simple but honest - the Barbera d'Asti grape variety in its purest form
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Taste: Fruity and lively with typical acidity
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Color: Vibrant ruby tones
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Aging: Refined in steel and aged for at least one year in the bottle
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Meaning: A wine that symbolizes the return to family
Maria Augusta - A dreamer and fighter
The story behind the name: Maria Augusta was a dreamer and traveler, persistent and full of life, who always won her battles with a smile on her face. This wine tells of a deep connection between women and is a tribute to the personality of Maria Augusta, the mother of the founder of Vinicola Arno.
Maria Augusta - Barbera d'Asti Superiore:
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Character: One step higher in the quality pyramid with great richness and depth. A little... color, fragrance, body. A different path into acidity, evolution and spiciness.
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Aging: Minimum total refinement of 18 months with at least 6 months aging in Austrian oak barrels of 21 hectoliters
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Experience: A wine that opens the album full of memories with every bite
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Meaning: A tribute to a strong woman who realized her dreams
Lorella - The future in every glass
The story behind the name: A Nizza D.O.C.G. that leads us, through its structure and consistency, to a continuous becoming, to the discovery of an ever-evolving future. Just like this wine, which was created with new generations in mind. Because tomorrow will always be identified with your children, in our case with "Lorenzo and Gabriella": hence the name Lorella.
Lorella - Nizza DOCG (The Special begins):
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Classification: Nizza D.O.C.G. - the royal class of Barbera d'Asti
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Aging: At least 28 months, of which at least 12 months in small French oak barrels of 300 liters and a second time in the large barrels of 25 hectoliters. The last 12 months in bottles for final refinement.
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Character: Great personality and elegant taste, longevity and
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Meaning: A tribute to the new generation of the Arno mission: Lorenzo and Gabriella
Leone - The lion from Bore
The story behind the name: Uncle Giovanni, known to all as "Leone di Bore" (Lion of Bore), opened his tavern on May 1, 1956: Every opened bottle tells of the enthusiasm that made him so loved and appreciated by his fellow villagers in Villa Franchi di Bore over time. Time and silence preserve this Nizza D.O.C.G. Riserva Leone, which lives by its own light in the cellars of Vinicola Arno.
Leone - Nizza Riserva 2019 (The Crown Jewel) 95 Decanter points (2023) - an award that speaks for itself!
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Aging: More than 30 months, 22 months in small French oak barriques, 12 months in the bottle
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Character: A Nizza D.O.C.G. Riserva of great personality, showing the characteristics of long aging, not common and a wine for meditation...
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Personality: Both sincere and exuberant, just like Leone
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Quality: 95 Decanter points confirm world-class quality
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Meaning: A tribute to a man who, with his tavern, was the heart of the village
Why Vinicola Arno is so special
What distinguishes Vinicola Arno from other wineries is not only the quality of the wines, but also the people and stories behind them. Vinicola Arno lives wine - authentic, down-to-earth and innovative at the same time. With the Vinoxygen process, they show that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand.
Every wine tells the story of a person from the family - from the powerful Elvira to the dreamy Maria Augusta to the convivial Leone.
These wines are not only available at mygoodwines.de in Germany - they are a piece of Italian lifestyle, personally selected and presented with attention to detail.
The continuation of a special friendship
Today, more than a year after our first visit, the business relationship has turned into a real friendship. Alice is not only our contact person at Vinicola Arno, but also an inspiration. The Arno family constantly shows us that wine is more than just a drink - it is culture, history, passion and innovation.
When you try an Elvira 2024 or Bilotto 2024, you're not just drinking wine. You're experiencing a piece of Italian tradition, combined with cutting-edge technology and the moving stories of a family that pours its passion into every drop.
Do you have questions about these wines or would you like to know more about our winemakers? Don't hesitate to send me an email at info@mygoodwines.de.
Vinicola Arno, +393343556688 - info@vinicolaarno.com - Via Nizza 1090, 14047 Mombercelli