PIEDMONT ALERT: Stunning Single-Vineyard Arneis from Giovanni Almondo!
When our founder, Bud Schwarzbach, picks a white wine off the list in an Italian restaurant, it is almost always an Arneis. Why? Because they are crisp, refreshing, crowd-pleasing, and will bring out the best in just about any lighter style fare.
Not only does today's single-vineyard superstar from Giovanni Almondo meet Bud's criteria, it is also a favorite of Antonio Galloni, who awards this "creamy and layered" Roero white a full 92 points, picking Almondo as one of the benchmark producers in the region!
“Readers who want to explore what Roero has to offer will want to put Almondo at the top of their lists.”
- Antonio Galloni, October 2025
We bring this delectable single-vineyard Arneis to you today for a price that blows away every single online listing. Scroll down for details, and for a very limited quantity of Tenuta Olim Bauda’s perfectly aged 2019 “La Rocchette” Barbera d’Asti, then slam down on the Big Green Button to bring these Piedmont classics into your home!
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2024 Giovanni Almondo ”Bricco della Ciligie” Arneis
Roero, Piedmont, Italy
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Located at 390 meters elevation, Bricco della Ciligie is a hilltop site with 40-year-old vines planted to the sandy, clay and limestone accented soils of Piedmont’s Roero DOCG.
The combination of high elevation, old vines, and unique soil makes for a delicious, superbly versatile white with loads of pure orchard and stone fruit, dazzling aromatics and wonderfully deep minerality.
Fermented and aged predominantly in stainless steel, with a small portion of the wine spending a short time in untoasted French oak barrigue, it has a rich, round and texturally pleasing quality that is reminiscent of a great white Bordeaux from Pessac-Leognan.
Pure and clean aromas and flavors showcase fresh pear, white peach, and lemon zest along with a gorgeous floral and peach blossom component that marries beautifully with the pronounced river pebble minerality and subtle spice notes. Boasting an impeccable balance of acidity and fruit, it earns a strong 92-Point review from Galloni....
“The 2024 Roero Arneis Bricco delle Ciliegie is terrific. Creamy and layered in the glass, the 2024 is laced with apricot, chamomile dried flowers and hint of spice, all of which fill out the mid-palate nicely. Pretty floral overtones brighten the finish. The 2024 was vinified and aged in a combination of French oak barrels and Clayver ceramic vessels. This is a superb effort, especially for the year. Bricco delle Ciliegie remains a reference point. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2029."
- 92 Points, Vinous - Antonio Galloni (10/2025)
Looking online we found 16 listings with a median of $32. Our price blows them all away!
Vin Chicago Price: 23.99
Perfectly Aged Barbera d'Asti from Tenuta Olim Bauda!
2019 Olim Bauda ”La Rocchette”
Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Piedmont, Italy
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What a treat! We were delighted when Giovanni Bertolino, grandson of Tenuta Olim Bauda’s founder, paid a visit to our store last month and presented us with a sample of this superb, seven-years-young cru Barbera from their “La Rocchette” vineyard.
"A great example of [Barbera d']Asti at its best."
- Antonio Galloni, November 2022
Exploding with bright mixed red berries, dried red flower petals, subtle baking spices, and a streak of earthiness, this flavorful, velvety, ready-to-drink Barbera is guaranteed to be the star of the show when placed on the table with a heaping plate of fresh red sauce pasta or hot out of the oven pizza.
There’s nothing like a delicious and mouthwatering glass of Barbera, especially when it’s a perfectly aged single vineyard bottling from one of Piedmont’s all-time top producers! Check out this awesome 93-Point review from Piedmont superfan Antonio Galloni…
“The 2019 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Le Rocchette is a powerful, driving wine. Dried rose petal, crushed rocks, iron, incense and red-toned fruit convey notable mineral and savory intensity. This deceptively mid-weight Barbera packs quite the punch. It's a great example of Asti at its best. Floral accents lift the bright, saline finish. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2029.."
- 93 Points, Vinous - Antonio Galloni (11/2022)
We appear to be the only ones to have this beautiful 2019 bottling. Online listings for vintages newer and older ranges from $29 to $40. Today's price beats them all. A whole lot of wine here, for a flat-out steal of a price!
Vin Chicago Price: 23.99
